Many poems were submitted to the MOS annual poetry contest for the year  1999-00. A large number of the these poems were worthy of recognition, but the committee selected these three. Gretchen Polinski for St. Peter's Elementary School in Mansfield wrote about her experiences at Mohican Outdoor School. She is a student of Mrs. Sharp. The committee enjoyed reading her award-winning poem. Gretchen received a $50 United States Savings Bond.
Honorable mention was awarded to the poems written by Amanda Albright, a student of Mrs. Golden from Olmsted falls Middle School in Olmsted falls and  Kristen Majcher, a student of Mrs. Seiple from North Olmsted Middle School, North Olmsted.
 
The Outdoors
The outdoors
Was so much fun!
There was cold and rain,
But warm and sun.

We met new friends,
We slept and ate.
We had classes,
It was really great!
I'd go back again,
if I had the chance.
I'd learn and hike, 
But I'd bring more pants.

      --Gretchen Polinski
         
Nature

Nature is beautiful in every way,
even the dirt looks nice today.

The leaves in the trees are still green,
for it is only September, before Halloween.
Sometimes when I look in the sky,
I see birds above , flying so high.
From the bottom of the rippling creek,
to the tip of an eagle's beak.
There is life all around,
up above or on the ground.

A perfect example is Mohican School,
where it goes to show that Nature is cool.

--Kristin Majcher
 
         

Little Leaf

Little leaf in the grass,
I look at you as I pass.
You are so small
but the trees so tall.
You fell to the ground
never to be found.
The wind blows you away,
you can not stay.
You fly to the creek,
it's you family you seek.
You float down the water,
you know you don't have to go much farther.
You come to a stop,
while you rest at the top.
You start to go down,
to join the underwater town.
You know more will come,
for now you rest some.

-- Amanda Albright
 

Read previous Poetry Contest winning poems.