Wednesday 13 January 2010

Cobourg contest honours Suzanne Kernaghan

A Cobourg Library writing contest is honouring two local teachers who died in a car crash on January 13, 2009.

Cramahe Township resident and greade 2 teacher, Suzanne Kernaghan, and co-worker, Michelle Broomfield died returning from a conference they were attending.

The Cobourg Public Library's sixth annual 'Share Your Stories' writing contest will honour the two dedicated teachers.

The Broomfield-Kernaghan Award will go to a Grade 1 to 3 student who shows great passion and creativity.

"It's for best personal effort, to encourage students who may be finding their introduction to reading and writing especially challenging," said Rhonda Perry, youth services coordinator for the library.

Ms. Kernaghan was frequently in the Cobourg library with her two young children.

"She was really passionate about making sure her class participated in the writing contest. We decided this would be a fitting tribute, sort of a legacy for those two teachers who gave so much," said Ms. Perry. "I'm excited by it... I'd rather Suzanne walked through the doors of the library, but it's a fitting tribute."

The Share Your Stories contest has evolved into a writing contest for local students, judged by well-known local authors. This year Shane Peacock and Ted Staunton are doing the evaluating.

The local authors have been visiting schools, talking to teachers and distributing flyers to promote the contest.

"It's a way to promote writing and promote literacy. We've been very fortunate. A number of teachers have taken it on as a class project," said Ms. Perry.

Students are invited to submit an original unpublished hand-written or printed story by Saturday, Jan. 23, at 5 p.m. The grade 1 to 3 students are asked for stories of 100 words or more. Stories by the kids in grades 4 to 6, can be 400 words or more. Stories from the Grades 7 and 8's, should be 500 words or longer.

High school students must submit stories that are 750 words or longer.

Three entries in each category will win Share Your Stories Prizes of movie passes, books and cash.

A public awards presentation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 10 a.m.

Students wishing to enter the contest must submit their stories with their name, phone number and grade attached to their entry on a separate page. Stories can be dropped off at main branch of the Cobourg Public Library, faxed to 905-372-4538, emailed to rperry@cobourg.library.on.ca or mailed to Share Your Stories Contest, c/o Rhonda Perry, 200 Ontario St., Cobourg, ON, K9A 5P4.

For more information, call the library at 905-372-9271 ext. 6130 or visit www.cobourg.library.on.ca


No comments:

Post a Comment