The Arkansas Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts (ACTELA) and the Arkansas Department of Education will sponsor the Language Arts Festival Saturday, February 19, 2000, at the Waldron Auditorium on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas, Conway. The Festival hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 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. The fee helps to defray festival expenses.
The Language Arts 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 can be purchased in the student center. Several fast food restaurants are nearby; however, they are not within walking distance. Afternoon events will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. Participants must be on time.
Festival regulations, event descriptions, and entry forms are attached. Entry forms with payment enclosed must be postmarked not later than January 31, 2000, 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 attachment): Level I, Grades 5, 6, and 7; Level II, Grades 8 and 9.
3. Although any accredited 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. However, a team may be composed of students from all grade levels (Grades 5-9), 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. Each team MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY TWO TEACHERS who will facilitate and judge events or attend workshops. Teams not accompanied by two teachers will be disqualified.
7. Participants must bring pens and loose-leaf paper for competitions.
8. Entry form, fee, and team slate must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2000, to Carol Rhein, 1508 S. Madison, Jonesboro, AR 72401.