Andrea Printz, fifth grade, honored as top 1% of writers at State House
Written by Christy Richardson on May 18, 2012
Pine Cobble Fifth Grader Honored at Statehouse
Andrea Printz recognized as top 1% in state in competitive Letters About Literature Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susannah Wells, Head of School
413.458.4680, s.wells@pinecobble.org
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA. May 17, 2012. Andrea Printz, a fifth grader at Pine Cobble School, been awarded an honors designation in the Massachusetts Letters About Literature 2012 program, ranking her in the top 1% of young writers statewide. Her letter, to author Robert C. O’Brien about Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, was selected from thousands for its expository skill, content, style, and originality. She will be honored at the State House in Boston.
This is the fourth year in a row that a Pine Cobble fifth grade student has been recognized in this highly competitive program. Since 2009, seven Pine Cobble fifth grade students have been recognized with awards in this highly competitive statewide program.
“We are so proud of Andrea,” said Sue Wells, Pine Cobble’s head of school. “And we’re deeply grateful to Mrs. Bernard for her unwavering dedication to teaching outstanding writing. This is the fourth year running that a Pine Cobble student has been honored by this program; it’s is a real testament to the power of an amazing teacher.”
Linda Bernard, fifth grade teacher, has overseen the fifth grade writing program. Next year, she will move into a new role at Pine Cobble, as a dedicated writing coach for all grades.
“She’s just incredible,” said Wells. “Students adore her, and they work very, very hard for her. We consistently hear from alumni that even in college and graduate school, they continue to draw upon skills that they learned from Mrs. Bernard.”
Letters About Literature is a national reading and writing program that asks students in Grades 4 through 12 to write letters to authors whose work has made a significant difference in their lives. It is sponsored nationally by the Library of Congress and Target Stores, with separate competitions for each state.
Last year, Georgia Hannock won an honor’s designation for her letter to William Steig about Abel’s Island, and was honored at the statehouse, while Cate Byrne and Holden Ellard were semi-finalists, ranking them in the top 5%. In 2010, Elias Sekkal won an honor’s designation for his letter about The Search for Delicious, and was honored at the statehouse, as well. The previous year, two of Bernard’s students, Jake Daugherty and Matthew Germanowski, received Honorable Mention recognition.
Bernard has taught fifth grade at Pine Cobble for 22 years, always with a strong emphasis on excellent writing. In Pine Cobble’s Intermediate School (grades 4-6), careful reading and outstanding writing are integrated into all aspects of the curriculum. Students are exposed to a broad range of literature and are presented with opportunities to write many different works — fiction, non-fiction, prose, poetry, plays, letters, expository writing, reports, persuasive essays, biographies, and more. Strong emphasis is placed not only on the initial work, but also a thoughtful, exacting multi-step editing process, as well.
Printz is being honored on May 18 during a ceremony at the State House in Boston.
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