The Arkansas Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts (ACTELA) in collaboration with the English Department of the University of Central Arkansas, and the Arkansas Department of Education will sponsor the ACTELA Language Arts Festival Saturday, February 16, 2002, at the Ida Waldron Auditorium at the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, The competition will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m.
The festival is open to any Arkansas accredited elementary, middle, or junior high school for grades 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. On-site competition is divided into two levels: Level I for grades 5, 6, and 7; Level II for grades 8 and 9. Participation will be limited to the first 50 teams returning an entry form. Only one team of six students for each level per school within a school district may compete. Participating schools will remit a $5.00 team fee, plus an additional $3.00 per team member, with the registration form to help defray festival expenses.
The ACTELA Festival provides an excellent opportunity for upper elementary, middle school, and junior high students to experience academic competition in literature, narrative, poetry, and expository writing and to work in pairs to exercise their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, usage, and mechanics. All participating students will receive a certificate of participation, and winners of each division will receive prizes.
Lunch may be purchased in the student center. Several fast food restaurants are available; however, they are not within walking distance. Afternoon events will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. Competitors must be on time.
Inquiries should be directed to Carol Rhein at 870-935-6361 (w) or 870-935-2507 or crhein@cox-internet.com.
Festival regulations, event descriptions, and entry forms are attached. Entry forms with payment enclosed must be postmarked not later than January 31, 2002, and mailed to Carol Rhein, 1508 S. Madison, Jonesboro, AR 72401. The first 50 teams (only one team for each level per school within a school district) to respond will be notified that they are eligible to participate.
Festival Regulations:
1. The ACTELA Language Arts Festival is a statewide event open to any Arkansas accredited elementary, middle, or junior high school for grades 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
2. The festival is divided into two competition levels, each consisting of seven events (see schedule): Level I, grades 5, 6, and 7; Level II, grades 8 and 9.
3. Although any qualified school may enter, competition is limited to the first 50 teams (one team for each level per school) returning the entry form.
4. Each school within a school district may enter one team of six students for each level within the school. However, a team may be composed of students from all grades within the appropriate level, two grades, or one grade, as long as all the students on the team attend the same school. The school should be careful to assign students to appropriate levels: Level I, grades 5, 6, and 7; Level II, grades 8 and 9.
5. A student may enter one morning event as an individual and one afternoon event as a member of a team.
6. One person from each Level II team may participate in a poetry slam after the other competitions. He or she must bring one original poem, composed beforehand, to enter in the slam.
7. Each team MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY TWO TEACHERS who will facilitate and judge events. Teams not accompanied by two teachers will be disqualified.
8. Participants must bring pens and loose-leaf paper for competitions.
9. Students participating in the book cover competition must read the book and prepare the book cover before the festival competition and be prepared to explain the cover at the competition.
10. Entry form, fee, and team slate must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2002, and sent to Carol Rhein, 1508 S. Madison, Jonesboro, AR 72401.