ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS

Social Studies Competition

Each academic year in November, students in all grade levels participate in the Social Science competition. The Social Science teachers not only ensure that the topics are aligned with the California Common Core Standards and the school’s SLEs, but make certain that the student work is creative and substantive. Topics range from mapmaking/map reading to the Age of Exploration and the Renaissance. The Social Science competition provides yet another opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge and creative abilities.

Each teacher utilizes a rubric to assess projects or presentations. This is then followed by a recognition of students and distribution of medals for their diligent work during a school-wide assembly.

Holy Family Grade School’s Annual Spelling Bee

Every September, Holy Family Grade School hosts its annual Spelling Bee. This competition demonstrates each contestant’s ability to spell a broad selection of words, usually with a varying degree of difficulty. All Holy Family Grade School students participate in Round One. During Round One, students are given a spelling test to determine which 10 to 12 students will move on to Round Two. Round Two takes place on a separate day in the auditorium. The following grade levels compete against one another for first, second, and many times, third place:

  • Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and 1st grade
  • 2ndgrade and 3rd grade
  • 4thgrade and 5th grade
  • 6thgrade, 7thgrade, and 8th grade

Math Quiz Bowl

Every year in October, students have an opportunity to compete in the Math Quiz Bowl. The Math Quiz Bowl is a competition where every student competes within the classroom to determine the top 10 math students from each grade level. The top 10 students from each grade level then compete in the Grade School Auditorium by taking a written math test. Winners from each grade level are determined by the number of questions answered correctly on the written math test.

Greek & Latin Quiz Bowl

Students are explicitly taught Greek and Latin in the 4th grade. It is estimated that up to 75% of the English language is derived from Greek and Latin roots. They truly are the “building blocks” of English and present teachers with an extremely powerful framework to nurture students’ vocabulary development.

The Greek & Latin Quiz Bowl is open to 4th-8th grade students, and takes place in May.

Science Contest

In January, students in all grade levels participate in our Annual Science Contest. Science teachers not only ensure that the topics are aligned with the California Common Core Standards and the school’s SLE’s, but make certain that the student work is accurate and inventive. Topics range from explaining the planets of the Solar System to the functionality of cellular organisms. The Annual Science Contest provides an opportunity for students to display academic excellence and a range of creativity.

Each teacher utilizes a rubric to assess projects or presentations. This is then followed by a recognition of students and distribution of medals for their diligent work during a school-wide assembly.

Short Fiction and Illustration Contest

GENERAL RULES

One submission per student or student writing team. Please write Your Name(s), Story Title, and Grade Level. Illustrations may accompany your short story and may be rendered by another student.

Winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 8th!

SHORT FICTION RULES

  • 250 words or less (1-2 pages). Works in progress from longer pieces are acceptable. Digital works of fiction are encouraged!

All work must be original, and you may choose to write about any topic or theme. While storytelling and story structure are emphasized, writing conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation) will definitely be taken into account.

ILLUSTRATION RULES

  • All work must be original (not traced nor copied), and the artistic concept must correspond to the story.

WRITING GUIDELINES

Use prewriting to find ideas for your story. Brainstorm! Freewrite!

  • To complete your first draft, organize your prewriting into a beginning, middle, and ending. Concentrate on unity and coherence of the overall piece.
  • Revise. Read through your draft, looking for places to improve content and structure.
  • Edit. Check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
  • Final rewrite and polish for presentation.

The beginning part of the story is where the setting (where and when a story happens), characters (the people/animals/otherworldly beings in the story including the narrator), problem (a challenge or conflict the character(s) must overcome or resolve), and the goal (the set objective for what must be achieved) are introduced. In the middle, the characters attempt to solve the problem and achieve the goal. The characters’ actions and decisions determine the outcome of the story. In the ending, the problem is finally solved and the goal has been achieved.

Challenge! A grand story has a beginning, middle, and ending—but sometimes you can present the story out of order to make it more interesting. Conflict can be external (main character vs. another character, society, nature, or fate) or internal (main character’s struggle with her/his faults or ideals). Dialogue can be an effective way of revealing character. Characters in stories are usually people—but they can be animals or inanimate objects: think the teapot and candlestick in Beauty and the Beast.

Believe it or not, not all stories have happy endings, some are sad, and some are a complete surprise! Write an eye-catching story title, a striking first sentence, and a memorable last sentence. Your imagination is limitless, so grab a pen (or iPad) and let the magic begin!

ILLUSTRATION GUIDELINES

  • Originality: Use your imagination to create something unique.
  • Interpretation: How well does the illustration interpret its corresponding story?
  • Composition: How is the arrangement in the story? Is the placement exciting?
  • Contrast: Is there a contrast of darks and lights? Are varieties and hues of colors used?
  • Depth: Foreground? Background? Multi-dimensional?
  • Line and Shape Quality: Is there a variation of line (thick or thin)? Are shapes compelling?
  • Visual Effect: Does it have that WOW look? Does it stand out as being different from the norm?