OLYMPIA…Washington students are invited to take part in an annual national competition in which they write about a favorite or influential book.
The Letters About Literature contest asks students to write letters to their favorite authors, living or dead, and explain how a particular book by the author changed their view of the world or themselves. The contest, sponsored by the Washington Center for the Book, is for schoolchildren and homeschooled students in grades 4-12.
“Letters About Literature is a great contest for kids and teens because it encourages them to look within themselves to find the reasons why they were inspired by a favorite book or why it made them think in different ways,” said Secretary of State Kim Wyman. “Students submit so many incredible, heartwarming letters, and I look forward to reading them each year.“
This is the 25th year for the national contest and the 13th year that the Washington State Library has been part of it. The 2017-18 contest marks the first year for the Washington Center for the Book to sponsor the competition. WCFB is a new partnership between The Seattle Public Library and the Washington State Library and is an affiliate of the Library of Congress. WCFB’s mission is to promote literacy and a love of books, reading and libraries. The contest’s other sponsors include the Office of Secretary of State and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
Students who enter can write about works of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. They cannot write about music lyrics. Entries in Spanish are welcome and will be translated for the Washington state judges.
Letter writers compete at three levels: Level 1 for grades 4-6; Level 2 for grades 7-8; and Level 3 for grades 9-12. Entrants must be at least 9 years old. One letter from each level from each state is entered into the national competition.
Entries will be accepted starting Nov. 2. This year’s contest has only one deadline for all levels – Jan. 12, 2018.
An entry coupon must accompany each letter. Entry coupons and contest guidelines can be found at: https://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/archives/lal-flyer-jan-12-9x12.pdf . Completed forms should be stapled to the last page of the letter. Entries should be mailed in a large envelope (at least 9 inches by 12 inches) to:
Letters About Literature Contest
Competition Level (Indicate Level 1, 2 or 3 on envelope)
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. SE
Washington, D.C. 20540-4921
National winners receive a $1,000 cash prize and national honor winners in each competition level receive $200 in cash.
The state’s winners will be announced in April. A ceremony to honor the Washington champions, runners-up and honorable mentions will be held at the State Capitol in Olympia later in the spring.
Nearly 3,000 Washington students submitted letters for the 2016-17 competition. Seventy-one schools across the state had entries.
For information about the contest, please visit the State Library’s webpage, or contact Nono Burling at (360) 570-5576 or nono.burling@sos.wa.gov.
Washington’s Office of Secretary of State oversees a number of areas within state government, including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office also manages the State Archives and the State Library, as well as documenting extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington.
https://www.sos.wa.gov/office/news-releases.aspx#/news/1255
OUR SCHOOLS...2017
US DEPT. OF EDUCATION:Things People Say (blog post 10/ 12/ 17)
Number One. “Did you know?”
They never complete the thought, as if just looking at him implies what they’re really asking. I ache to play dumb: Know what? That he would almost never cry as a baby and be a champion sleeper? That he would love to swim but hate to play soccer? That I could love him ‘til it hurts and still get so annoyed by some of his antics? As obnoxious as my brain screams for me to be, I simply answer “No. After losing the first one, I didn’t want to take any chances with this very wanted baby.”
The mention of my previous sorrow precludes them from saying anything directly about those tests, so I leave it at that. I resist ranting about warped concepts of perfection or the technologies the medical community pushes that are incapable of measuring the value of those born “dappled.” If I launch into my diatribe, their eyes glaze over as they nod in the faux agreement children give their parents when they just want the scolding to stop. I can always tell when they’re thinking, “I would have the test.” I couldn’t guess what they would do if it were positive.
https://blog.ed.gov/2017/10/things-people-say/
Learning Outside from the 2017 Green Strides Tour in Georgia
I had the honor of attending the Georgia Green Strides Tour 2017 with Andrea Falken of the U.S. Department of Education and Keisha Ford-Jenrette of the Georgia Department of Education, and numerous other national, state and local partners. We rode a van to some of the school sites that had been honored over the years as U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools. This year’s two-day tour focused on the theme “Taking Learning Outside,” and covered a wide range of approaches.
https://blog.ed.gov/2017/10/learning-outside-2017-green-strides-tour-georgia/
Prepared Remarks by Secretary DeVos to the Washington Policy Center
Press release issued 10/ 13/ 17
Thank you, Ami, for that introduction and for what you do to advocate for our kids and their futures. And thank all of you for the work you do to improve the lives of Evergreen Staters.
