Students in two sixth grade classes at Reed Intermediate School celebrated the writing skills of three of their own this spring, when two of three judges visited to announce the winners of the 2019 Constitutional Quill Awards.

Students in the classes of Matt Dalton and Petrice DiVanno were challenged to write essays based on the topic of “The Importance of Freedom of Speech in the United States.” All essays were blind coded by their teacher, according to Donna A. Monteleone, senior vice commander and chaplain of American Legion Post 202. The Newtown Post hosted the contest.

No names were sent with the essays, only a code that the teacher had the key to, Ms Monteleone explained. It was only after the top three winners were identified by the code that teachers supplied the names of the students for the winning essays.

Teachers only knew the names, not the placement, of the top three winners; they learned along with their students on May 23 that this year’s winners were Rachel Colorossi, first place; Stephen Sibley, second place; and Kailen Romaniello, third place.

Retired Newtown Middle School teacher and judge Don Ramsey praised all of the students for their work that afternoon, saying that one of the things that is “very gratifying as a teacher is we have no idea what’s waiting for you, but this — your writing, your responses, your talent — is a real good predictor of things to come for you.

“Free speech is a fundamental of this country,” he added.

Neil P. Randle, a retired Unilever Research & Development employee and another of this year’s judges, complimented Rachel on her writing style after announcing her name as the top winner.

“I enjoyed reading your thoughts on why it is so good for us to be in the United States,” Mr Randle said.

Mr Randle had addressed each of the previous award winners after their names were announced.

“You can tell he had been listening in class,” Mr Randle said prior to announcing Stephen’s second place honor. “He brought the message up to date. It was very well done, especially at the end of his essay.”

To Kailen, he said “We could hear you speaking in your essay.”

Mr Ramsey told those in attendance that the judges had a tough job this year.

“It was very difficult to decide the winners,” he said.

Parents had also been invited to visit Reed School that afternoon. They were in the classrooms when the names of the essay winners were announced and stayed for a reception following the brief ceremony. Post 202 Commander Nick Cabral, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, and Board of Education Chair Michelle Embree Ku were also special guests of the awards ceremony on May 23.