In an age when keyboards and texts are used to share a tremendous amount of information, good handwriting can often be overlooked. But it has not been forgotten.
Third graders in Comal ISD were recently asked to not only put pen to paper, but to tell a story while doing it. As part of the district’s annual Cursive Writing Contest – Capturing Comal in Cursive – students were asked to write a descriptive paragraph on one of the following topics: an interesting aspect of our community; a local tradition; a distinctive animal; or a natural resource. Entries not only had to be creative, but they had to be written in cursive. Prizes were awarded for creativity, word choice, sensory details, content knowledge, and penmanship.
This year’s writing contest winners are:
- Grand Prize Winner: Hailey Hutson - Bill Brown Elementary
- Most Creative: Annalise Ortiz - Rahe Bulverde Elementary
- Best Word Choice: Abbygail Eckert - Rahe Bulverde Elementary
- Most Vivid Sensory Details: Audisea Faith Garza - Timberwood Park Elementary
- Excellent Content Knowledge: Kaila Bove - Rahe Bulverde Elementary
- Best Penmanship: Elisabetta Buckenmyer - Rahe Bulverde Elementary
Hutson, the grand prize winner, wrote about the Comal County Fair, describing it as “a place for families to get together, have fun, and support local businesses.”
Current state standards require students in third, fourth and fifth grade to use cursive when writing is required for an assignment.
“Studies show that when students physically write, whether it’s cursive or manuscript writing, they remember and process information better,” says Brigit Locke, elementary English Language Arts coordinator.
The grand prize winner received a commemorative plaque, medal and school supply basket. Category winners received commemorative medals and school supply baskets.