Those talent genes showed their colors at the State House yesterday, where the Fitzgerald first-grader was honored for a bookmark she recently designed to promote reading.
Pilette's bookmark is about 6 inches long, and portrays an extraordinarily long-necked giraffe under a blue sky. The giraffe stands smiling next to a colorful display that reads, "Reading takes you to new heights."
"I think she really put a lot of thought into it," said Wilson Pilette, Giselle's father. "She sat with a blank bookmark for about a week."
The statewide contest was run by the Massachusetts School Library Association with the theme, "Adventures in Information."
The awards ceremony yesterday was part of the third annual MSLA Legislation Day, and an exhibit along the Grand Staircase displayed examples of how school libraries add value to education in Massachusetts. The exhibits, created by library teachers throughout the state, featured all Waltham schools, with the exception of Bright Elementary.
Bookmark awards were given to three winners, each from a separate division ranging from kindergarten through grade 6. Large, poster-sized versions of their bookmarks were also on display.
Pilette, who is the second first-grader from Fitzgerald to win the contest in a row for Division 1 (kindergarten through grade 1), was entered by Fitzgerald librarian Kathleen Finnerty. Last year's winner of the same award was Fitzgerald student Dana Pasquarosa.
"I think the reason that they (Fitzgerald) keep winning is Waltham has really great school libraries," said Judy Paradis, co-chairman of the legislation committee for MSLA and library teacher at Plympton Elementary.
As an award, Pilette received a plaque-certificate recognizing her design, and a $25 dollar gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. Paradis said Finnerty will also received an award that will benefit the Fitzgerald library.
Pilette's mother, Fiona, said her daughter's artistic ambitions and talents do not come as a surprise, as the first-grader's aunt, Michele Pavic, and grandmother, Marsha Pilette, are both professional artists. Marsha Pilette, Fiona added, was also an art teacher at South Junior High School in the early 1960s.
"It's nice that she's recognized for something she loves to do," Fiona said of her daughter's award. "She spends most of her spare time drawing pictures and writing stories."
Giselle said she was surprised to hear that she had won the contest, and when asked why she chose to draw a giraffe, she said the answer is simple.
"I just thought because his neck grows, and reading can take you to new heights," said the 6-year-old.
Pilette's two brothers, Alex, 5, and Seamus, 2, were also present at the awards ceremony, as was Giselle's first-grade teacher Melissa Jewart.
"This is very exciting for our class," Jewart said. "I'm very proud of Gee-Gee. She's very talented."
Matt Perkins can be reached at 781-398-8009 or at mperkins@cnc.com.
