Constitution contest ends 9-17-11 at midnight

The Calaveras County Taxpayers Association Constitution Day Essay Contest ends September 17, 2011.
The high school winner will gets $100 cash, two zip Line rides plus other gifts from merchants including yogurt coupons.
Grades 6-8 winner will get $50 cash plus the above.
Grades 1-5 winner will get $25 cash plus merchant coupons.
Students can sign up online. Very easy. More information here: http://constitutiondaycontest.wordpress.com/
Do you have school age kids or know of any?  If so, please let them know about this happy opportunity today!

Choose your way to honor Constitution Day!

To commemorate the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787, Congress designated September 17 of each year as Constitution Day and September 17 – 23 as Constitution Week. Public school teachers and students all over America will talk about the U.S. Constitution on September 16th this year – find out why.
This year the Calaveras County Taxpayers Association will reach out to all Calaveras County schools to celebrate the U.S. Constitution, known as the “supreme law of the land”, with a creative art, essay, and video contest. This contest is open to all students within the county.

How to get started

1. Read through the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights ratified on December 15, 1791
2. Choose one Amendment from the Bill of Rights
3. Answer the contest question: How is this Amendment particularly meaningful to you or your family?

Create your entry

Grades 1 – 5:  Poster Contest.  Create a piece of art describing the Amendment you chose and why it is meaningful to you or your family.  Art work must be 8 ½” x 11” and may include any type of expression suitable to the size paper, such as pen, pencil, colored paper, paint, crayon, chalk, etc.  Art work created on the computer will also be considered.

Grades 6 – 8:  Essay Contest. Write an essay about your Amendment choice that answers the contest question.  Essays must be a minimum of 250 words & no longer than 500 words.  Essays must be in digital form and submitted through email.
Grades 9 – 12:  Essay or Video Contest. Choose one of two options for your entry:  an essay or YouTube video.  Either choice must address your Amendment choice and answer the contest question.  Essays are from 250 – 500 words in digital form.  If the choice is to produce a YouTube video, it should be a minimum of 3 minutes, not to exceed 5 minutes.  There is no limit on style in the YouTube production.  However, all work submitted MUST BE ORIGINAL to qualify.  Video may not defame or invade the privacy or publicity rights of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon a person’s personal or proprietary rights.  People or groups may be filmed as allowed by law in a public place.  A student team video entry may be produced by a maximum of three students with signed parent/guardian permission forms.  No copyrighted material may be used in an entry video unless the student is the copyright owner of the material.

Contest Details

see official contest rules

Register to enter online at ConstitutionDayContest.wordpress.com. Online registration and parent/guardian permission must be received by end of day on Constitution Day, Sept. 17th.

Submit your entry no later than 5pm, October 3rd. Stay tuned for details.

A six-member panel of judges will score entries based on the contestant’s knowledge of the chosen amendment, communication skills, originality, and creativity of the presentation.

Judges:
Gary Kuntz, Calaveras County Sheriff
Steve Fairchild, Owner, Moaning Cavern Park
Jean Turpen, Business Professional
Judy Wilmot, Artist & Teacher
Eric Du Temple, Superior Court Judge, Amador County
Chuck Milazzo, Bank President

Each contestant receives a pocket Constitution.

First Place Prizes

• grades 1-5 — $25
• grades 6-8 — $50
• high school — $100

Winners will also receive merchant coupons for free yogurt and zip line rides for students weighing more than 90 pounds.

Winners will be announced on the official contest website, by email and U.S. Post on October 10th.  One winner will be chosen from each grade group.  Each first place winner will receive cash award, a certificate and media recognition.

Top finalists will be honored at the CCTA Quarterly Luncheon on October 19 and be recognized by Congressman Tom McClintock. Other winners are possible for second and third place.  The second and third place winners will receive recognition awards and media attention.
SUGGESTED REFERENCE MATERIALS:
(1)   The Constitution Made Easy – Michael Holler.  A side by side comparison of the original and a modern English version of the Constitution. For most people reading the United States Constitution is difficult, and no wonder! It was written in “legalese,” and most of it is more than 200 years old. But now The Constitution Made Easy not only offers a modernized version for easier reading; it actually makes the meaning of the original seem to jump off the page!
(2)    Short video honoring Constitution Day from the Heritage Foundation

SPONSORED BY THE CALAVERAS COUNTY TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION (CCTA)
A NON-PARTISAN, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
CONTEST GIFTS AND AWARDS COURTESY OF
LOCAL MERCHANTS AND CCTA MEMBERS

Questions? Leave a comment here or send us an email.