NJTESOL/NJBE, Inc.

AN AFFILIATE OF NJEA, TESOL, AND NABE

THIRD ANNUAL NJTESOL/NJBE 4^th Grade English Writing Challenge

SPONSOR

NJTESOL/NJBE is offering a $100 award for students at the 4^th grade level who are or have been enrolled in ESL and bilingual classes. We request that you distribute the information to the guidance departments or teachers in the Elementary schools in your district as well as to eligible students. Please encourage them to apply. If you have any questions about the award, please contact the Awards Committee:

ELIGIBILITY

The applicant must be:

1. a 4^th grade student in a NEW JERSEY school.
2. a New Jersey resident
3. a student who is currently receiving bilingual and/or ESL instruction in New Jersey or who received bilingual/ESL instruction in New Jersey last year (2008-2009)
4. referring teacher must be a member of NJTESOL/NJBE

CRITERIA

The application consists of three sections. Each of the three sections is considered carefully in selecting the award winner. Forms for Parts I-III should be downloaded. Follow the directions explicitly. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Each application packet must include the following items in one envelope, which will be considered in the selection of the award winner:

Checklist

1. Part I: Award Application Form ________

2. Part II: Essay on “Two Languages are Better Than One”

Typed or handwritten; double-spaced, 200 words or less. ________

3. Part III. Recommendation ________

DEADLINE

***Award applications and writings must be postmarked by March 5^th , 2010. No exceptions.***

Mail to:

Ms. D. Sefchik

102 Readington Road

Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889

NJTESOL/NJBE

4^th Grade Writing Contest APPLICATION

PART I. PLEASE PRINT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS SECTION.

Name________________________________________________Phone_______________________

(first) (last)

Address ____________________________________________________ Zip_________________

Date of Birth ________________________ Parent/Guardian _________________________________

Native/First Language ___________________________________ Country _________________________

Sex: Male _____ Female _____

Years in which you receive(d) Bilingual/ESL services: From _______________ to __________________

Elementary School __________________________________________________________________

School Address ____________________________________________________________________

Principal ____________________________________ Phone _______________________________

ESL/Bilingual Teacher ___________________________ Phone _______________________________

Please list local newspapers for press release: _______________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

NJTESOL/NJBE

4th Grade Writing Contest APPLICATION continued

PART II: INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE Writing Contest

(TO BE TYPEWRITTEN or HANDWRITTEN ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER)

Writing Theme: “Two Languages are Better Than One”

Essay

· 200 words Maximum

· Relevant to topic

· Written in English

· Will be judged using the 4^th grade New Jersey State Holistic Writing Rubric

Although students may discuss and brainstorm the topic with peers and teachers during the pre-writing stage, the final draft should be exclusively theirs.

The selection committee will base the evaluation on the message contained in the student’s writing and the unique form in which he/she expresses it. In summary, the committee wants to consider a work for which the student can claim ownership because it contains his/her true feelings and thoughts. It must be their own work with no editing by others.

The title of the composition must be “Two Languages are Better Than One”

Be sure to include the student’s name and contact information on the back of the essay.

Please complete the following certification.

I, ____________________________________ certify that the attached essay is the work of my student _________________________________with no editing by others and that the work was written in school. To the best of my knowledge, all the information contained in the information packet is accurate. We give permission to NJTESOL/NJBE to edit and publish the essay with the applicant’s name and photo if this association deems it appropriate.

_______________________________ ___________________________

Signature of Referring Teacher Date

_____________________________ ___________________________

Signature of Parent/Guardian Date

NJTESOL/NJBE, Inc.

AN AFFILIATE OF NJEA, TESOL, AND NABE

PART III: 4^th grade Writing Contest Recommendation Form

To the student: Fill out your name and school below, and ask one of your ESL or bilingual teachers who is a member of NJTESOL-NJBE to complete this recommendation form.

STUDENT NAME: _______________________________________________________________

School: ________________________________________________________________________

To the teacher: The student from whom you received this form is a candidate for a laptop offered by our association. The selection committee would appreciate your candid response to the following questions. Please place the recommendation in a sealed envelope, write your signature over the seal and return it to the student. The student needs to include it with his/her application materials, which need to be postmarked by March 5^th, 2010.

**Applications postmarked after that date and incomplete applications will not be considered. Thank you for your time.**

Why do you recommend this student for this award?

Teacher’s Name Title _________________________

Signature Date ______

Address________________________________________________Phone/email ___________________