Runnemede Poetry Contest 2020
6th Grade Winner My Awesome Town Runnemede By Saleiah Ferguson Everyday I wake up here in Runnemede, I can smell the oak trees I can hear the bugs communicating with each other in the Summer Leaves have the most beautiful color green, brown, orange, and red The best part is when I can feel the little butterflies flutter past my nose, If I lived somewhere far, Runnemede is the place I would go It is so quiet that all I can hear are the trees whistling, The soothing sounds of grass and bushes running along the fence Click Clank, Click Clank!! Is the sound of kids riding their bikes on a hot summer day. The people here in Runnemede are so welcoming and neighborly, They have community events that bring people together We have recycle pickup every Thursday At school some classrooms are paperless in an effort to save trees So the animals can keep their environment and so we have enough oxygen I love the taste of those huge pancakes at the Phily Diner They as so fluffy like the clouds in the sky Fratelli’s Pizza has the best JUICY chicken wings And the pizza is just unbelievably great The crazy thing is, I JUST MOVED HERE I already love everything about Runnemede And I’m sure you would Too!! 7th Grade Winner
Our Small Town By Delaney Kenyon Where the nature flourishes with beauty and greenery Where trees create a welcoming. calming feeling, whether it is swaying in the autumn breeze, or dusted with crisp, white, feather-light snow Where lovely wildflowers bloom and thrive In the Springs and Summers Where Timber Creek breathes life into the forest, bringing more essential animals and aquatic plants A place that’s a small. tight-knit community A place where everybody knows each other, helps each other, and comforts each other in the rough times A place where kids can ride their bikes around, blow bubbles on the sidewalk. or just hang out with friends A place that comes together to create and support fund raisers to help out our friends and neighbors Where the geese, ducks, deer. rabbits, squirrels, and fish flourish in safety off the lush lands and waters Where we have, backyard gardens that are sprouting with life in the warm, summer's air Where we keep our environment in the best shape we can with cleanups and green alternatives like rain barrels and solar panels Where Fire Department 75 calls home and defends with all their might A place that Is diverse A place that Is cheerful A place that we call Runnemede A place that I call home 8th Grade Winner
RUNNEMEDE - OUR HOME TOWN by Madison Pedicilli A little town in Jersey Just 2.1 square miles A family friendly borough With more than eight thousand smiles There are Churches on the corners and Restaurants in between Walking trails and bike trails at Acres on the Green There's Little League and Soccer fields Children playing in the park Neighbors helping neighbors Streets Lights Glowing After Dark Some say it was named for an English town Or connections with General George Meade Whatever the reason it came by its name We are proud of our town - Runnemede. |
Talented Students Use Poetry to Express the Love They Have for Their Hometown
The Borough of Runnemede, Mary E. Volz Middle School, Reimagine Runnemede and the Society for Poets of Southern NJ are thrilled and extremely proud to have sponsored a poetry contest entitled Why I Love Runnemede. The contest was for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to show why they love living in Runnemede and how it is a great place for them to grow-up. “This was an enjoyable project for all involved,” says David Steinberg of the Society for Poets of Southern NJ. “The poems showed a great deal of talent and an understanding of poetry from the students,” adds Steinberg. Most poems exuded a genuine love and care by the students for Runnemede which has a population of approximately 8,500. The poems also expressed how great the students thought their schools, teachers, police and firefighters are as well as their appreciation for parks and nature. Additionally, favorite businesses in Runnemede were mentioned along with sports, community events and how safe students felt in their small town where everyone knows each other. First, second and third place winners for each grade were revealed at a ceremony on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. The Borough of Runnemede provided funds to Reimagine Runnemede for prize money for the winners. Runnemede Mayor Nick Kappatos awarded the prizes. The ceremony took place at the Borough Hall where the winner read their poems aloud. Runnemede Councilwoman Eleanor Kelly, J. Kenneth Leap of Reimagine Runnemede and David Steinberg of the Society for Poets of Southern NJ along with Volz Principal, Steven Pili and Mrs. Jacqueline Defeo met to organize the contest as part of an initiative to bring the arts to Runnemede and make this small town a desired destination. Reimagine Runnemede is a 501c-3 non-profit, dedicated to bringing the residents together for civic purposes, improving the Black Horse Pike Business District, and bringing the arts to the community. To showcase the work of the students, the winning poems will hang on the walls of the Borough Hall. Quotes from some of the many poems submitted will also be displayed around town. |
Second Place Winners
Here in Runnemede
By Samantha Pirrong
6th grade, 2nd Place Winner
When the wind slows,
And the flowers bloom,
Nothing is frozen now,
And nobody is stuck in a classroom!
