Online Book Features Top BCPS Student-Penned Haiku

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Selected haiku written by students for the 2021 Team BCPS Haiku Contest have been compiled into an online book that explores the theme of change. A panel of 14 judges sorted through 1,649 haiku from 108 schools to pick the top three winners. They also selected another 190 favorites to be included in the book.

Until the pandemic in 2020, each year the favorites were published in a softcover book, which was given to featured students and placed in school libraries. This year, like last year, an online book will be composed so that the selected favorites are available to everyone. Student artwork complements each section of the book.

Included in the book are the haiku created by the three winners named in April 2021: Aubrey Suljak, 5th grade, Jacksonville Elementary School; Madilyn Senisse, 8th grade, Arbutus Middle School; and Noah Colosino, 10th grade, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology.

"I cannot imagine how the judges select winners and their favorites," BCPS Superintendent Darryl L. Williams said. "The haiku created by our students showcase their intelligence, insight, creativity and humor. We thank every student who participated and we recognize the support and encouragement our student writers receive from their teachers and families. Every year, this contest affirms Team BCPS’ strong commitment to literary arts and self-expression."