2011 My Future is Clear Essay And Poetry Contest - August 18th, 2011
September 6, 2011
Dear Counselors:
Do your students have what it takes to stay clear of tobacco? The 2011 My Future is Clear Essay & Poetry Contest, presented by Stamp Out Smoking, allows students across Arkansas in grades 2-9 to put their creativity to work by picturing themselves living in a smoke-free world by 2030. They can tell us in an es- say or poem how deciding to be smoke-free and encouraging their friends and family to be smoke-free is making a difference in their future. We want them to tell us what they are doing to help make the whole world smoke-free by 2030.
According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 3,900 Arkansas youth under the age of 18 become new daily smokers each year. It is the goal of the SOS program to educate youth about the dangers tobacco has on one’s health and how important it is to maintain a tobacco-free lifestyle. We need your continued support to carry out tobacco prevention programs in Arkansas.
Included in this packet is a promotional poster for you to display in a high-traffic area at your school. Please feel free to make copies of this letter and encourage your fellow teachers to make the My Future is Clear Essay & Poetry Contest a classroom-based project.
As in years past, this contest will be conducted online. Beginning Monday, September 12, students can sub- mit their entries on stampoutsmoking.com. This year, essays submitted in the grades 2-3 category will be limited to a minimum of 200 words and maximum of 450 words. Entries in all other essay categories must contain no fewer than 300 words and maximum of 750 words. Poem submissions must be at least 12 lines in length for all grade categories and must contain a rhyming sequence. If your students would prefer a more free-verse style of writing, they should submit an essay rather than a poem, and adhere to the essay word count.
Not only is SOS providing exciting prizes for the best essay and poem entries, but also teachers of first- place winners in each category will receive $300 for classroom supplies. In addition, all winning schools will receive a visit from the Youth Extinguishing Smoking Team (yesteam.org) for the opportunity to celebrate with a tobacco-free rally in the spring. To see a list of prizes and complete contest guidelines, visit stampoutsmoking.com. Visit tobaccofreekids.org for key facts and issues to help your students show off their creativity!
Entries must be received before 5 p.m. on Friday, October 14. First-, second- and third-place winners will be selected in each of the three categories: grades 2-3, 4-6 and 7-9. Only one poetry winner will be selected in each category. A third party will judge all essays, and the winners will be announced by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 18.
For more information or to receive additional promotional items for the My Future is Clear Essay & Poetry Contest please contact Caleb Olson at Caleb.Olson@cjrw.com or (501) 975-7275.
Sincerely,
Miriam Karanja, Section Chief Health Communications Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program Arkansas Department of Health
HOW TO ENTER
Beginning Monday, September 12, students can submit their entries on stampoutsmoking.com.
Entries must be received before 5 p.m. on Friday, October 14.
Contest Guidelines
ESSAY
- Grades 2-3
- 200 – 450 Words
- First-, Second- and Third-Place Prizes
- Grades 4-6 and 7-9
- 300 – 750 Words
- First-, Second- and Third-Place Prizes in Each Category
POETRY
- Grades 2-3, 4-6 and 7-9
- 12-Line Minimum
- Must Have Rhyming Sequence
- One First-Place Prize in Each Category
Selection Criteria
A third party will judge all essays, and the winners will be announced by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 18. Judging will be based on the following criteria:
- Creativity
- Effectiveness/accuracy of message
- Ethics/good taste
- Quality of writing
Prizes
ESSAY GRADES 2-3:
- 1st – Nintendo Wii – Black – Super Mario Package
- 2nd – Nintendo DSI XL – Bronze
- 3rd – Portable DVD Player
ESSAY GRADES 4-6:
- 1st – iPad2 with Wi-Fi – 32GB – Black
- 2nd – iPod Touch – 32GB – Black
- 3rd – iPod Nano – 8GB – Graphite
ESSAY GRADES 7-9:
- 1st – iPad2 with Wi-Fi – 64GB – Black
- 2nd – iPod Touch – 64GB – Black
- 3rd – iPod Nano – 16GB – Graphite
POETRY:
- Grades 2-3 – Portable DVD Player
- Grades 4-6 – Barnes & Noble – NOOK The Simple Touch eReader
- Grades 7-9 – Barnes & Noble – NOOK Color eReader
Teachers of each first-place winner will receive $300 for classroom supplies.