Nothing could be finer
Then going out with the family
And eating at the philly diner
Then sitting around lazily.
Here in Runnemede
You could fulfill your goals
At the small runnemede school
Of Mary Volz.
And on the 4th of july
Fireworks will fly into the sky
And people will gasp in surprise
Of how the sky looks as bright as 1000 fireflies.
Here in Runnemede
It’s the best place on earth
And when you visit it
You will realize it’s worth!
By Samantha Pirrong
6th grade, 2nd Place Winner
When the wind slows,
And the flowers bloom,
Nothing is frozen now,
And nobody is stuck in a classroom!
Nothing could be finer
Then going out with the family
And eating at the philly diner
Then sitting around lazily.
Here in Runnemede
You could fulfill your goals
At the small runnemede school
Of Mary Volz.
And on the 4th of july
Fireworks will fly into the sky
And people will gasp in surprise
Of how the sky looks as bright as 1000 fireflies.
Here in Runnemede
It’s the best place on earth
And when you visit it
You will realize it’s worth!
The Magical Tour of Runnemede
By Maggie Chen - 7th Grade, 2nd Place Winner
Beyond, and yonder the state that I live in Is a town with particular traits
And Runnemede was its name o’, with a Carnival once upon every year
Now let’s go to a park with peaceful flair
O’and, come along the Diner is waiting
The tour’s almost over
And the clock is ticking
So, come on, come on the library’s waiting
You can always have more fun after some learning
Now that we’ve finished the tour
Why don‘t we go into it more!
Why don’t we start with place number one
We’re going to promise you it’s somewhere fun
The St. Teresa Carnival
Which is hosted every year
Everyone goes because it has so much flair
From sweet candied apples to steaming funnel cakes
And big elaborate Ferris Wheels to a drop tower
In this place the fun never ends!
Now lets go one to place number two, Green Acres Park
It is always full of peaceful attitude
With the beaming sun tickling your face to winds prancing in the air
This is a lovely place for a walk because you can sense the calm and stillness
To children playing with glorious smiles along the court with tired parents basking in the sun
Now let’s travel to place number three, the Philly Diner
Its bright,bold, big brilliance of a structure to a sleek antiques but modern insides so...
Once you enter you can smell the food with its flavors and
you can sense the bustling waiters to the chatter of news
Perfect for a nice breakfasts and dinner where you can watch the latest sports games
Now that you are full why don’t we head to place number four; The Runnemede Public Library
With their trails and benches that lead to the Library, the Library itself is a homely and quiet study
Perfect for homework and study to a nice game of checkers or exploring the media
This will conclude this tour we hope you visit Runnemede and its particular sights
We’ll be waiting for you, We’ll be waiting in the Library with buried in a mystical world of stories and books
Goodbyes, Greetings,and Farewell till next time my fellow friends
By Maggie Chen - 7th Grade, 2nd Place Winner
Beyond, and yonder the state that I live in Is a town with particular traits
And Runnemede was its name o’, with a Carnival once upon every year
Now let’s go to a park with peaceful flair
O’and, come along the Diner is waiting
The tour’s almost over
And the clock is ticking
So, come on, come on the library’s waiting
You can always have more fun after some learning
Now that we’ve finished the tour
Why don‘t we go into it more!
Why don’t we start with place number one
We’re going to promise you it’s somewhere fun
The St. Teresa Carnival
Which is hosted every year
Everyone goes because it has so much flair
From sweet candied apples to steaming funnel cakes
And big elaborate Ferris Wheels to a drop tower
In this place the fun never ends!
Now lets go one to place number two, Green Acres Park
It is always full of peaceful attitude
With the beaming sun tickling your face to winds prancing in the air
This is a lovely place for a walk because you can sense the calm and stillness
To children playing with glorious smiles along the court with tired parents basking in the sun
Now let’s travel to place number three, the Philly Diner
Its bright,bold, big brilliance of a structure to a sleek antiques but modern insides so...
