ALPINE — This year, the Alpine Chamber of Commerce Education Committee received an overwhelming response when it hosted an essay contest with the cooperation of the Alpine Union School District. Over 500 children turned in essays when they were challenged to write about what makes a good teacher. The contest welcomed essays from students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.
     In the middle of February, the district distributed flyers to Alpine schools, asking for students to write an essay. Length was not a concern. They had to discuss in the essay their thoughts about a topic that the district felt all students could comment on. The qualities of a good teacher was something that every student could comment on.
     At the end of March, when the essays were collected, Boulder Oaks Elementary teacher, Katherine Jenson, took an entire weekend to comb through all the essays and narrow them down for further consideration. Jenson, who had also helped coordinate this event with another teacher last year, said, “It was all about the opening catch phrase, it had to catch my interest in the introduction.”
     With the help of another Boulder Oaks teacher, Emily Principe, and Joan Mac Queen Middle School Principal, Katy Woodward, 35 students were selected to win awards for their efforts. 
     The contest winners were honored at a dinner hosted by the Alpine Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, at the Alpine Community Center, on May 18 at 6 p.m.
The dinner was quite an affair, where 33 of the winners came with their parents and teachers, dressed in their best, to present a selected part of the essays that they wrote. 
     As the dinner opened, everyone stood, and after putting their hands to their hearts, said the Pledge of Allegiance. Then Charlie Brown, of Viejas Enterprises, was introduced. He said he was proud to sponsor this event and commented on how the “school over here” (pointing toward Alpine Elementary School) hasn’t changed since he attended as a child growing up in Alpine.
     After a few more introductions were made, raffle tickets and prizes were distributed, after which Wild West Fitness owner John Dykeman pitched his upcoming boxing event that will occur on June 17. This, he said, is “Boxing for Charity, and all the proceeds will be donated for new sports equipment for all the district schools.”
     Dinner, a delicious hot dog and hamburger feast with a choice of soda or water, accompanied by chicken salad, macaroni and cheese, and a brownie dessert was served at 6:15. Joe Agosta and his family catered the affair. Agosta said he prepared for 200 people and it was just enough. He said, “All the food was gone, down to the last hot dog.”
     After dinner, Jim Mowry began the main event. Each student was introduced and presented a choice selection from his or her winning essay. 
     Most of the essays indicated the same personality traits needed to make a good teacher. A teacher has to be nice, helpful, and patient. Several of the students also, surprisingly, stated in their essays that a good teacher needs to have discipline.
     Dalton Hayes, a second grader at Shadow Hills wrote in his essay, “What makes a fabulous teacher? First, they never stop helping us learn and some even give us activity time...They reward us for the good things we do.”
     Daniela Reeve, a fourth grader at AES, states in her essay, “I think that a teacher also needs to have discipline. They need to have discipline so that the kids in their class behave. They also need to have discipline so the kids that they teach listen to them...If a teacher have discipline, the kids that they teach will take them seriously. That’s what a good teacher needs.”
     Jennifer Landini, a sixth grader at JMMS said, ‘Teachers should be relatively strict and stick to their word while still having students consider them kind and enjoyable.”
     After all the essays were read, the students were sincerely thanked and the teachers who were present were all invited to stand for a round of applause. Senator Dennis Hollingsworth’s representative, Erica Warren, helped present award bags to the winning students. The award bags included an award from Jay LaSuer, a certificate of recognition from Dianne Jacob, and other miscellaneous goodies.

Jacob Dioli, left, and Samantha Hartnett, right, read their winning essays at last Thursday’s Alpine Chamber of Commerce dinner.

Photos by Chris Bledsoe 


                          

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