Friday was the speech contest for 7 and 8 graders at the Soil and Water Conservation Dept. Since #2 had won the poster and essay contests, the director asked him to read the thought for the day. You could barely see him over the podium, but he did a great job, especially being asked at the last minute and on the spot.
She only showed him where to read. She has been helpful with our Envirothon activities, too. She knows us on sight now.
There was no problem seeing #1 behind the podium, though. He competed as an eigth grader. There were only three contestants, and the monetary prizes were only for first and second place. Since the contestants were all seventh graders, and grades were judged against each other, we decided it would be nice if each kid won something. Since #1 is older than the other contestants, and he will do fine against other eigth graders at the state competition, we promoted him for a little while.So he won $100! Our county offers a $50 prize for first place, and there were no other counties in our district participating, so he won the Area competition, another $50, as well. He will participate at the state level on May 14th in Raleigh.
These are the participants with their parents and teachers. The school teacher with the girl was so kind. She offered to work with #1 at her school to help him prepare for State. She has had students go for many years now, and even had a State winner once. She said his speech had the "gimmick" that it needed, and he has a chance. BUT, he really needs to practice and work on a few things. His "gimmick" is that he compared the living soil and our need to care for it to the story of Frankenstein and the Monster.
We had really hoped that our good friend would be the seventh grade winner so we could go to State together, but it didn't work out. He did win according to one of the judges, but the average of the judges put him a few points behind. Sigh. He is in my writing class, and he did his research paper on the soil so he could prepare. It was a good comparison of how the soil "lives". Maybe the winner won't be able to go and he will get to be the alternative. I really don't think he was as upset as the rest of us. He still got $25!
These are the participants with their parents and teachers. The school teacher with the girl was so kind. She offered to work with #1 at her school to help him prepare for State. She has had students go for many years now, and even had a State winner once. She said his speech had the "gimmick" that it needed, and he has a chance. BUT, he really needs to practice and work on a few things. His "gimmick" is that he compared the living soil and our need to care for it to the story of Frankenstein and the Monster.
We had really hoped that our good friend would be the seventh grade winner so we could go to State together, but it didn't work out. He did win according to one of the judges, but the average of the judges put him a few points behind. Sigh. He is in my writing class, and he did his research paper on the soil so he could prepare. It was a good comparison of how the soil "lives". Maybe the winner won't be able to go and he will get to be the alternative. I really don't think he was as upset as the rest of us. He still got $25!---------
So we took the boys to see Alice in Wonderland that afternoon to celebrate their winnings. It was a good movie. The special effects are mind-boggling.
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