Once you enter you can smell the food with its flavors and
you can sense the bustling waiters to the chatter of news
Perfect for a nice breakfasts and dinner where you can watch the latest sports games
Now that you are full why don’t we head to place number four; The Runnemede Public Library
With their trails and benches that lead to the Library, the Library itself is a homely and quiet study
Perfect for homework and study to a nice game of checkers or exploring the media
This will conclude this tour we hope you visit Runnemede and its particular sights
We’ll be waiting for you, We’ll be waiting in the Library with buried in a mystical world of stories and books
Goodbyes, Greetings,and Farewell till next time my fellow friends
The ABC’s of Runnemede
By Rese Kuni
8th Grade, 2nd Place Winner
All the great things are in runnemede
Beautiful sights to see and fun things to do
Charming people and places to go
Driving around and seeing the sights
Eating at all the good places and maybe flying a kite
Fun things are all around me
Green acres is a sight to see
How about going to play?
Isn’t it just a beautiful day
Jogging around one of our parks
Kids are playing around
Listening to the sounds of cars passing by
Marino’s pizza a great place to stop by
Neighbors are all very friendly and nice
Of course you can’t forget safe to be on bikes
Police are always on the lookout
Quick when crime is to happen
Ryaa is a fun place for sports
Softball for the rgsl thats the way
Triton is our very highschool
Usually that‘s where we all go
Very exciting events to see and do
What about going to Philly dinner that’s always fun
Xspecially their mozzarella sticks they are number one
Zooming around from town to town should probably stick around because
runnemede is the very best around
By Rese Kuni
8th Grade, 2nd Place Winner
All the great things are in runnemede
Beautiful sights to see and fun things to do
Charming people and places to go
Driving around and seeing the sights
Eating at all the good places and maybe flying a kite
Fun things are all around me
Green acres is a sight to see
How about going to play?
Isn’t it just a beautiful day
Jogging around one of our parks
Kids are playing around
Listening to the sounds of cars passing by
Marino’s pizza a great place to stop by
Neighbors are all very friendly and nice
Of course you can’t forget safe to be on bikes
Police are always on the lookout
Quick when crime is to happen
Ryaa is a fun place for sports
Softball for the rgsl thats the way
Triton is our very highschool
Usually that‘s where we all go
Very exciting events to see and do
What about going to Philly dinner that’s always fun
Xspecially their mozzarella sticks they are number one
Zooming around from town to town should probably stick around because
runnemede is the very best around
Third Place Winners
Ode to My Home
By Madison Williams
6th Grade, 3rd Place Winner
Oh how Runnemede’s glory comes, and many things here that I love.
So listen now and I shall show, things I love here and how I know.
In winter time the snow shall fall, snowball fights start and all
Air is cold and fire is hot, and kids like this cold time A LOT
Icicles dance within freezing strong storms, while I dream of summer and it’s yummy s’mores.
Spring then arrives, OH what a relief, the colds now gone impossible for belief
Petals glide in the air as we feel that warm breeze, it’s like the spring goddess fills us with her ease.
A great day for a walk in green acres, it’s like eating cake from well skilled bakers!
SUMMER! My favorite season has finally come, and there are reasons I gave I that name
Schools is now out and freedoms now on, it’s like an endless night had a crack of dawn
the heat turns on too it’s as hot as anything, so we get out our pool to drive off the heats cling
And then finally their is fall, the windiest time of the year at all.
So of course schools back and that’s just sad, the opposite of that is my very own dad
But when the cool breeze kicks in it makes my feel good, anybody should if they would
So yes, I love this town like a big thumbs-up, how should I know? Cause this is where I grew up!
By Madison Williams
6th Grade, 3rd Place Winner
Oh how Runnemede’s glory comes, and many things here that I love.
So listen now and I shall show, things I love here and how I know.
In winter time the snow shall fall, snowball fights start and all
Air is cold and fire is hot, and kids like this cold time A LOT
Icicles dance within freezing strong storms, while I dream of summer and it’s yummy s’mores.
Spring then arrives, OH what a relief, the colds now gone impossible for belief
Petals glide in the air as we feel that warm breeze, it’s like the spring goddess fills us with her ease.
A great day for a walk in green acres, it’s like eating cake from well skilled bakers!
SUMMER! My favorite season has finally come, and there are reasons I gave I that name
Schools is now out and freedoms now on, it’s like an endless night had a crack of dawn
the heat turns on too it’s as hot as anything, so we get out our pool to drive off the heats cling
And then finally their is fall, the windiest time of the year at all.
