UIL events start this week

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany elementary and junior high students are entering the UIL competition window starting this week with the one-act play competition and writing events.

Students in grades two through five will compete in the elementary division, while students in grades six through eight are in the middle school bracket.

This will be the first time in three years that the contests will be held in person, with the elementary students competing in Cisco on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The middle school contests will be held in Hamlin, also on Dec. 7.

The writing events are again being conducted locally by each school and emailed to the judges to allow extra time to determine the winners.

At the elementary level, second graders are competing in Creative Writing, while third through fifth graders are participating in Ready Writing.

In grades 6-8, the writing contests for each grade level including Editorial Writing and Ready Writing.

The number of contestants that are allowed in each event at the elementary level varies, while middle school events are limited to three contestants and an alternate.

The coordinator for the elementary contests is Susie Beard, with Kelli Kreitler handling the sixth grade since it is on a separate campus from the junior high students competing in seventh and eighth contests.

The junior high coordinator is Laci Cook, who is currently on leave, with principal Glen Hill filling in until Cook returns following the Thanksgiving break.