You know, my job may be in a place that's called Washington, but please know that I prefer to be in this Washington. In fact, I was delighted to welcome one of your own into my family just a few years ago. A young man from Mukilteo married my daughter and he is the proud dad of one of my sweet granddaughters.
From Mukilteo to Spokane, your advocacy, your analysis, your activism – what keeps you going day in and day out – helps to improve opportunities for families in your state.
State-based centers like yours are important in shaping policy because you have great ideas and you fight for them. Your fellow member in the State Policy Network, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, has advanced major initiatives in my home state of Michigan.
So it won't surprise you that I'm no stranger to state-based advocacy; it was a primary focus for 30 years before I entered public service. I've been engaged on a whole range of issues, including many you work on here in Washington. But one visit to a school in urban Grand Rapids sharpened my policy focus – and changed my life.
https://www.ed.gov/news/speeches/prepared-remarks-secretary-devos-washington-policy-center
NASA Missions Catch First Light from a Gravitational-Wave Event
For the first time, NASA scientists have detected light tied to a gravitational-wave event, thanks to two merging neutron stars in the galaxy NGC 4993, located about 130 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Hydra.
Shortly after 8:41 a.m. EDT on Aug. 17, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope picked up a pulse of high-energy light from a powerful explosion, which was immediately reported to astronomers around the globe as a short gamma-ray burst. The scientists at the National Science Foundation’s Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detected gravitational waves dubbed GW170817 from a pair of smashing stars tied to the gamma-ray burst, encouraging astronomers to look for the aftermath of the explosion. Shortly thereafter, the burst was detected as part of a follow-up analysis by ESA’s (European Space Agency’s) INTEGRAL satellite.
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-missions-catch-first-light-from-a-gravitational-wave-event
US DEPT. of LABOR BLOG: After Apprenticeship, Baltimore Machinist Gives Back
After completing the apprenticeship program, Lynnard chose to give back to others by teaching metalworking skills to at-risk youth in the District of Columbia for a year. He then taught metalworking and advanced manufacturing in the Baltimore School District, proudly recalling that one of his students took third place at a state competition for milling and turning.
For the past year, Lynnard has worked as a technical manager with the National Institute for Metalworking Skills in Fairfax, Virginia, which involves developing training and education programs for adults, and traveling around the country to assist with curriculum alignment at schools. He still volunteers in Baltimore.
https://blog.dol.gov/2017/10/04/after-apprenticeship-baltimore-machinist-gives-back
WORLD AND NATIONAL HEADLINES FROM REUTERS...
Islamic State defeated in its Syrian capital Raqqa
RAQQA, Syria (Reuters) - U.S.-backed militias in Syria declared victory over Islamic State in its capital Raqqa on Tuesday, raising flags over the last jihadist footholds after a four-month battle.
Taliban attacks kill at least 69 across Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban militants struck government targets in many provinces of Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing at least 69 people, including a senior police commander, and wounding scores of others.
Trump's drug czar nominee withdraws from consideration
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. drug czar withdrew on Tuesday after it become public that he spearheaded a bill that undercut the government’s power to crack down on opioid makers that were flooding the market with the addictive painkillers.
NFL weighs protesting players' passion against Trump rebukes
NEW YORK (Reuters) - National Football League officials will weigh the fervor of players who protest racism by kneeling for the national anthem against the anger of U.S. President Donald Trump at their two-day autumn meeting beginning on Tuesday in New York City.
Daily Bible Verse: The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Psalm 25:14-15 NKJV
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