DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 4
January 11, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
|
An estimated
1.3 million children nationwide are reported missing each year. The good news is that most of these children
return home safely. Sadly, many are
never recovered. Each year, the U.S.
Department of Justice celebrates the safe recovery of missing children at the
National Missing Children's Day Ceremony.
The Attorney General presides over this national event, which
commemorates the valiant efforts of law enforcement officers, private citizens,
and youth in protecting our children.
This annual event also includes a national poster contest for fifth
graders, highlighting our efforts to reunite children with their families.
The purpose
of this memo is to seek your assistance in spreading the word to your schools
about the statewide poster contest in
The state
winner will be selected from the entries submitted by the individual school
divisions. Following the statewide
competition during the week of March 1721, 2008,
At the
national level, the single national winner, his/her teacher, and his/her
parents will participate in the National Missing Children's Day ceremony at the
U.S. Department of Justice to be held in late May. Transportation and lodging
will be provided. The national winner
will also receive a national award certificate and a U.S. Savings Bond. No other awards will be provided by the
Department of Justice.
The attached
materials provide assistance with promotion and implementation of the
contest. The materials are also
available at:
http://www.vsp.state.va.us/MissingChildrenPosterContest.shtm
Included are:
1.
A fact
sheet (with rules, judging criteria, and important dates)
2.
An application
form for the contest participants to complete as a part of the poster contest
package
3.
A
letter to principals and fifth grade teachers inviting them to participate in
the contest and to educate children about safety issues
4.
A
letter to fifth graders explaining the contest and the reason for National
Missing Children's Day
5.
A
certificate of participation to be given to each student that enters the
contest
6.
A
sample flyer that can be used in hallways and bulletin boards
Each
elementary school with a fifth grade enrollment may conduct their own
competition with school winners participating in a division-wide
competition. The process used to
determine the winner of the school division competition will be the responsibility
of the school division.
Winning
school division entries should be postmarked no later than March 10, 2008, and
sent to:
Ashley Presnell
If a parcel
delivery service is used, the shipping address is:
Ashley Presnell
7700
I am
requesting your support by distributing this information to the elementary
schools in your division and encouraging them to participate in this important
state and national safety event.
Questions
about the contest may be directed to
BKCJr/ADC/nc
Attachments
a. Fact Sheet (.pdf)
b. Application Form (.pdf)
c. Letter to Principals and Fifth Grade Teachers (.pdf)
d. Letter to Fifth Graders (.pdf)
e. Sample Certificate of Participation (.pdf)
f. Sample Flyer (.pdf)