News From REACH
BELLAMY STUDENTS
AWARDED
IN MASSACHUSETTS SCENARIO WRITING CONTEST
Three Bellamy Middle School REACH students placed in the Massachusetts Scenario Writing Contest sponsored by the Future Problem Solving Program International. Sixth grader, Kayla Humel, placed 3rd for the Junior Division which includes Grades 4-6. Eighth graders, Jenna Lescell, came in 1st and Michelle Deslauriers came in 3rd for the Middle Division which includes Grades 7-9.
Kayla’s story entitled “The Golden Pencil” is about a 14-year-old who gets a special pencil for her birthday that allows whatever she draws to come true. Jenna’s scenario called “TYME” involves a young woman who becomes interested in a mysterious game that ends up changing her life. In Michelle’s story, high-tech tattoos that start off as a fad become the vehicle for stalking after a teenager’s password is stolen.
Other entries from Bellamy were written by 6th grader Jason St. Jacques, and 7th graders Michael Goulette and Gerard Valliere. Jason’s story, “A Surviving Colony,” is about a man who struggles to save the human race from terrorists after a pollution-clearing bomb is stolen and launched at Earth. Michael’s story, “Patrol on Earth II,” is about a neuroenhanced robot that is trying to keep order in the colony and prevent the humans from finding out that Earth can no longer support living organisms. Gerard’s story, “Exposure,” mixes the past with the future as special species of dinosaurs give up their secret existence to help save the people in the Congo from poverty.
A scenario is a creative story of up to 1500 words that takes place in the future and is based on one of the set topics of the year. The 2007-2008 topics are: Body Enhancement, Simulation Technology, Neurotechnology, Debt in Developing Countries, and Children in the Workplace. The stories from Bellamy that best fit the criteria for scenario writing were submitted for the state level of competition. State winners will receive their awards at the Future Problem Solving State Bowl being held at Williams College on March 15th. The top three stories from each division that win at the state level are submitted for competition at the international level.