(Rochester, New York) April 28, 2010 – WXXI has selected 12 local winners of the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, which encourages children grades K-3 in communities across the country to celebrate the power of writing and illustrating by submitting their own original storybooks.  The local winners were chosen by a panel of judges from WXXI’s Education Advisory Board.

WXXI was one of 87 public television stations participating in this year’s Contest, which was designed to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills through hands-on, active learning. More than 150 local children submitted stories to the PBS Kids GO! Writers Contest, and all received a WXXI Certificate of Achievement. WXXI’s first place winning submissions will advance to the national competition, where a panel of renowned judges will identify the national winners. Winners will be announced and national prizes, including laptops, digital cameras and MP3 players, will be awarded in summer 2010.

This year’s WXXI winners created stories featuring tales of adventurous animals and stories from once upon a time.

KINDERGARTEN 
First Place: Leah C., Rochester                  
Second Place: Faith Susanna R., Rochester
Third Place: Matthew A., Rochester

FIRST GRADE
First Place: MacKendra Irland N., Fairport
Second Place: Samantha B., Hilton
Third Place: Olivia H., Pittsford

SECOND GRADE
First Place: Julianna P., Rochester
Second Place: Megan C., Rochester
Third Place: Connor O., Rochester

THIRD GRADE
First Place: Brianna D., Rochester
Second Place: Rachel S., Honeoye Falls
Third Place: Kate M., Rochester

All the winning entries will be posted on WXXI’s web site: www.WXXI.org/kids.

PBS Kids Writers Contest

Produced by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and PBS, the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages 2 to 8, with an emphasis on children from low-income families.  The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. 

About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO!
PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being, family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, PBSKIDS.org , PBSKIDSGO.org , PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org ), PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org). PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s nearly 360 public television stations, serving more than 124 million people on-air and online each month. For more information on specific shows supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom.

About WXXI
WXXI is the essential, life-long educational media resource for the Greater Rochester area. WXXI puts the community first with programming that stimulates and expands thought, inspires the spirit, opens cultural horizons and promotes understanding of diverse community issues. Log on to wxxi.org for more information about our services and programs.

About CPB

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