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| ART 08
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Swan Paul Brown, grade 11 Decatur High, Decatur Teacher: Wendy Keith-Ott National Finalist |
Eric Stokes, grade 7 Columbia Co. 4-H Martinez Teacher:
Shirley Williamson National
Finalist |
Blue Alana
Handman, grade 10 Decatur
High, Decatur Teacher: Wendy Keith-Ott National
Finalist
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Snow White Forest Kasey Rodgers, grade 3 Barnwell Elementary Alpharetta Teacher: Lisa Hammond National
Finalist
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Nicole Rocheteau, grade 2 Casa Montessori, Marietta Teacher: Hedwig O'Brien State Winner
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Golden Boy Kinsey Garreau, grade 2 Maranatha Christian Academy, Oakwood Teacher: Lyndrid Patterson State Winner
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Refreshing Water Tyler Anglin, grade 2 St. Mary's ElementarySt. Mary's Teacher: Beth Moody State Winner |
Beautiful
Life Baylor Cantrell, grade 2 Due West Elementary Marietta Teachers: Lisa Slanson and State Winner
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Pick
Up Your Trash Michael McDaniel, grade K Mansfield Elementary Mansfield Teacher: Beth Coody State Winner |
Life
of the Fox Casa Montessori Marietta Teacher: Theresa Dean State Winner |
untitled Emily Bachner, grade 6 Davis Academy Atlanta Teacher: Michelle Stein State Winner |
Keep
Our Lily Pad Pond Alive Chandler Pennington, grade 6 GA Military College Prep Milledgeville Teacher: Maj. Patty Anderson State Winner |
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Creation Andrew Sexton, grade 6 Oakwood Teacher: Lyndrid Patterson State Winner
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Connection Rebecca Benfield, grade 6 Oakwood Teacher: Lyndrid Patterson State Winner
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The
Shoal Luke Tassopoulos, grade 6 Casa Montessori Marietta Teacher: Theresa Dean State Winner
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Water!
Source of Life? Samuel Choi, grade 6 Bennett's Mill Middle Fayetteville Teacher: Jennifer Ritter State Winner
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Aquatic
World Diofanny Mark, grade 7 Locust Grove Teacher: Judith Beekman State Winner
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Silk
and Stone Sarah Toner, grade 8 Dickerson Middle Marietta Teacher: Rebecca Johnson State Winner
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Gentle
Flow Austin Pyron, grade 7 New Hope Middle Dalton State Winner
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World
Rain Jesse Abbott, grade 9 State Winner
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Circle
of Life Lindsey Kandel, grade 9 Roswell Teacher: Katja Burkett State Winner
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Early
Morning Memory Rae Williams, grade 11 Oakwood Teacher: Lyndrid Patterson State Winner
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School
of Fish, #12 Amy Lee, grade 11 Teacher: John Riggins State Winner
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The
Old Swing by the Swimming Hole Ana Ovtchinnikova grade 12 Centennial High School State Winner |
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More
than Meets the Eye Evans High Evans Teacher: Pamela Segers State Winner
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Secret Life of Fish David Patterson, grade 11
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Starting
a Band
Bang bang! The garage almost collapses Our next big hit, a rock anthem for the ages At least my mom thinks so I shred with my Fender, Arthur’s Excalibur My cousin does his best Gene Simmons impression Tongue flicks and bass riffs Flick your bic to our savory melodies Slightly off tune but our spirit is there! Mickey, our drummer, holds the beat as he finishes his algebra Reggie the keyboardist may as well be Mozart, His notes lagging behind The electrical bill is through the roof, just like our tracks! Joe Carnaroli, grade 9 Cumming Teacher: John Bush NATIONAL FINALIST |
Back
and
The creaky, old swing rocks Back and forth, back and forth Reminding me of the rocking my mother did Lulling me to sleep I’ve sprouted Tall and thin, glasses, long hair Now listening To the clack of my fingers on my laptop or the ding of the new text message Not the sweet small voice of my mother Instead of this old farmhouse, I’m used to much more industrious things The bustling city Full of people and lights and sound I’ve learned to love people, Besides the ones who raised me But I still swing Back and forth, past and present, Present and future. Katie Garmon, grade 9 Cumming Teacher: John Bush NATIONAL FINALIST |
