Winter Writing for STAAR was a Dallas ISD essay contest that provided students in grades three through nine a unique opportunity to practice for the writing portion of STAAR, the all-new state assessment of student performance that is replacing the TAKS. A combined total of 812 essays were submitted by elementary and secondary students.

Students had 26 lines in which to write two different types of compositions: a narrative and an expository essay. A narrative is an expressive literary piece written in first person that centers on a particular event in the writer’s life and may contain vivid description as well as personal commentary and observations. Most short stories or novels are narratives. An expository essay is a type of informational writing that explains or clarifies something. Many newspaper articles or news stories on the Web fall into this category. Students will take the STAAR Writing test beginning March 2012.

The first-place winner will receive two movie passes. The second-place winner will receive a gift card for Chili’s Restaurant, and the third-place winner will receive a goodie basket. Ten honorable mention winners will receive books. All students who participated in Winter Writing for STAAR will receive a certificate for their participation.

Congratulations to the students listed below for your winning essays.

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3rd-4th Grade Winners

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Student's Name	Placement	Grade	Campus	Principal
McCollum, Manon	1st Place	4th	Stonewall Jackson	Olivia Hernandez
Alpizar, Henry	2nd Place	4th	Sudie Williams	Lorena Garay Hernandez
Castanheira, Dominique	3rd Place	4th	George Bannerman Dealey	Johanna Bortnem
Rapp, Andy	Honorable Mention	4th	Stonewall Jackson	Olivia Hernandez
Salais, Jaquelyn	Honorable Mention	4th	Frederick Douglass	Robert McElroy
Hernandez, Michael	Honorable Mention	4th	J.T. Brashear	Derrick Batts
Perkins, Brekaila	Honorable Mention	4th	H.I. Holland	Curtis Holland
Proa, Jacqueline	Honorable Mention	4th	Sudie Williams	Lorena Garay Hernandez
Cazarez, Erika	Honorable Mention	4th	Sudie Williams	Lorena Garay Hernandez
Pate, Emma	Honorable Mention	4th	Stonewall Jackson	Olivia Hernandez
Ross, Justin	Honorable Mention	4th	George Bannerman Dealey	Johanna Bortnem
Baker, Janelle	Honorable Mention	4th	William B. Travis	Mari Smith
Navarro, Elise	Honorable Mention	4th	J.T. Brashear	Derrick Batts

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5th-7th Grade Winners

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Student's Name	Placement	Grade	Campus	Principal
Clifton, Rachel	1st Place	6th	J.T. Brashear	Derrick Batts
Obrien, Jenna	2nd Place	5th	George Bannerman Dealey	Johanna Bortnem
Baker, Jamal	3rd Place	7th	William B. Travis	Mari Smith
Schroeder, Ryon	Honorable Mention	5th	George Bannerman Dealey	Johanna Bortnem
Brooks, Anatasia	Honorable Mention	5th	George Bannerman Dealey	Johanna Bortnem
Griffith, Jaylen	Honorable Mention	5th	H.I. Holland	Curtis Holland
Barton, Alexis	Honorable Mention	5th	George Bannerman Dealey	Johanna Bortnem
Salcedo, Victoria	Honorable Mention	5th	George Bannerman Dealey	Johanna Bortnem
Jin, Grant	Honorable Mention	5th	George Bannerman Dealey	Johanna Bortnem
Martinez, Karen	Honorable Mention	5th	James Bowie	April Rivera
Robles, Diego	Honorable Mention	7th	L.V. Stockard	Ahna Gomez
Sigarn, Itzel	Honorable Mention	6th	George Bannerman Dealey	Johanna Bortnem
DeLeon, Genesis	Honorable Mention	6th	J.T. Brashear	Derrick Batts

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8th-9th Grade Winners

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Student's Name	Placement	Grade	Campus	Principal
Martinez, Guillermo	1st Place	9th	A. Maceo Smith New Tech	Brian Lusk
Edgar, Gwen	2nd Place	9th	Townview Talented & Gifted	Michael Satarino
Rosas, Veronica	3rd Place	9th	A. Maceo Smith New Tech	Brian Lusk
Thomas, Gabriel	Honorable Mention	8th	Henry Longfellow	Shannon Tovar
Padron, Romeo	Honorable Mention	8th	Raul Quintanilla	Luis Valdez
Hernandez, Neyva	Honorable Mention	8th	Raul Quintanilla	Luis Valdez
Sellers, Jasmyion	Honorable Mention	8th	Raul Quintanilla	Luis Valdez
Rafael, Karel	Honorable Mention	8th	Raul Quintanilla	Luis Valdez
Ibarra, Edson	Honorable Mention	8th	Raul Quintanilla	Luis Valdez
McGowan, Arlesia	Honorable Mention	9th	Booker T. Washington	Tracie Fraley
Lara, Alexis	Honorable Mention	8th	Raul Quintanilla	Luis Valdez
Leija, Desiree	Honorable Mention	8th	Raul Quintanilla	Luis Valdez
Perez, Clarissa	Honorable Mention	8th	Raul Quintanilla	Luis Valdez