About SLS: Calendar Contest

Rules

Madison-Oneida BOCES School Library System

Student Calendar Contest

1. Each entrant must be a student at a Madison-Oneida School Library System member school.

2. One entry per student.

3. Entries must be original hand-drawn work of the entrant or typed or hand-written text-based document (e.g. poetry, essay). Size limit: 8 ½ x 11.

4. Entries should reflect the 2019 contest theme: Everyone Belongs @ Your School Library

5. Each entry must be accompanied by a properly filled out entry form with the entrant’s: name, grade, teacher, school, and district. SLS reserves the right to edit entries.  If at all possible, submit them in clear plastic sleeves (entry form in the back).  ** Please write the student’s name on the back of the artwork.

6. All original artwork will be sent back to the submitting school librarian.

7. Winning entries sent to the School Library System should have parent permission allowing the use of the student’s name and artwork for publicity purposes. (Individual schools are responsible for obtaining and verifying parental permission on entries submitted to the School Library System office.)

2019 Calendar Contest Timeline

What are the criteria for entry?

All entries should reflect the theme in some way.   Original student artwork, essays or poetry are being solicited.  It is not necessary for the exact wording to appear in the artwork or essay. The submission should highlight how the student’s school librarian or school library has positively impacted them.  Judges will look for:

• quality of work
• originality of design
• correlation to the theme

Do I have to choose winners at the building level?

Only if you would like to. Some librarians like to make it a contest at the building level, with the best entries being sent on to the SLS.

Others prefer to send along a giant stack of entries, and leave all of the judging to the SLS staff.

Why does the SLS use the AASL School Library Month theme as the contest theme?

Remember that this contest purposely coincides with School Library Month – April, because it’s also intended to be an opportunity for you to display student entries and promote school libraries during School Library Month (April). With this in mind, a possible time-frame is: advertise and collect entries by the end of March, and then display them in your library in the first few weeks of April. (See document with suggested Timeline for specifics.)

Can I collaborate with other teachers on this project?

Absolutely. Feel free to ask your art teacher, a classroom teacher, or any other staff member to collaborate on this project.

What happens if one of my students wins?

We will send notification to you in early May to share with your student and their parent/guardian, which includes an invitation for the student and up to two family members to attend the breakfast on May 22.

What happens if my student’s family members are unable to attend?

Though historically almost all most winners have been able to come with a family member, when that isn’t possible some schools have made alternate arrangements for the winning student, e.g., for alternate transportation and inviting them to be “guests” of the librarian and/or administrator. Of course, that is entirely up to the school/district.

What do winners receive?

All winners will have their artwork featured in the SLS Calendar (2019-20) as well as at the Awards Breakfast, and will also receive a certificate at the Awards Breakfast. Grand prize winners will also receive a $15 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble.

What if I’m late in submitting my entries?

Entries must be submitted before you depart for spring break (April 11). We will be judging mid-week spring break, in order to turn the artwork around to the print shop in a reasonable period of time.                          

What are the age categories?

Early Elementary = K-1

Middle Elementary = 2-3

Upper Elementary = 4-5

Middle school = 6-8