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| Fred’s
Shanty Sun-baked asphalt since 1972 Picnic Tables of stained oak like Seagulls scour for crumbs, hyenas of the sky Caw-Caw they screech as I gulp down homemade lemonade Order some clam strips as an appetizer Tartar sauce from a pump Signature frankfurters, 12 inches of bliss, a toasted bun, Like a robe of a monarch. A crown of deli mustard, subjects in A basket near by. Boats down below, waves crash sporadically. Submarines like bees on a hive at the Base. I notice my grandfather, toothy from ear to ear, he is A boy again, sipping his sweet savory tea in its Styrofoam Cup, gold through a straw. A spoonful of chowder, I imagine him swimming to murky Lighthouse in the distance, watching over the river, A cow to a calf, guiding the bitter water to its ocean destiny. Joe Carnaroli, grade 9 Cumming Teacher: John Bush NATIONAL FINALIST |
Spring The river trout battles against the current Like a sailboat sailing against the wind The geese are flying north again Coming back from their winter vacation The maple tree is sprouting new life Out of its’ brown entangled branches The newborn baby bird Seeing its first sight of the sun Rolling up over the tall mountains Keith Gilbert, grade 9 Cumming Teacher: John Bush NATIONAL FINALIST
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To Mission Viejo I was born there. A water child my mom had once said. I emerged from the Pacific, salt thick on my new skin, my iris’ two giant sea anemones of cerulean. When the tailwinds took me east, I dragged my feet in the coffee colored sand, my eyes blurry with the flicking of debris. In that moment, I swallowed the ocean. It drained from my tip-toes. Everyone forgets sometime. Today I practice yoga. My calves tuck like anchors beneath my thighs, my arms stretch like waves, and I am reminded of my youth. My breath has the strength of tide. As I come out of child’s pose, I hear the deep bellow of the Pacific: “Namaste!” Kendall Pakula, grade 12 Teacher: Joel McElvaney NATIONAL FINALIST |
What I See look at me. I’m a waterfall. I rush down fast. My water is clear. I see a brown hawk soar over a river. Gracefully it flies. The white-bellied hawk flies to a tree. Over the trees in the night you can see the moon. It is a pretty sight. Ansley Claire Gerretzen, grade 1 Teacher: Cyndia Hunnicutt STATE WINNER
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| Rain Rain, rain, rain Falling down from the clouds. Wet rain, dark clouds How wet is the rain? Cold rain, warm rain, wet rain Rain Storm! Rain drops, rain drizzles Light rain. Harder and harder and harder Rain and rainstorm! Some people like rain Some people don't. But I like rain when we're in a drought! Matthew Reingold, grade 1 STATE WINNER |
The
The river is flowing as fast as a gazelle. The river makes mud for the reeds to grow in. The reeds provide a safe nesting place for reed warblers. The waterfall is majestic. It seems never ending. After I go to the river I feel so refreshed. The river is a wonderful place to be because it gives life to so many animals. Sam Larsen, grade 2 Teacher: Cyndia Hunnicutt STATE WINNER |
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| The
Ocean The rain has gone to the lake. The lake has flowed into the river. The river has gone to the ocean. The ocean goes back to the sky. The cycle starts over again. Keep the water clean and start your own cycle. You need to know that pollution is very bad. It makes people and animals very sad. Isaac Wilson, grade 2 Upson Lee South Elementary Thomaston Teacher: Sheryl Farr STATE WINNER
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Water
to Me Water is flowing Where is it going? Water is flowing Drip by drip I like to swim in it I like to splash in it I like to drink it Sip by sip I like to fish in it I like to squish in it I have my net in it Dip by dip We should love it We should care for it We should clean it Bit by bit M. Branch Austinson, grade 1 Homeschool Bainbridge Teacher: Teresa Adkins STATE WINNER |
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| What
is Nature? Singing birds Humming bees Pretty flowers Green trees Yellow sun Twinkling stars Glowing moon Brown squirrels Running in a stream Into the sea Beautiful oceans Even me Bryce McKinney, Kindergarten C. L. Gideons Elementary Teacher: Darlene Dobbs STATE WINNER |
