Room 27 at Birch Lane Elementary School smelled an awful lot like a bakery one day last month. That’s because the room was filled with baked goods handmade by Birch Lane students for their second annual Ace of Bakes contest.

Like last year’s inaugural version, the contest doubled as a fundraiser for Birch Lane’s Student Council, which will use proceeds to purchase toys for needy children participating in the CHiPs for Kids toy drive, sponsored by the California Highway Patrol and KCRA Channel 3.

Fifty-five students competed in the baking contest this year, making everything from pies to cakes, cookies to cupcakes and even some tarts and breads. Rules were pretty simple: Everything had to be handmade by the students themselves, and parent help was limited to supervision with the use of the stove and oven, knives and other utensils.

“The kids really like this because they get a chance to really express themselves,” noted teacher Sally Palow, who serves as Student Council adviser.

And indeed they did.

Halloween and Thanksgiving were popular decorating themes, but there also were some patriotic displays and just a whole lot of color.

Students were judged in two categories: presentation and taste. Serving as judges were folks from throughout the school district, including staff from the district office, as well as principals from other schools.

When all was said and done, four winners were declared in each category. Taking first place for presentation was Hanna Sippola. Second place went to Katie Borowsky, third to Sydney Booth and fourth to Sarah Miller.

Winning first place for taste was Samantha Sheridan, followed by Sam Sands, Eddie Armijo and Hailee Quiliai.

A special creativity award when to Sophia Nachmanass.

All of the goodies were repackaged and sold at the Family Math Night held later that same day at Birch Lane.

Later this month, Student Council members will use the proceeds when they go shopping for toys for CHiPs for Kids. Their purchases will be just be the start of the school’s contribution: Last year, all Birch Lane students were encouraged to bring a new toy to school and help fill a CHP squad car with toys. They brought so many toys, it took the CHP officer three trips to carry all the donations away.

— Reach Anne Ternus-Bellamy at [email protected] or (530) 747-8051.

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