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Students In Northern Illinois Are Invited
To Enter A Fall Essay Writing Contest
Offering Prizes For Winning Entries
That Answer The Question
"How and why do I show respect
for the people and places in my life?"
Visitors to beautiful Lockwood Park on Safford Road
just north of Rockford, Illinois, this fall will find a unique addition
to the Children's Farm and Trailside Horseback Riding Centre:
storytelling hayrides through the woods with bigger-than-life art
displays inspired by award-winning artist Tom Heflin's illustrations in
The First Forest.
In honor of the Lockwood Park "Locktoberfest" celebration taking place
every weekend in October, an essay writing contest is under way now
through November 10, 2011, for third through sixth grade students in
Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, and Stephenson Counties. Prizes will be awarded
to students submitting winning entries in two grade-level divisions:
third-fourth grade and fifth-sixth grade.
Winners will be announced on Thanksgiving Day.
The contest expands on The First Forest storytelling hayride and draws on
the author's note in the book: "Briefly stated, what I want children
and adult readers to come away with is a more generous, trusting,
sharing spirit. The First Forest
reminds us that greed and selfishness are harmful and that peace and
harmony flow from an attitude of grateful appreciation for the gifts we
receive and a respect for the need and right of others to share in
those gifts, also." In 100 to 300 words, students are to answer the
question, "How and why do I show respect for the people and places in
my life?"
Prizes are still coming in from area businesses, organizations, and individuals including:
• An MP3 player donated by Lockwood Committee members Dave and Carol Tanner for winner in grade 5-6 division.
• Tour the World free tasting tour of Noodles & Company menu for
4-6 friends (expires 12/15/11) for winner in grade 4-5 division.
• Barnes & Noble Family Fun Packs for winners in both the 4-5 grade level and the 5-6 grade level divisions.
• Rockford Park District coupons for free admissions to Magic Waters, golf courses, etc.
• Evergreen trees to be planted at the winners' schools for both grade level divisions.
• Wagon/pony passes for 2012 at Lockwood Park for the classes of
winners in both the 4-5 grade level and the 5-6 grade level divisions.
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Don Carter Lanes is presenting free bowling passes to all students who
enter and grand prizes of family bowling parties with pizza for both
grade level division winners.
• Complimentary copies of The First Forest will be given to all the students in the schools of both the 4-5 grade level and 5-6 grade level winners.
• Free writing workshops (click here for description) at schools of both grade level winners.
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Stockholm Inn is providing gift certificates for a free short stack of
Swedish Pancakes for winners and runners up in both grade levels.
More prizes are being added and will be included here as they are received.
Entries must be submitted by mail to Essay
Writing Contest, 1710 N. Main St., Rockford, IL 61103, and must be
postmarked no later than November 10, 2011, or may be deposited in Essay
Writing Contest drop boxes at participating area businesses, including
Don Carter Lanes, 4007 E. State St., Rockford; Lockwood Park Trailside
Centre, 5201 Safford Rd., Rockford; and Just-A-Second, 1710 N. Main
St., Rockford, until closing time, November 10, 2011.
Contest updates will be posted periodically at www.johngile.com and www.writingworkshopcontests.com. For answers to questions about the contest, call 815.968.6601 or ask by email.
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Back-to-School Night
messages for parents . . .
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The greatest books have not been written yet.
The greatest inventions are yet to come.
The best ideas are in your head.
One of my greatest pleasures in
teaching writing to children and adults is seeing the light come on as
they realize writing is not just an academic or professional skill. It
is a way to unleash life-enriching powers that we use every waking
moment. Here is a program handout I distribute as a reminder:
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Links
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| Lockwood Park . . . |
The dedicated Lockwood Park planning
committee and staff have made Lockwood a crown jewel of the celebrated
Rockford Park District. Now they have created an array of activities for
children and adults at Lockwood every weekend in October, including
hayrides, games, a scavenger hunt, corn maze, pumpkin launch, and more.
Here's what they have planned for each weekend in October, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
each day:
October 8-10, Pumpkin Patch Fest
October 15-16, Apple Days
October 22-23, Scarecrow Days
October 29-30, Costume Party Days
It's a perfect place for enjoying breathtaking autumn splendor with friends and family. – JG
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Building Bridges
To The Future
A roadside rest area
on a country road between the cities of Rockford and Durand in north
central Illinois invites weary travelers to pause and be refreshed by
the peaceful retreat. A boulder by benches overlooking a scenic view
there bears a plaque in memory of Rockford construction czar Bill
Howard.
The plaque paraphrases
a poem by eighteenth century writer Will Allen Dromgoole and tells the
story of "an old man, going a lone highway," who "came in the evening,
cold and gray, to a chasm, vast and deep and wide...
"The old man crossed
in the twilight dim, the sullen stream had no fears for him, but he
stopped when safe on the other side and built a bridge to span the
tide."
A puzzled and cynical
fellow traveler chides the old man for wasting his time building the
bridge: "You never again will pass this way. You've crossed the chasm,
deep and wide, why build you this bridge at evening tide?
"...The builder lifted his
old gray head: 'Good friend, in the path I have come,' he said, 'there
follows after me today a youth whose feet must pass this way.
"This chasm,
which has been as naught to me, to that fair-haired youth might a
pitfall be. He, too, must cross in the twilight dim. Good friend, I am
building the bridge for him.'" |
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