"I am incredibly proud to have a Top 10 Winner in my class – and 17 others whose poems were selected to be published."
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – In second grade, could you imagine finding your name in the index of a nationally published poetry anthology? If you were a second-grade teacher, how thrilled would you be to have 18 students' poems included? How about this – can you imagine the thrill of having your poem chosen among the top 10 out of 1,000s of submissions from across the United States?
Let me introduce you to Smaya Reddy Devidi, a second grader at Harmony Science Academy-Cedar Park – and her teacher, Mrs. Manisha Winchell.Creative Communication, which holds an annual poetry contest, chose Smaya's poem Kind Hearts and Bright Stars as among the top 10 in the K-3 category. As a Top 10 Winner, Smaya won $25, special recognition, and a copy of the published anthology Poetic Power.
"I stumbled upon some information about a poetry contest and announced it while students were working on composing poems," Winchell explains.
"They were thrilled and eager to produce their best work. I am incredibly proud to have a Top 10 Winner in my class and 17 other students whose poems were selected to be published."
According to the Poetic Power website, this anthology is created by judges. The judges are comprised of published writers and educators in elementary, secondary, and higher education.
Out of thousands of entries, the judges accept less than 50% of them to be published. Then, they go through the accepted entries and choose the Top 10 Winners in each grade division.
In her poem Kind Hearts and Bright Stars, Smaya takes a hard, yet refreshing, look at what exciting experiences and adventures kids could have if they put down their "screens" and be a nice person.
Harmony Public Schools are 60 high-performing PreK-12 college preparatory charter schools throughout Texas that blends the highest standards and expectations with a rigorous math- and science-centered curriculum. They emphasize a dedicated staff, along with engaged teachers and families who cultivate excellence in every student in order to prepare them to realize their full potential while succeeding in college, careers, and life.
To learn more about Harmony Public Schools, visit: www.harmonytx.org
