Following are the 3rd grade winners of the essay contest to answer the question “Why is Water important to Sequim and you?”
Princess Sophia Lopez
Sponsored by: Hill Crest Homes
Teacher: Mrs. Burr & Mrs. Little, Greywolf Elementary
Age: 9
Sofia is 9 years old and is in Mrs. Burr and Mrs. Little’s 3rd grade class at Greywolf Elementary. She is the daughter of Oscar and Jennifer Lopez and has an older sister named Bianca. She says her favorite subjects in school are all of them! Her hobbies and interests include cooking, art, soccer, basketball, volleyball, water sports, and gymnastics. She also enjoys playing soccer, basketball, volleyball, and golf. When she grows up, she would like to be a teacher or veterinarian. Bianca would also like everyone to know that she has her own toy café where she serves slime milkshakes!
Essay:
In Sequim: Water Is Life
Many years ago, Sequim was a desert and not the happy green place it is now. Farmers dug irrigation ditches to bring water form the Dungeness River to grow their crops. Even today when you drive through the fields of Sequim, you see huge sprinklers spraying water to help things grow. At Graysmarsh Berry Farm the water grows strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. I have been going there to pick berries since I was a little kid, and that wouldn’t be possible without water!
When I was in second grade, my grandpa took me to the Dungeness Valley Creamery. There, the water helps the grass grow, and the baby cows eat the grass. They also give the cows water to drink. The cows give milk and they use it to make smooth ice cream!
At Purple Haze Lavender Farm, they use water to grow lavender, sunflowers, roses and lots of other flowers. I like to visit because it is beautiful, and I like to see the chickens walking around the orchard.
Most of my favorite things to do in Sequim have to do with water. In the summer I have water balloon fights with my cousins Izac, Maks, and Kingston and my friends. We run through sprinklers and slip and slides while our parents record funny slow-mo videos of us sliding.
In the summer I like to wade in the water at Port Williams beach and the Dungeness River at Railroad Bridge Park with my cousins Jesus and Lynn. We also use water to make lemonade and we sell it to friends and family at a lemonade stand outside of their house.
For me and Sequim water is life!
Prince Greyson Rhodes
Sponsored by: Dungeness Kids Company
Teacher: Mrs. Burr & Mrs. Little, Greywolf Elementary
Age: 9
Greyson is 9 years old and is in Mrs. Burr and Mrs. Little’s 3rd grade class at Greywolf Elementary. He is the son of Jason and Michelle Rhodes and has an older sister Emma who is 13. His favorite subject in school is ELA. Greyson’s hobbies include reading, building with Legos, playing video games, stargazing, and traveling with his family. He also loves swimming at the YMCA. When he grows up, he wants to be an Astrophysicist and study space. His favorite color is lime green, and has three cats and a dog.
Essay:
Water is important for us to live because it is the thing that supports life. It is important for Sequim, because it used to be a desert, and we need water to grow our crops. We also need it for bathing. We also make food with it.
Water is also important for entertainment. You can swim, dive, play Marco Polo, tag, and sharks and minnows in the water at the pool, in lakes, in the Dungeness River or at Port Williams Beach.
Also, scientists are figuring out how to harness energy from the water. This will allow us to power homes, cities, basically the whole world. This is a clean energy that will save the Earth.
Water is important for growing Lavender, that supports the Lavender Festival. Which makes people from all over come to the festival. Then makes us money to support our community.
But the Irrigation Festival is the BEST festival in Sequim. The Irrigation Festival celebrates the opening of the head gates and the water rushing out to the ditches. The water then waters our crops. There are big parties at the Irrigation Festival. Also, parades, floats, and dancers are celebrating the Irrigation Festival. My two favorite parts of the Irrigation Festival is the carnival and the logging show.
Water is important to me and Sequim because it gives us life, energy, crops, and the Irrigation Festival!
Princess Lynn Westman
Sponsored by: Oscar Lopez Painting
Teacher: Mrs. Luengen, Helen Haller Elementary
Age: 8
Lynn is 8 years old and is in Mrs. Luengen’s 3rd grade class at Helen Haller Elementary. She is the daughter of Mike and Amanda Westman. She has a brother named Jesus that is 9, JD is 12, and sister Emma is 19. Her favorite subject in school is reading. Her hobbies and interests include playing the cello, her enormous cat S’more and baking delicious cookies! Lynn is very excited to join the soccer team. When she grows up she wants to be a kind, caring person who makes a difference in the world. Lynn is thrilled to serve Sequim and add to the joy of the Irrigation Festival!
Essay:
Sequim is Full of Life
Washington is called the Evergreen State because we have lots of water that helps plants and trees live. Sequim is full of life.
My favorite part of Sequim is the Railroad Bridge Park. I get to ride my scooter under the shady trees, look down in the river for salmon, and run on trails through the salal berries. When I reach the river’s edge, I sit on a rock, gently put my feet in the water, and watch it ripple while I take a breath.
If all of this water flowed in one place, most of Sequim would be dry and lifeless. The irrigation ditches help farmers grow crops to feed people and animals.
Water fills Sequim with life!
Prince Grayson Castell
Sponsored by: Highlands Residential Mortgage
Teacher: Mrs. Ellefson, Helen Haller Elementary
Age: 9
Essay:
Dear Sequim,
Sequim is a magical place, it wouldn’t be the same without water. The water helps the farmers because we have more crops plus that means more fresh food. Water also helps because the farm animals and pets need drinking water to be healthy. The Dungeness River also provides a great home for our salmon. Water also helps me every day. Our water helps keep our sports fields nice and green. I also have a lot of fun fishing on the river. These are a few reasons why water is important to Sequim and myself.