Theme: Facing Hardship



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Please distribute to all staff,

particularly those teaching writing, history, and art

The Republican Newspaper announces topics for the 2012

Kids in Print Writing and Art Contest

DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES: JANUARY 27, 2012

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

First Prize - $125 Second Prize - $75 Third Prize - $50

Theme: Inspirational Women

In 2011, the world celebrated the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. In honor of this occasion, we have developed a list of prominent women from various fields and backgrounds to serve as the focal point of this year’s Kids in Print contest.

Our Newspaper in Education blog at has a list of notable women along with links to informational articles on each from Masslive and other sources. (The list is posted at under “Kids in Print.”)

Students in lower grades may choose to write or draw about a woman on the list or one of their choice who has achieved notoriety and served as an inspiration to others. Students in upper grades will be asked to select one woman from the list and then highlight, in writing or artwork, the accomplishments and the inspirational aspects of their chosen subject.

Writing Contest Topic for grades 1 -8

Write about one of the women from our list or a woman of your choice. Be sure to include factual information on your subject and to tell why this woman is significant.

Writing Contest Topic for grades 9 - 12

In a well-organized essay, detail the accomplishments and contributions of one of the women on our approved list. Be sure to include why you feel these accomplishments are significant – i.e. what was their impact – and at least two reasons why you found this person to be inspirational to you personally.

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)

Teachers may submit up to four entries per class in a given grade category. All grade 1-8 entries should be neatly printed on 8 ½ x 11 lined paper or typed. For grades 9-12, entries should be submitted using standard word processing formats like Microsoft Word or OpenOffice Writer (see “Contest Rules” below).

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.

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 on the students’ own voice in the essay.

It is essential that students in grades 9-12 credit the sources of their information. For example, a simple citation like the following can be done within the essay:

According to L. Patricia Kite in her book, “Maya Angelou,” the poet was reluctant to meet her birth parents.

Sources can also be footnoted on a separate page if necessary. 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.”

In the case of Internet sources, students should be encouraged to comment on the source material they use and cite, rather than simply pasting and copying. Please see Contest Rules below for additional information.

Art Contest Topics for grade categories 1 - 3, 4 – 8, and 9 - 12

Option 1, open to all grades: Select one woman from the approved list and create either a portrait or a poster that celebrates her contributions and accomplishments.

Option 2, for grades 9-12 only: Using Norman Rockwell’s The Problem We All Live With as an inspiration, create a poster that highlights one special accomplishment or moment in your chosen subject’s life.

Art Contest Guidelines:

Allowed media:

Drawings: ink, illustration pen, crayon, colored pencil, or colored marker.

Paintings: watercolors or acrylics only.

Teachers may submit up to four entries per class in each grade category. All artwork must be submitted on 8 ½ x 11 white paper, and must be the entrants completely original work. Note: the entries must be reproducible – for example, colored pencil drawings must be sufficiently dark, and any text included in the artwork should be limited and large.

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). Only works which adhere to the stated subject matter will be considered. Please see Contest Rules below for additional information.

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 should must also include a brief cover note with the teacher’s full name, school, phone number, and email address, along with the total number of your students that took part. Mailed entries can be sent to: NIE/Kids in Print 2012

The Republican, 1860 Main St.

P.O. Box 2633, Springfield, MA 01101-2633

4. For grade 9-12 writing entries only: entries should be submitted via email to nie@ using standard word processing formats like Microsoft Word or OpenOffice Writer. The original email should include the teacher’s full name, including middle initial, along with their school name and the total number of your students that took part. Please contact the NIE office at 413-788-1185 if you have any difficulty with sending essays electronically.

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 Friday, January 27, 2012. Entries received after that date will not be accepted.

6. Open to students actively enrolled in grades 1-12 in a public, private or parochial school in Massachusetts.

7. Potential winners will be notified by phone/mail on or about March 2, 2012.*

8. 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 2012 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.

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