Announcements
December, 2024
The deadline for the "Finding the U in Justice" contest has been extended to December 13, 2024. For contest guidelines, please scroll down below.
Thank you.
October, 2024
Dear Upper Merion Area Students, Teachers, Administrators and Community Members,
We are excited to announce that this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday Committee will present its annual celebration in-person on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 6:30 pm. This celebration will be held at the Upper Merion Area High School. The committee has planned an evening of inspiring and talented tributes presented by several different clubs and organizations of the Upper Merion Area School District.
As in the past, we will be conducting a contest for students to submit projects focused on this year’s theme – “Finding the U in Justice.” There are several different approaches to take when considering this year’s theme, and the committee is excited to see the students’ imaginations come to life. Please brainstorm and research different ideas with family members, teachers, and friends to determine the specific direction that inspires you the most.
Group and individual participants will be recognized during the celebration. This year the committee for outstanding submissions by group or individual will be awarded the following cash prizes:
1st Place Elementary, Middle, and High School: $100
2nd Place Elementary, Middle, and High School: $50
3rd Place Elementary, Middle, and High School: $25
Contest submissions are due on December 13, 2024. The committee is looking forward to receiving entries from everyone, kindergarten through twelfth grade. Please click here or scroll below for contest guidelines.
Projects should be submitted to and any questions may be directed to: Mrs. Angela Della Valle at adellavalle@umasd.org or at 610-205-8878.
Sincerely,
Dr. Andrew Kuhn
Director of Curriculum & - Humanities K-12
MLK Contest Theme: “Finding the U in Justice”
|
Focus on Theme |
4 Sharp, distinct connection to the theme; evident awareness of the task, purpose and audience |
3 Evident connection to the theme; evident awareness of the task, purpose and audience |
2 Partial connection to the theme; partial awareness of the task, purpose and audience |
1 Needs improvement; theme and awareness of task is unclear; |
|
Content |
4 Topic is strongly supported, developed, and elaborated on to support the purpose of assignment |
3 Topic is supported, developed, and elaborated on to support the purpose of assignment |
2 Topic is partially supported, developed, and elaborated on to support the purpose of assignment |
1 Topic is missing support; development of ideas may be missing; purpose of assignment is unclear |
|
Organization (Ex: introduction, development, conclusion) |
4 Effective organizational strategies are consistently used to support and develop the topic |
3 Strong organizational strategies are used to mostly support and develop the topic |
2 Some organizational strategies are used to somewhat support and develop the topic |
1 Inconsistent or missing organizational strategies; organization does not support or develop the topic |
|
Style/Visuals |
4 The visual, verbal and/or written style is formal, well-established and consistent; effectively displays control of language usage, domain-specific vocabulary, stylistic techniques, and sentence variety |
3 The visual, verbal and/or written style is formal and consistent; evident control of language usage, domain-specific vocabulary, stylistic techniques, and sentence variety |
2 The visual, verbal and/or written style is mostly formal and mostly consistent; partial control of language usage, domain-specific vocabulary, stylistic techniques, and sentence variety |
1 Inconsistent use of formal visual, verbal and written style; inconsistent; missing or inconsistent control of language usage, domain-specific vocabulary, stylistic techniques, and sentence variety |
|
Conventions |
4 Few errors may be present in grammar, usage, spelling, punctuation; errors present do not interfere with meaning |
3 Few errors may be present in grammar, usage, spelling, punctuation; errors present do not interfere with meaning |
2 Several errors present in grammar, usage, spelling, punctuation; errors partially interfere with meaning |
1 Several errors present in grammar, usage, spelling, punctuation; errors interfere with meaning |
|
Format Project Ideas to consider: *Original Poem written and recited |
4 -Uses one of the approved formats -Includes student name, classroom, homeroom teacher, grade, and school Essay: 1-2 pages in length |
3 - Uses one of the approved formats -Some contact information may be missing |
2 -Format is partially acceptable -Some contact information is missing |
1 -Format is unacceptable -Contact information is missing |
Additional Contest Guidelines:
- All entries must be submitted online and entries should not exceed 2-4 minutes in length, submitted in Quick Time or iMovie format.
- Essays are limited to grades 5 -12, short essays should be 1-2 pages in length, double spaced, size 12, Times New Roman font.
- The theme MUST be incorporated into all entries.
- Each entry must include the student’s name, classroom or homeroom teacher, grade, and school.
- Your contest entries must be emailed to Mrs. Angela Della Valle - adellavalle@umasd.org
- Extended Deadline for entries: December 13, 2024
**Please note that late entries may or may not be accepted. Please make sure to have your entry completed and submitted no later than December 13, 2024. Thank you.