The A swift woosh Swept over the land The It is a meandering beauty Its source Is in the It then rushes and gushes through the land Cascading and exploding as it rolls into the ocean It is a rushing torrent Then again it is a calm peaceful river Its icy waters burst and bubble Its silvery waters shimmering in the sun It is a thin ribbon Twisting like a snake It is a life-giving river Its beauty is immortal In the day it is aglow Languid and steady It whispers knowingly As it glides along beautifully Sometimes at night The ghostly river fog Makes you think of the murky water And all its mysteries The Is and always has been a natural beauty That brings life and joy To everybody and everything it passes Ahiliya Nat, grade 5, Barnwell Elementary Alpharetta Teacher: Lauren Papadakis STATE WINNER |
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| Life Swiftly flowing, calmly still, Flowing freely as it will, Shallow puddle, ocean deep, Water giving life. Waterfall and delta break, Tributary to river strong, Water giving life. Make a splash or take a swim, Diving to the ocean’s rim, Skiing, tubing, or canoe, Water giving life. Drought, pollution, all the worst, Dehydration, no quench for thirst, Fish are dying, oil spills, Water giving life? More beauty and wealth than man deserves, Time to protect, time to conserve, Shorter showers, turn off the sink, Water giving life. Working together hand in hand, Responsibility falls to man, Ensuring all a future bright, Water gives us life. Adam Wayton, grade 6 Bennett's Teacher: Jennifer Ritter STATE WINNER |
What
am I? You use it in the morning, when you brush your teeth. You use it on your hair, to make it neat. In puddles, I feel good on feet. With teabags and sugar, I am sweet. In the summer, you put me in the pool. When you are hot, I make you cool. One more clue, I am not blue. I am water. Amber Phillips, grade 4 Teacher: Andrea Moore STATE WINNER |
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It dips its head in the water like a crane. A deer skips around the river like a galloping horse. It drinks from the river like a child sipping from a cup. A fish swims in the river as swiftly as rain dropping. It jumps in the water like a dolphin. This is the beauty of nature. Sindhu Kannappan, grade 3 Teacher: Cyndia Hunnicutt STATE WINNER |
But not until this drought is done. Most lakes are low, some are high, If it does not rain the fish will die. We must conserve water and do our part, It only makes sense to be so smart. Let's all hope this drought will end, For our lakes to be full, on rain we depend. Bradley Keith, grade 6 Bennett's Teacher: Jennifer Ritter STATE WINNER |
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| Drops
of Life The stream rushes Drops fall over the cliff’s edge Into the glinting water below The water droplets whisper to each other Sunset hits the stream The world seems silent Water is life, wild and free Fresh and sweet to drink Drops of water as clear as crystals Become my waterfall Dayna Maxfield, grade 8 Bennett’s Teacher: Jennifer Ritter STATE WINNER |
Bubblebeloo There once was a fish named Bubblebeloo But everyone just called him Bubble. Bubble was a fish, just a regular fish With a knack for getting in trouble. One day as Bubble was swimming home Something bright caught his eye. And being himself he could not resist To follow the huge, shiny lie. As he swam he came upon the hook But knew not what it could do. He touched the object with his fin And found it to be rather cool. And Bubble, wanting to know more Put his mouth around the hook. The fisherman pulled the line, And Bubble was caught like a thieving crook The lesson to be learned from Bubble Is not too hard to miss. It's never good to be too curious Or you may be a restaurant dish. Matthew Thomas, grade 8 Bennett’s Teacher: Jennifer Ritter STATE WINNER |
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| Seasonal
Haiku Spring Dark menacing sky Thunder and lightning roll by Rain washes over Summer Sun's blistery heat I put my feet on green grass Cool rug underneath Fall Bright fall leaves rustle Clogging up the busy stream Cool breeze chills my spine Winter Snowflakes flurry fast Coating clean the world anew Winter's mantle falls Lauren Sykora, grade 7 Suwanee Teacher: Jen Sellars STATE WINNER |
Words
