Haiku Fest awarded certificates to all participating student poets. Thanks to over 3,000 poets, parents and teachers for making Haiku Fest successful. Winning entries are listed below.

We proudly announce the following commendations for participants in grades 5 and 6:

First Prize: $100

Cherry blossom tree
Hidden behind the light fog
Blooming in the sun

Casey Kowalski, Age 11, Grade 5
St. Daniel Prophet, Chicago


Second Prize: $50

Spray cans and colors
Young painters vandalize walls
Beautiful, bold art

Emiliamaria Principato, Age 11, Grade 6
St. Francis Borgia, Chicago


Third Prize: $20

Red, beauties galore
Thorns for strength, petals for charm
Majestic flowers

Mila Trivanovic, Age 12, Grade 6
Josephine Locke Elementary, Chicago


Gwendolyn Brooks Award: $25

Walking home from school
The wind whistles through the trees
I feel the music

Karina Acosta, Age 12, Grade 6
Josephine Locke Elementary, Chicago


Poem of the School Award

Mom is Chocolate
My Dad is Asian and White
I’m Original

Miles Dalton, Age 10, Grade 5
Daniel Boone Elementary, Chicago


Poem of the School Award

The creaking, the groans
The moon shines through the roof hole
Then I heard footsteps

Kamari Dennis, Age 10, Grade 5
Myra Bradwell Elementary, Chicago


Poem of the School Award

The kids go outside
They climb on the yellow bus
Soaring to heaven

Jennavive Williams, Age 12, Grade 6
John T. McCutcheon Elementary, Chicago

Poem of the School Award

Sadness brings us tears
Our eyes, like clouds, pour down rain
Next comes a rainbow

Annie Parker, Age 12, Grade 6
St. Cornelius, Chicago


Poem of the School Award

Clear water drizzles
Cascading into the pond
Sparkling icy foam

Jonathan Fejkiel, Age 11, Grade 6
St. Francis Borgia, Chicago


Honorable Mention

A soft white blanket
touches a warm summer ground
the snow melts away

Abby Divita, Age 12, Grade 6
St. Cornelius, Chicago


Honorable Mention

There are fireflies
Red leaves and children scatter
All play hide and seek

Gilbert Villegas III, Age 11, Grade 6
St. Bartholomew, Chicago


Honorable Mention

The work crew rolls in
With big machines and destroy
A treasured green space

Joseph Cruz, Age 12, Grade 6
St. Bartholomew, Chicago


Honorable Mention

The hot sun is out
Block club parties are starting
Ice cream is melting

Kenyatta Walker, Age 11, Grade 5
Myra Bradwell Elementary, Chicago


Honorable Mention

Life Is A Cheetah
We Don’t Even Realize
Time Flies Like A Bird

Mohammed Khan, Age 11, Grade 5
Daniel Boone Elementary, Chicago

Honorable Mention

The trees are waving
I am saying hello back
Oh, it was the wind

Noah Matthew Shevitz, Age 10, Grade 5
St. Viator, Chicago


Honorable Mention

Zipping through the sky,
Paper building momentum
Impact with the sky.

Patricia Aguilar, Age 12, Grade 6
St. Francis Borgia, Chicago


Honorable Mention

Bright golden sunlight
Shines down on chirping sparrows
In the afternoon

Sofia Calvo, Age 11, Grade 5
St. Daniel the Prophet, Chicago


Teacher of the Year:

Ms. Joann Serafin
St. Daniel the Prophet, Chicago


Honorable Mention for Teacher of the Year:

Ms. Joan Baley
St. Christina, Chicago

Ms. Kathleen Gienko
St. Bartholomew, Chicago


School of the Year:

Josephine Locke Elementary, Chicago
Ms. Mindy Gonzalez, Ms. Hernandez,
Ms. M. Selim, Mr. Edgar Valentin


Honorable Mention for School of the Year:

St. Daniel the Prophet, Chicago
Ms. Joann Serafin

St. Christina, Chicago
Ms. Joan Baley

St. Symphorosa, Chicago
Ms. Eileen Akroush, Ms. Linda Jania, Ms. Nancy Webb