Samuels Library holds reception, names winners of 38th Holiday Writing Contest

Pictured is Bayleigh Fox, a sixth grader from Wakefield Country Day School, as she reads her winning selection.  Michal Ashby, Youth Services Supervisor of Samuels Public Library, and Kevin Seabrooke, owner of Royal Oak Bookshop, look on.

FRONT ROYAL — Samuels Public Library held a reception for the winners of the 38^th annual Holiday Writing Contest on Thursday, December 15, 2016.  Students read their winning entries for the assembled audience, received their certificates and books, and were treated to refreshments afterward.  First place winners were awarded gift certificates to Royal Oak Bookshop.  Congratulations to the following students:

Jackson Baldi, “Jumping in the Snow,” Wakefield Country Day School;

Gage Nixon, “Santa Magic,” Mountain Laurel Montessori;

Andrew Shiben, “Christmas Eve,” Mountain Laurel Montessori;

Sophia Nicklow, “Christmas Day,” Ressie Jeffries Elementary;

John Paul Stanford, “The Christmas Tree for Me,” Home Schooled;

Lexi Hathaway, “Santa’s Wish” Mountain Laurel Montessori;

Vasily Wagner, “Snowman,” Mountain Laurel Montessori;

Joseph MacDougall, “The Little Boy Who Saw Santa,” Wakefield Country Day School;

Wright Broadhead, “Christmas,” Mountain Laurel Montessori;

Naomi Greenwalt, “Little Did I Know a Christmas Fairy Was In My Bedroom,” Hilda J. Barbour Elementary;

Laurel Brade, “Mr. Mousey’s Christmas at the Biltmore,” Hilda J. Barbour Elementary;

Maitreya Kelly, “Lilly,” Mountain Laurel Montessori;

Garrick Andrew Church, “Welcome Christmas,” Wakefield Country Day School;

Sarah White, “My Secret,” Home Schooled;

Carmen O’Neill, “The Best Christmas Ever,” Wakefield Country Day School;

Sophia Korte, “The Elf, the Boy and Santa,” Wakefield Country Day School;

Savannah Hillman, “Holiday Fun,” Valley Baptist Christian School;

Hannah Renee Anderson, “The Winter Song Book,” Ressie Jeffires Elementary;

Ava Lubkemann, “World War,” Wakefield Country Day School;

Bayleigh Fox, “A Very Merry Christmas Indeed,”    Wakefield Country Day School;

Veronica Helen Jenislawski, “The Box,” Divinum Auxillium Academy;

Nathalie Schelin, “Help Wanted: Snowflake,” Home Schooled;

Katharine Kelly, “A London Christmas Eve,” Seton Home Study School;

Katie Kelly, “A Lonely Winter Evening,” Mountain Laurel Montessori J.H.S.;

Peter McMahon, “Separated,” Wakefield Country Day School;

Keiley Tierney, “Christmas Eve,” Front Royal Christian School;

Carolyn Bockrath, “Christmas is Coming, Christmas is Here,” Mother of Divine Grace;

Colt Barham, “Giving and Receiving,” Front Royal Christian School;

Hannah Johnson, “Snow in Arizona,” Front Royal Christian School;

Lucia Fisher, “A Christmas Journey,” Home Schooled;

Mara L. Delmare, “The Christmas Wonder,” Front Royal Christian School;

Emma Arbuckle, “Christmas Déjà vu,” Front Royal Christian School;

Lucy Stanford, “Holiday Haikus,” Chelsea Academy;

Harmony Lindstrom, “The Night Before Finals,” Wakefield Country Day School;

Lydia Conley, “Witness,” Front Royal Christian School;

Heather M. Ralls, “A Hawaiian Christmas,” Front Royal Christian Schoo;l

Theresa Castellan, “Departed For The Holidays,” Chelsea Academy;

Tori Stringfellow, “Sam’s Love,” Front Royal Christian School;

Julianna Turner, “Mid-Winter’s Harmony,” Chelsea Academy.

The following students were recognized for their artwork, which was featured in the book of winning entries:

Mary Beatrice Stanford, Home Schooled;

Ava Barvick, Home Schooled;

Lela Masters, Mountain Laurel Montessori School;

Flora Trumpetto, Mountain Laurel Montessori School;

Brooke Owens, Mountain Laurel Montessori School.