Fearless, ambitious, I dove headfirst into words. I sank deeper and deeper Into murky pages. When I opened my eyes I saw a woman in a wooden chair The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock Resting on her white dress lap, Seemingly indifferent to the rushing currents "Emily ," I began, but before I could utter another syllable, Ishmael's cunning whale flew past. (That reckless creature) I was whirled about so quickly I saw only brief glimpses of Thoreau and Emerson sitting In a quiet wood drinking tea. Sexton and Plath curled In a corner with maps, Papers, and pens. Just before I broke the surface I saw smoke billow up from Lewis' pipe. Gasping for breath, I floated in the splendid stream And pondered a means To grow gills. Autumn Fitzgerald, grade 12 Oakwood Teacher: Lyndrid Patterson STATE WINNER |
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Magnificent Sight The water cascading Into the pool below A magnificent sight On the forest floor The glimmer of the sunshine The promise of rain Arouses the smell Of spring on the way. The sight of nature Undisturbed by society Puts ease to mind This place isn't going to become a tragedy It's a place to call home A place to weather the storm Some weary and gloomy Some safe and warm The waterfall's magnificent It's a sight for all to see The water cascading Between the forest's trees Ashleigh Brooks, grade 12 Teacher: Joel McElvaney STATEWINNER |
Raindrops Dry, cracked soil, dehydration moves from house to house, neighborhood to neighborhood, leaving a trail of sickness and death. Until that one fateful day, the day for which everyone has been praying, everyone runs through the streets, jumping for joy, and singing praises! No more sadness and heartache, no more overfilled hospitals, no more lack of food, no more of any of the ailments affecting people, Everything has gone back to the way it should be, all because of one thing— the rain. Aaron Jones, grade 10 Tucker Teacher: David Hirsch STATE WINNER |
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The water is clearer Than I've ever seen, So unlike manmade Lanier. Nature does a better job. The sand is white No red mud to mar the shore Grey and white stones Preside over pebble subjects Mica litters the sand Flashing in the sun, Hand mirrors of tiny fairies, Hidden in the stones. Small openings Take aspects of doorways, Patches of sand inside Become courtyards. A small puddle changes Into a wading pool. Shells become bowls. Stones become seats. The shore is transformed Not a jumble of rocks Dropped by the tide, But a fair city disguised. Teacher: Joel McElvaney STATE WINNER |
You’ve got
a Friend in Me Fluffy clouds, sparkling rocks, little bumblebees Gushing winds, butterflies, various beautiful trees. Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future. Care to meet me? Let’s go on an adventure! Jellyfish, flounder, crabs, and a seagull Relax and enjoy my waves’ gentle lull. Some geese, some fish, a turtle, and a snake Come skip a smooth stone across the surface of my lake. Ducks and ducklings, frogs and tadpoles, Take a nap among the cattails as the wind blows. The sunshine, the rocks, the dirt, and the wind All of these things, even you are my friend! I flow, I roll, I rush, and I run I’m relaxing, I’m refreshing, I’m lots of fun. Hello mother, hello father, hello brother, hello daughter Pleased to serve you, I am water! Laura Stubbs, grade 11 Statesboro Teacher: Diane Hathaway STATE WINNER |
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| Surfacing Icy blue fingers are pulling at my sleeves, tugging me under to join the underwater I can see my shoelaces dangling in the water, limp, frozen in time, I'm caught in a limbo as the breath of the gods leaves me to the will of Poseidon. My arms reject movement, my legs will not kick, I refuse to be propelled upward. And now my lungs have begun to accommodate to their new abode, the guest rushes in, quickly becoming recognized as a stranger. Numbness spreads throughout as the darkness, the water, the pressure, the panic become consuming. The fish come to spectate this strange object who has fallen through the looking glass into their world. Darkness is gaining quickly, almost becoming peaceful, calming with the lap of water distant on the shore, light dancing on the surface thousands of memories of a world above accumulate in the droplets standing before my bleary eyes, taunting me as I thrust my body upward, out of this confinement, to gasp the sweet nectar of air. Emilie Menzel, grade 10 Lilburn Teacher: Beverly Bateman STATE WINNER |
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