By Lucila DeAnda
Cragmont School
Award: Third Place, Fifth Grade Art
The Same Daddy
By Caitlin Brown
Teacher: Carolyn Dobson, Cragmont School
Award: Second Place, Fifth Grade Essay
I ran towards my dad, my arms outstretched. I hugged him, and never wanted to let go. It seemed forever since my dad left home, a year ago. He smelled that same dad smell, and looked better than anything. He smiled his smile that I love. As I walked to the car, I was happy.
And excited.
Not having dad with me that year was difficult, and it made me think more about the people without family. Dad didn’t get to see me hit my first tennis ball over the net. People without family miss out on moments like those.
As we got into the car, I told him everything that happened while he was gone. For the first time in a long time, my family seemed complete. Him being gone left a hole inside of me. Finally I knew he would stay, and the hole vanished.
I’ll always remember that moment, when I saw him for the first time in a year. Now I love dad more, and it means more to me when he leaves or comes home.
The Man With The Rag
By Adam Stolcke
Teacher: Carole Goyen, Cragmont School
Award: Second Place, Fifth Grade Poetry
I look out the red stained glass window,
and saw the man with the rag,
I run out the door,
and give the last bill
I have in my pocket to
him.
So I walk home
with my head up,
nothing in my pocket,
but still happy,
Because my pocket of smiles Is never empty.
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Colors
By Giacomo Di Domenico
Teacher: Arun Khanna, Jefferson School
Award: First Place, Fifth Grade Essay
The alarm screeches, telling me I have to get out of bed. As I put on my favorite pair of sweatpants, the ones I refuse to wash, I look out of the window at another colorless, foggy day.
Once I’m situated at the kitchen table with my bland bowl of cereal, I look out the window once more. Fog. But as time ticks on, my bland cereal turns to a rich flavor as the sun seeps through the cracks in the fog and lights up the morning. As I watch, a bright blue Stellar Jay lands on a leafless cherry tree, making it look as if it has just blossomed. On the horizon, the sun has crawled up enough to put a light on a set of dark green eucalyptus trees.
I step outside to go to school, and the red brick patio seems to glow as I walk along it. It is then that I realize how not colorless this day is going to be.
No! Worry
By Daliyha Weathers
Teacher: Carole Goyen, Cragmont School
Award: First Place, Fifth Grade Poetry
Hart full of love
melting away into water
I hungry no food
to eat
Why? Why?
next day hart became solid
love joyful
Happy no need to fear
My heart is still there and aware.