3rd Grade Letter Writing Challenge

Representatives of the Clermont County Retired Teachers Association met with county school superintendents on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010 to explain a new writing competition they were sponsoringand to ask for their support. Geared to 3^rd graders, the association wanted the youngsters to write letters to the retired group, explaining what "What My Grandparents Means to Me." Each 3^rd grade teacher was to forward the three best letters to the association by March 1^st.
At contest end, 104 letters were actually received from 33 teachers from Milford, Batavia, CNE, Goshen, West Clermont, and New Richmond School Districts. The committee evaluated each one and found many excellent letters and darling comments.

Many of the 3^rd graders wrote of favorite activities with their grandparents such as cooking, fishing, and traveling. Grandparents read them bedtime stories, go to their games to support them, and when they don't see them for a while, one wrote "I just want to squeeze them, but I don't." Another wrote, "Sometimes I don't see them but I know they are in my heart." Whether she is called Me-Maw, Meme, Grammy, Mamaw, Mimi, Mamal and Grannie Mae, all seem to be excellent cooks, according to the youngsters. One wrote that she could even make the food they hated taste good. On the other hand, Per-Paw, Poppy, Paps, Papaw, Pappy, and Papa spoil them and make them smile & laugh. He is their hero. Excerpts from the letters included comments such as "They tell me I did a good job, even if I didn't,""Their love heals my bruises," My parents tell me ‘no' but my grandparents tell me ‘yes',""My grandma shares everything-even her chocolates from Valentine's Day," "My grandma is fragile and very kind. If you met her, you would be one of the luckiest people in the whole world, "and finally the comment from one child who summed it up beautifully by saying "It isn't the presents or the places they take me, it's being with them that makes me happy.

All agreed, however, that one stood out above and beyond all the others. This letter was written by Lynsey Kennedy of New Richmond Elementary and she was awarded a trophy and gift card from the association on the day of her school's awards day ceremony. Her teacher, Mrs. Hawkins, was also awarded a gift card for her efforts and excellent teaching. All entries received a certificate of recognition and a "writing whiz" pencil and the participating teachers were given a nice pen as a token of our appreciation.

What set this apart from other essay contests is that the retired teachers' organization has tied this competition to those standards which are required by state law to be taught to third graders. Thus, third grade teachers were able to incorporate the letter writing into their regular lesson plans. Committee members of this letter writing project include Jan Schoellman (chair), Vanda Gregory, and Marge Edwards from the Goshen school district, Joan Ballbach and Phyllis Neal from CNE, and Judith Pendry and Mary Jane Kaufman from Milford. The money needed to cover the cost of the contest was donated by members of the organization.