Several Newton County students brought home awards after showing their creative talents during a literacy competition last week.

A number of NCSS students attended the Regional Literacy Days Poetry Recitation, Ready Writing, and Drama Competition at Griffin Regional Educational Service Agency Feb. 5-6. Student’s recited poetry, performed acts on stage, and displayed other talents during the competition.

In the poetry recitation contests, competitors were judged on criteria such as stage presence, articulation, interpretation, memory and accuracy, and the difficulty of the piece.

Newton County Theme School at Ficquett student Morgan Hathorn won first place in the fifth-grade competition, and NCTS student Lily Cunniffe brought home third place in the fourth-grade competition. In the middle school competition, Marissa Gray of Clements Middle School took second place in the seventh-grade poetry recitation contest.

In the Ready Writing Competition, students were given a writing prompt and one hour to complete an essay. In the elementary competition, Ray Holt of East Newton Elementary School placed third, and middle school student Gabby Turcotte of Cousins placed second in the seventh-grade competition. Anthony Fiddes of Clements Middle School won top honors in the eighth-grade competition.

For the Drama Competition, NCTS’ Drama Team placed third. Team members included: Ralph Brown, Isabelle Rogers, Jaylen Simons, Kris Prince, Emily Rose Hamby, Ivana Bugg, Sherri Oladapo, Danielle Lockhart, Seah Odum, and Savannah Miller.

"The Literacy Days Competition provides students with the opportunity to perform and be recognized for their talents through the celebration of the arts," said Samantha Fuhrey, NCSS Superintendent.

"I am proud of our winners, as it takes a tremendous amount of talent and commitment to participate in this type of competition.

"They represented their schools and our school system very well at the regional competition and we are very proud of them."