First Grade Class with Patty Schlaeger, Woodsy and Smokey and Aspynn Burroughs in front with certificate. Photo credit Patricia Schlaeger
First grade teacher, Mr. Josh Carlson, at the Centerville Elementary School in Centerville had his entire class of first-graders take part in preparing a poster for the US Forest Service and the National Garden Club’s annual Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl Poster Contest. The local contest was coordinated by local Rainbow Garden Club Youth Clubs Chairman, Patricia Schlaeger. Plans were made for Schlaeger to visit the class in November, December and January to help them prepare their posters to enter in the Montana State Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. (MFGC) sponsorship of this contest.
Patricia Schlaeger arrived in November and gave the class an introduction to both Smokey Bear (who they all knew) and Woodsy Owl. The local Forest Service Office supplied rulers, pencils, coloring books, story books, erasers and frisbees for each child. She drew a picture of Smokey and Woodsy on the chalkboard, then proceeded to help them with ideas to sketch for their poster. The finished posters were all turned in and submitted to the MFGC state chairman, Jennifer Strzelczyk in January.
When Schlaeger learned one child from this class was the winner of the state contest for her age group, Schlaeger contacted the state’s “Smokey Bear” and “Woodsy Owl” characters and invited them to come to Centerville to present certificates to these first graders. To honor these children the school’s principal Mike Taylor agreed to hold a school assembly. This presentation for the first graders was held on Thursday, April 17th at 10:30 AM.
The winner of the Montana poster, Aspynn Burroughs, was announced after the presentation of all other certificates. Her entry will go on to a regional contest for winners from Montana, Idaho, North and South
Dakota, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. Regional contest winners then go on to the national contest level. The national winner wins a trip to Washington DC for the whole family and other special honors.
When asked how she felt about winning this contest, Aspynn replied, “Glad! Yes, mostly glad!” She received a roaring ovation from her classmates, the rest of the students and teachers from Centerville
School and special hugs from Smokey and Woodsy.
Schlaeger said the posters from the Centerville Students and other contest participants from Montana will be on display in Helena, Montana during the MFGC annual conference on June 20-21 at the Great Northern Hotel.
Author: Staff
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