DEADLINE:
Wednesday, February 8th, 5:00 p.m. Due to the large volume of essays we receive, none will be accepted after this deadline.
DETAILS:
Students from 4th grade through 12th grade submit persuasive essays on one or more of eight topics (listed below) related to the current school budget cuts situation. Winning essays will be published from 2/22 through 3/28 in The Castro Valley Patch online newspaper. The top 10 essays in each of the three grade-level groups will be published in a bound book, which will be distributed to each winner as well as throughout the CV school community. The purpose is to convince the Castro Valley community to support the CVUSD financially (through SOSCV!) in order to prevent the budget cuts being considered by the district.
Each submission must meet the 8 requirements listed below to be considered. Winners will be chosen based on the quality of the writing, the strength of the argument made, and the ability to persuade the reader to donate money. Prizes will be awarded for the best essays in each of the three grade-level groups: Elementary School, Middle School, and High School. Six essays will be chosen by the School Matters Contest Committee for publication from 2/22 through 3/28 in the Castro Valley Patch online newspaper. All winning authors will be contacted in order to arrange for a photo to be taken as part of their published article. All submissions, in order to be valid, must be EMAILED to SOSCV! (info@soscv.org) by Wednesday, February, 8th, at 5:00 p.m. Winners will be notified by phone and email by Friday, February 17 at 12:00 p.m.
TOPICS:
Submission topics must be chosen from
the following eight categories. Each participant may enter only one
submission per category, but may enter submissions in as many categories as they wish.
Category 1 Why are school sports
programs important to students? (NOT P.E.)
Category 2 Why are small class sizes important to the K-3 students
and 9th grade English students?
Category 3 Why is it important for households without children
in our district schools to support our schools through this period
of cuts?
Category 4 Why is the elementary vocal and instrumental music
program important?
Category 5 Why are librarians important to our district’s
schools?
Category 6 Why are counselors important to our district’s
students?
Category 7 Why is it important for local businesses to support
our district’s schools?
Category 8 A teacher, administrator, or classified employee who has influenced me?
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
To enter this contest, please send an email to SOSCV! at info@soscv.org with the following information no later than Wednesday, February 8th,
at 5:00pm.
THE FOLLOWING 8 PIECES OF INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED IN SUBMISSION TO BE CONSIDERED
1) Student Name
2) Home Phone Number
3) Student's AND Parent's Email Addresses
4) School Name
5) Grade Level
6) Teacher (1st period for middle school and high school)
7) Topic (Category Name)
8) Writing Submission (250 to 300 words) (no more, no less) Text MUST be copied into the email message - NOT attached as a file.
PRIZES:
Identical 1st through 10th prizes will be awarded to the top essay submissions in each of the three grade-level competitions - Elementary, Middle, and High School.
1st place – Wii gaming system (1 each provided by: Shervin Yazdi, DDS, Swiss Delices Fine Baker and Pastry, and Direct Sales Floors) PLUS one free game of miniature golf (provided by Golden Tee Golfland)
2nd place - $75 gift card (All 3 provided by Eden Bicycles) PLUS one free game of miniature golf (provided by Golden Tee Golfland)
3rd place - $50 gift card (All 3 provided by The Game Alley) PLUS one free game of miniature golf (provided by Golden Tee Golfland)
4th place - $25 gift certificate (All 3 provided by Baskin Robbins) PLUS one free game of miniature golf (provided by Golden Tee Golfland)
5th place - $10 gift certificate (All 3 provided by Swiss Delices Fine Baker and Pastry), PLUS 1 game of bowling (All provided by Castro Village Bowl) PLUS one free game of miniature golf (provided by Golden Tee Golfland)
6th through 10th place - 1 free game of bowling (provided by Castro Village Bowl)
ALL PARTICIPANTS - One free game of miniature golf (provided by Golden Tee Golfland) (limit 1 per participant)
ORGANIZER:
Save
Our Schools Castro Valley!
20885
Redwood Rd., #195 | www.soscv.org
| 510-537-3000, ext. 1662
SPONSORS:
Golden Tee Golfland
2533 Castro Valley Blvd. | www.golfland.com/castrovalley/ | 510-537-4073
Providing a free game of mini golf to every contest participant (each valued at $7.50, for a total contribution of $3,750) (based on 500 participants)
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Shervin Yazdi, DDS
20700 Lake Chabot Rd., Ste. 205 | www.dryazdi.com
| 510-538-2098
Providing a Wii gaming system (1st prize) to one of the three grade level winners (valued at $200), AND $100 towards the printing of the book of winning essays, for a total contribution of $300
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Direct Sales Floors
2973 Castro Valley Blvd
| www.dsfcarpetonecastrovalley.com | 510-538-5000
Providing a Wii gaming system (1st prize) to one of the three grade level winners (valued at $200), AND $100 towards the printing of the book of winning essays, for a total contribution of $300
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Swiss Delices Fine Baker & Pastry
20669 Santa Maria Ave.
| www.swissdelices.com | 510-881-8669
Providing a Wii gaming system (1st prize) to one of the three grade level winners (valued at $200) AND three $10 gift certificates (5th prize) to Swiss Delices Fine Baker & Pastry (a total contribution of $230)
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Eden Bicycles
3318 Village Dr. | www.edenbicycles.com | 510-881-5000
Providing a $75 gift card (2nd prize) to each of the three grade level competitions (a total contribution of $225)
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The Game Alley
20438 Redwood Rd. | www.thegamealley.com
| 510-581-4263
Providing a $50 gift card (3rd prize) to each of the three grade level competitions (a total contribution of $150)
All of the Wii gaming systems (first prizes) were purchased at The Game Alley.
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Castro Village Bowl
3501 Village Drive
| www.castrovillagebowl.net | 510-538-8100
Providing a free game of bowling (4th through 10th prize) to each of the three grade level competitions (a total contribution of $105)
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Baskin Robbins
20560 Redwood Road | 510-537-4489
Providing a $25 gift card (4th prize) to each of the three grade level competitions (a total contribution of $75)
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Village Barber Shop
3372 Village Drive
| www.villagebarbershop.com | 510-881-9555
Providing a contribution of $50 towards the printing of the winning essays book.
CONTEST COMMITTEE (JUDGES):
Leslie Anderson, CVUSD
Janice Friesen, CV Board of Education
Anna Gee, Supervisor Nate Miley's office
George Granger, CV Board of Education
Ben Gurule, Ben's Signs
Matt Johanson, Author, Teacher Castro Valley High School
Jo Loss, CV Board of Education
Camille Minichino, Author
Roisin Monaghan, Volunteer, SOSCV!
Allen Mueller, President, Co-Founder, SOSCV!
Bill Nott, President, Castro Valley Rotary Club
Steve Ontiveros, VP, SOSCV!
Leslie Rothwell, Cal State East Bay
Tony Shah, CVUSD
Randy Vanderbilt, Owner, Vanderbilt Family Builders
