Emma Jewel Charter Academy holds essay contest in preparation for state tests

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An essay contest Emma Jewel Charter Academy held to prepare students for the Florida Standards Assessment culminated in a lively awards ceremony Friday morning as students collected their hard-earned prizes.

Students in grades four through eight responded to an essay prompt similar to what they might see next week when the Florida Standards Assessments begin. This year is the last year the Florida Standards Assessment will be held; new legislation replaces the controversial standardized tests with progress monitoring throughout the year.

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Attorney Alton Edmond, chair of the Emma Jewel Charter Academy board, funded the awards in hopes of getting students excited about writing. He said he participated in essay contests when he himself was a young student, and they helped him develop writing skills he still uses today. The prizes were an added incentive, he said.

“I think participating in those contests sparked kind of a hunger in me to keep doing stuff like writing and speech, because I didn't realize that I was any good and I just did it because ... what kid doesn’t want 75 bucks?” Edmond said.

Thomas Cole, founder of Emma Jewel Charter Academy, high fives a winning scholar at a ceremony honoring students who won an essay contest designed to help them prepare for the Florida Standards Assessment.
Thomas Cole, founder of Emma Jewel Charter Academy, high fives a winning scholar at a ceremony honoring students who won an essay contest designed to help them prepare for the Florida Standards Assessment.

Edmond said many people may not have recognized him as a strong writer in middle school, but he excelled in the contests he participated in. Several of the Emma Jewel students similarly surprised the judges, Edmond said.

“I think the same thing happened in this essay writing contest because there were kids that you wouldn't necessarily expect that put together some really good writing samples,” Edmond said. “It made me feel like maybe (the contest) helped to bring out the best in some of these students that are not normally the highest performing students.”

A first place winner in each grade received a $50 Visa gift card. Second place winners won $40 Walmart gift cards, and third place winners earned $30 Google Play or iTunes gift cards. Several students in each grade won honorable mentions and were given Outshine frozen fruit popsicles for "outshining" the competition.

Danielle McKinnon, diversity and equity director for Brevard Public Schools, attended the ceremony and urged students to continue to hone their writing talents.

“Writing truly is a gift to get thoughts — deep thoughts — to paper,” McKinnon said. “So I encourage you all to use the power of writing as you continue academically, through your personal lives and eventually through your professional life.”

Students cheered and applauded their peers as each winner came to claim a prize. Teacher Jordan Gibbs congratulated students on their hard work.

“I saw more effort than I've ever seen in writing in the school, and I've been here eight years,” Gibbs said to students at the ceremony. “I saw everybody try their best. And that's all we can ever ask.”

Essay contest winners

4th grade

  • 1st place: Jakai Simmons

  • 2nd place: Anyla DeJesus

  • 3rd place: Kayin Miglia

5th grade

  • 1st place: Isabella Reyes

  • 2nd place: Amelia Howard

  • 3rd place: Asa Cook

6th grade

  • 1st place: Samson Butterfield

  • 2nd place: Ti’yon Moore

  • 3rd place: Da’leah Graves

7th grade

  • 1st place: Skylar Waite

  • 2nd place: Gabriella Deranleau

  • 3rd place: Maleah Cook

8th grade

  • 1st place: Angel Sams

  • 2nd place: Jalaya Gamble

  • 3rd place: Sanau’ Jhagroo

Bailey Gallion is the education reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallion at 321-242-3786 or bgallion@floridatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Emma Jewel creates essay contest to make standardized test prep fun