Kids in Print Writing and Art Contests

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Please distribute to all staff, particularly those teaching writing, history, and art

The Republican Newspaper announces topics for 2010-2011

Kids in Print Writing and Art Contests

DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES: JANUARY 19, 2011

Cash Prizes awarded in each grade category for both art and writing First Prize - $125 Second Prize - $75 Third Prize - $50

Theme: Immigration

The Greater Springfield area is home to immigrants and their descendants from all corners of the globe. This ethnic diversity is on display at the many cultural celebrations and remembrances that take place across our region each year.

Immigrants came to this area often in flight from war and oppression in their native country or as the result of slavery. These new arrivals played a key role in America's rise to prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries, making contributions in all areas from academics and the arts to industry and commerce.

Students of all backgrounds in grades 1-12 are invited to choose one of the following topics for their essay or artwork.

Writing Contest Topic Choices for all grades

Write about your own ethnic history ? what ethnic group or groups are represented in your family? Who is the earliest relative that you can identify and when did they live? What tradition(s) from your home countries does your family carry on? Students in grades 6-12 should answer these questions and also include more detailed information about your family's ancestry, including what factors brought your ancestors to the United States.

Write about a famous person from your own heritage, particularly one that has influenced you in a significant way. Be sure to include key details on their country of origin, when they came to this country, and some of their accomplishments. Students in grades 6-12 should answer these questions and also include more detailed information about the factors that brought your subject to this country and about their contributions.

Write about an immigrant of your choice from any background. Be sure to include key details on their country of origin, when they came to this country, and some of their life accomplishments. Students in grades 6-12 should answer these questions and also include more detailed information about the factors that brought your subject to this country and about their contributions.

(Choice 4 ? open to students in grades 6-12 only) In a well organized essay, describe a period in U.S. History when immigrants faced much hostility. Be sure to include at least three factors that contributed to this hostility, and at least one incident that symbolized the anti-immigrant sentiment of the period.

Writing Contest Guidelines Grade 1-2 (Length: 60 ? 200 words) Grades 3-5 (Length: 350-500 words)

Grades 6-8 (Length 600-750 words) Grade 9-12 (750-900 words)

Writing entries will be judged by a professional panel of writers, critics, and educators based on topic development (35%), effective and rich use of language (25%), logical organization (20%), and proper spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and grammar (20%). Only essays which adhere to the stated subject matter will be considered. Points will be deducted for failure to follow stated word limits.

All entries should be neatly printed on 8 ? x 11 lined paper or typed. Teachers may submit up to four entries per class in a given grade category.

Important notes to teachers: The essays should be students' own original work. Basic assistance with spelling, grammar, and the like are allowable, but please avoid exercising undue influence on the structure, flow, or the students' own voice in the essay.

It is important that students credit the sources of their information either within the body of the essay or footnoted on a separate page. Sourcing footnotes are not included in the word count. Sample footnote formats can be found in the contest rules posted online at under "Kids in Print."

Art Contest Topic Choices for grade categories 1 - 3, 4 ? 8, and 9 - 12

Create a poster that celebrates your own ethnic heritage with a short explanation on the back.

Create a poster that celebrates our region's ethnic diversity.

Create a poster that celebrates the contribution and accomplishments of a specific immigrant or immigrant group.

Art Contest Guidelines: Allowed media: Drawings: ink, illustration pen, or colored marker only. Paintings: watercolors or acrylics only. Entries will be judged by a professional panel of artists and educators, who will assign each entry

a point value based on the following criteria (up to 3 points awarded for each): Interpretation of Theme, Originality, Composition, and Technical proficiency (consistent with grade level).

All artwork must be submitted on 8 ? x 11 white paper, and must be the entrants completely original work. Only works which adhere to the stated subject matter will be considered. Teachers may submit up to four entries per class in each grade category.

Contest Rules

(please note important guidelines listed above regarding word counts and accepted art media)

1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. 2. Teachers must clearly label each entry with student's name, grade, school, and teacher's name. Please include middle initials! 3. Teachers must also include a brief cover note with the teacher's full name, school, phone number, and email address. Please also tell us the total number of your students that took part. 4. Teachers may submit up to four entries per class in a given grade category for each contest. 5. DEADLINE: All entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 19, 2011. Entries received after that date will not be accepted. 6. Potential winners will be notified by phone/mail on or about February 25, 2011.* 7. Open to students actively enrolled in grades 1-12 in a public, private or parochial school in Massachusetts.

Mail Entries to: NIE/Kids in Print 2011, The Republican, 1860 Main St. P.O. Box 2633, Springfield, MA 01101-2633

Cash Prizes, awarded in each grade category for both art and writing:

First Prize - $125

Second Prize - $75 Third Prize - $50

WE PLAN TO PUBLISH WINNING ENTRIES IN OUR ANNUAL NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION SECTION IN MARCH 2011 AND ONLINE AT .

*If a potential winner cannot be contacted, does not respond within five (5) days, or the prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, such potential winner forfeits all rights to any prize, and an alternate winner may be selected. All decisions of the judges are final and binding in all respects. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, damaged, illegible, incomplete, incorrect, misdirected, or postage-due mail/entries.

Entries will become the property of THE REPUBLICAN and will not be acknowledged or returned. The copyright in any Submission shall remain the property of the entrant, but entry into this Promotion constitutes entrant's irrevocable and perpetual permission and consent, without further compensation or attribution, to use, reproduce, print, publish, transmit, distribute, sell, perform, adapt, enhance, or display such Submission for any purpose, including but not limited to editorial, advertising, trade, commercial, and publicity purposes by the Sponsor and/or others authorized by the Sponsor, in any and all media now in existence or hereinafter created, throughout the world, for the duration of the copyright in the Submission. Sponsor and/or others authorized by the Sponsor shall have the right to edit, adapt, and modify the Submission. To have students' winning entries published, parents or legal guardians must agree to sign all necessary releases and affidavits. Children of The Republican employees are not eligible to win these contests.

Subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void outside Massachusetts and where prohibited. Any violation of these rules may result in disqualification. Sponsor is not responsible for errors in the administration or fulfillment of this contest, including without limitation mechanical, human, printing, distribution, or production, errors, and may modify or cancel this promotion based upon such error at its sole discretion without liability. Income and other taxes, if any, are sole responsibility of the winner.

Resources

Recent articles on immigration from The Republican:

Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur: Jewish High Holidays begin anew with food in_anew_with_food.html

Music brought him back to his other culture

Receptive sensor to the world

Immigrants often faced hostility upon arrival ryan

Newspaper-in-Education feature: A daughter remembers Jewish immigration life in 20th century Springfield

Area author writes about plight of unwanted children.

The Wood Museum of Springfield History, part of the Springfield Museums group, has excellent resources on tracing one's family history and on immigrant communities in the greater Springfield area. For information, visit

Possible subjects for writing topics #2 or #3 or art topic #3:

Chinese American architect Maya Lin Musician Yo-Yo Ma Polish-born American writer Isaac Bashevis Singer Russian born American songwriter Irving Berlin

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download