Pawling Students win Poughkeepsie Journal Scary Story Awards
By John M. Benson
November 5, 2007
Poughkeepsie Journal Scary Story Awards have been awarded to three students in the Pawling Central School District.
Anthony Bonavenia, Serena Flieschman and Katelyn Flood have been awarded the prestigious Journal Scary Story Awards for 2007.
Seventh grader Bonavenia has won First Place, ninth grader Flood has won Runner Up, and seventh grader Fleischman has won Honorable Mention.
The Journal interviewed Bonavenia and recorded his won reading of the story on a podcast. Joan Roberts did the same with Fleischman, and linked both podcasts to the Pawling Central School District website.
Click on the links in the headlines to read the stories by Bonavenia and Fleischman and hear the podcasts.
Middle School Principal Allan Lipsky and Dean of Students Helen Callan and the Pawling Board of Education recognized the students and their families for the students’ outstanding achievement in creative writing at the board meeting on November 5.
Lipsky and the Board Of Education also honored English teacher Linda Chase, who has helped Bonavenia and Fleischman develop their fine natural talents, and who submitted the stories for consideration to the Poughkeepsie Journal.
Chase wrote to the Harlem Valley Herald with the enthusiasm of the gifted teacher, “I'm very proud of our two winning writers from seventh grade, Anthony Bonavenia and Serena Fleischman. And, I'm proud of Katie Flood, a ninth grader, who was the runner up in the high school division.
”In September, one of my early writing assignments is to write a scary story. I use it as a way to teach the writing process with brainstorming, rough drafting, editing, revising, and re-writing. We talk about irony and stories that have a good "twist" at the end. It's a great way to begin the year with a creative writing assignment like this. The challenge for many students is to keep the length under 300 words. Some of them are ready to do a "Steven King-like" novel !
“We have been doing this for about four years. There are approximately 650 entries for all the school divisions. In our division, grades 6 to 8, there were over 150 entries. I sent in about 50 stories. Many were very, very good and I thought several had a good chance. But, it all depends on how they "hit" the judge that day. We've had a runner up in our division, but Anthony is our first winner.
”As a teacher, it makes me feel good to see such enthusiasm and creativity. And, there's always a feeling of "treasure hunting" – will someone write a "gem" of a story? I love it!”
Middle School Principal Allan Lipsky congratulated the students and teacher Linda Chase, and said these awards are indications of the quality students, teachers and programs in the Pawling Central School District. |
