Close to 300 people assembled at St. Louis of France School in La Puente April 24 for the "Spring Fling" early literacy writing awards, honoring elementary student poetry, fiction and non-fiction winners.

Fifty-nine winners from kindergarten through fourth grade classes received first, second and third place awards for exceptional writing. According to Dr. Marie Collins, event coordinator and archdiocesan elementary regional supervisor, submissions to the annual competition were higher than ever, numbering approximately 15 from each of the 70 participating schools.

"The caliber of writing was just astounding, with many poignant, whimsical and wonderful entries," said Collins. The top three schools garnering the most awards included Our Lady of Victory in Compton, St. Vincent in Los Angeles and Incarnation in Glendale.

The fifth annual writing and poetry awards competition, an outgrowth of the Writing to Read program used in 125 schools in the L.A. Archdiocese, was started by a group of archdiocesan elementary teachers. "There's a high degree of interest in early literacy programs from teachers and principals," said Collins.

After the "Spring Fling" awards presentation, educators received an update on an early literacy pilot program currently in use at Our Lady of Refuge School in Long Beach, St. Euphrasia School in Granada Hills and St. Timothy and Nativity Schools in Los Angeles. According to Collins, the pilot program continues the Writing to Read "child-centered approach to literacy."

First place poetry winners included: Brianne Mejorado, kindergartner at St. Benedict, Montebello; Scarlette Helena, first grade, Good Shepherd, Beverly Hills; Aleceya Perez, second grade, St. Benedict, Montebello; Louis Gallegos, third grade, Good Shepherd, Beverly Hills; and Stephanie Torres, fourth grade, Notre Dame Academy, West Los Angeles.

First place fiction winners were: Esmeralda Castillo, kindergarten, Our Lady of Victory, Compton; Celine Jo, first grade, Cathedral Chapel, Los Angeles; Sydney Wong, second grade, St. Monica, Santa Monica; Stephanie Duran, third grade, Mary Immaculate, Pacoima; and Charles Hoying, fourth grade, American Martyrs, Manhattan Beach.

Non-fiction winners included: Crystal Vega, kindergarten, St. Vincent, Los Angeles; Daniel Estrada, first grade, St. Vincent, Los Angeles; Christine Alba, second grade, St. Augustine, Culver City; [third grade tie] Jagger Kroener, American Martyrs, Manhattan Beach, and Maura Turcotte, Incarnation, Glendale; Katrina De La Cruz, fourth grade, St. Dominic, Los Angeles.