So of course schools back and that’s just sad, the opposite of that is my very own dad
But when the cool breeze kicks in it makes my feel good, anybody should if they would
So yes, I love this town like a big thumbs-up, how should I know? Cause this is where I grew up!
This Gorgeous Town called Runnemede
By Elizabeth Halwood
7th Grade, 3rd Place Winner
In Runnemede there is a park named Green Acres
Where the kids play till the sun sets, where parents use the time to rest
Parents take their children for a walk or for a ride, the fun never ends in their little eyes
In Summer, the trees are greener than an emerald in the summer
In Fall, the auburn, yellows, reds, and oranges make the park look like a whirlwind of color
In winter, the snow makes it feel like a winter wonderland
You shiver and the wind presses hard against your face but you don’t care because you’re too busy
marveling at the beauty of the snow on the trees and the tip of the red cardinal
Finally Spring comes, the park is in full bloom, the birds sing their lovely tune, the grass is once
again green too, and the flowers are opening and releasing their fresh scent once more
The cool breeze pushes around the fragrance of lavender and rose through the air and when you
get a whiff you feel mesmerized and at peace with this place we call home
If it weren’t for this gorgeous town called Runnemede
There would be no park
No laughter to fill the air
No place for children to run
No place for parents to rest
It would be like an unmolded ball of clay
But with Runnemede here
We have our park
We have laughter to fill the air
We have places for children to run
There is a place for parents to rest
And best of all we have our companions we made
All because of this gorgeous town called Runnemede
By Elizabeth Halwood
7th Grade, 3rd Place Winner
In Runnemede there is a park named Green Acres
Where the kids play till the sun sets, where parents use the time to rest
Parents take their children for a walk or for a ride, the fun never ends in their little eyes
In Summer, the trees are greener than an emerald in the summer
In Fall, the auburn, yellows, reds, and oranges make the park look like a whirlwind of color
In winter, the snow makes it feel like a winter wonderland
You shiver and the wind presses hard against your face but you don’t care because you’re too busy
marveling at the beauty of the snow on the trees and the tip of the red cardinal
Finally Spring comes, the park is in full bloom, the birds sing their lovely tune, the grass is once
again green too, and the flowers are opening and releasing their fresh scent once more
The cool breeze pushes around the fragrance of lavender and rose through the air and when you
get a whiff you feel mesmerized and at peace with this place we call home
If it weren’t for this gorgeous town called Runnemede
There would be no park
No laughter to fill the air
No place for children to run
No place for parents to rest
It would be like an unmolded ball of clay
But with Runnemede here
We have our park
We have laughter to fill the air
We have places for children to run
There is a place for parents to rest
And best of all we have our companions we made
All because of this gorgeous town called Runnemede
A Town With Life
By Hailey Siracuse
8th Grade, 3rd Place Winner
I am Runnemede,
A town where the bluebirds and sparrows sing their soft songs.
Where the vibrant greenery of the oak and elm trees glow in the morning
sun, giving shade to the people who spend their time in the town.
When you open your door to grab the morning paper
The sweet scent of the honeysuckle fills your nose
Each morning the gleaming sun lights up your yard and shines bright on
the flowers and sparkling dew that collects on the grass
I am a town where a myriad of people fills the side of the streets during
our parades, where we come together to celebrate the tree lighting for
Christmas
I can hear the little kids happy screaming while playing games on the streets
Watching over my people day in and day out, I feel happy that they chose
to live here
I am Runnemede. The town of life.
By Hailey Siracuse
8th Grade, 3rd Place Winner
I am Runnemede,
A town where the bluebirds and sparrows sing their soft songs.
Where the vibrant greenery of the oak and elm trees glow in the morning
sun, giving shade to the people who spend their time in the town.
When you open your door to grab the morning paper
The sweet scent of the honeysuckle fills your nose
Each morning the gleaming sun lights up your yard and shines bright on
the flowers and sparkling dew that collects on the grass
I am a town where a myriad of people fills the side of the streets during
our parades, where we come together to celebrate the tree lighting for
Christmas
I can hear the little kids happy screaming while playing games on the streets
Watching over my people day in and day out, I feel happy that they chose
to live here
I am Runnemede. The town of life.