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Screen captures of participants in the virtual 2021 Washington Regional Braille Challenge.
WASHINGTON REGIONAL BRAILLE CHALLENGE 2021: VIRTUALLY AMAZING!

WASHINGTON REGIONAL BRAILLE CHALLENGE 2021: VIRTUALLY AMAZING!

On Friday and Saturday, Feb. 26-27, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) hosted the annual Washington Regional Braille Challenge. The Braille Challenge, developed by the Braille Institute, is an academic competition held in the United States and Canada every January through mid-March. Students in grades 1 through 12 who are blind or visually impaired are tested on fundamental braille skills such as spelling, reading comprehension, proofreading, speed and accuracy, and charts and graphs. This year’s Braille Challenge was a…

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WASHINGTON WOMEN PROJECT HIGHLIGHTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF NOTEWORTHY WASHINGTON WOMEN

WASHINGTON WOMEN PROJECT HIGHLIGHTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF NOTEWORTHY WASHINGTON WOMEN

Picture it: the year is 1985. A group of children excitedly swap trading cards in a Washington state schoolyard. “I have an extra Dunbar!” “I need a Russ!” Baseball cards? No, they’re Washington Women trading cards! In 1980, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction began work on the Washington Women project to highlight the accomplishments of noteworthy women in Washington. Deirdre O’Neill, an associate instructor at the University of Washington, interviewed several hundred candidates for the project with…

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Toledo Elementary School student's letter after visit to Washington State Capitol.
Second-grader gives WA Capitol thumbs-up in letter

Second-grader gives WA Capitol thumbs-up in letter

Washington’s Capitol Campus receives thousands of visitors each year, including many tourists from other states or other nations. But a large number are elementary school students from right here in Washington. Usually, an entire grade of students from a school will make the bus trip to Olympia to see the campus. For most of these students, it’s their first time to the Capitol. So you can imagine their reaction when they look up at the top of the domed Legislative…

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`Who are We?’ contest ends Nov. 30

`Who are We?’ contest ends Nov. 30

Washington students in grade 6-12 have until the end of November to take part in a contest sponsored by our Legacy Washington program. Legacy Washington’s contest asks students to share who they are and who they hope to become. Contestants can submit entries in different formats, including writings, film projects or two-dimensional art. The contest ends Nov. 30. Go here to sign up and learn about contest rules and other details. The contest is in connection with Legacy Washington’s “Who…

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2016 Mock Election nearly breaks turnout record

2016 Mock Election nearly breaks turnout record

6th graders at Frontier Middle School in Pierce County who voted in Mock Election. (Photo courtesy Bethel School District) Washington’s adult voters apparently aren’t the only ones energized by the white-hot General Election. Judging by last week’s Mock Election, K-12 students are just as engaged. A near-record 38,528 students voted in the 2016 Mock Election, just 320 off the all-time record set in 2012. “We are very pleased that so many students took part in the Mock Election last week,”…

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Student Mock Election is under way!

Student Mock Election is under way!

Washington voters have until Nov. 8 to vote their General Election ballots, but the state’s K-12 students this week have their own voting experience by taking part in the annual State Mock Election. Now in its 12th year, The Mock Election began Monday morning and ends this Friday at 1 p.m. It’s free and open to all Washington K-12 students who attend public, private or tribal school or are homeschooled. Sponsored by the Office of Secretary of State, the Mock…

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State Library kicks off Letters About Literature, Zine contests

State Library kicks off Letters About Literature, Zine contests

The State Library just launched not one but two contests for Washington students. One is a perennial favorite and the other capitalizes on an alternative art form that allows for self-expression. For the 12th straight year, the State Library is co-sponsoring the Letters About Literature contest as part of Washington Reads. The competition encourages students to write letters to their favorite authors, living or dead, about how their book changed the student’s view of the world or himself or herself….

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Who Are We? contest under way

Who Are We? contest under way

Throughout this year, Legacy Washington has released a series of online profiles about fascinating, accomplished Washingtonians, capped by the recent launch of its “Who Are We?” exhibit in our front lobby. Now, Legacy Washington has a new contest that asks students in grades 6-12 in our state to share who they are and who they hope to become. Contestants can submit entries in different formats, including writings, film projects or two-dimensional art. The contest ends Nov. 30. Go here to…

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Letters About Literature contest has begun!

Letters About Literature contest has begun!

One of our office’s favorite contests for schoolkids is under way. The Letters About Literature competition encourages students to write letters to their favorite authors, living or dead, and explain how a particular book by the author changed their view of the world or themselves. The contest, co-sponsored by the Washington State Library, is for schoolchildren and homeschooled students in grades 4-12. Secretary of State Kim Wyman: “Books inspire kids of all ages. A good book can make them think…

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