Who is eligible? Belizean high school students enrolled in Forms I through IV in the 2008-09 school year
Prizes:  
    1st = $500 Savings Account at ATLANTIC BANK... Essay published on the Macmillan Caribbean Website
    2nd = $300 Savings Account at ATLANTIC BANK
    3rd = $150 Savings Account at ALLIANCE BANK
    Honourable Mention = $75 in cash
All winners will receive a copy of The Festival of San Joaquin, signed by Zee Edgell
The Festival of San Joaquin, by Belizean author Zee Edgell, will be back in print starting this month! Macmillan Caribbean will re-publish the novel. To celebrate the return of The Festival of San Joaquin, the author and publisher invite Belizean high school students to enter an essay contest. Students enrolled in a Belizean high school for the 2008-09 school year are invited to take part in the contest. School principals will have information for entrants. Deadline to enter: EXTENDED to Nov.2008 Winners notified: January 2009 Award ceremony: January 2008 (date to be announced) http://www.macmillan-caribbean.com/pages.aspxshapeimage_2_link_0
The Essay... Entrants will select one of the following themes to write about: 1) Belize’s population and demographics make-up are changing. Describe these changes (be sure to cite sources for any statistics provided) and what impact they might have in the future. 2) In the novel The Festival of San Joaquin, the protagonist suffers from physical and emotional abuse at the hands of the man she loves. Domestic violence is not uncommon in Belize. How can men make have an impact on reducing the prevalence of physical abuse in the home? 3) The issue of humankind’s relationship with the land and environment also plays a role in The Festival of San Joaquin. How do you think Belizeans are doing when it comes to protecting its natural resources, including the sea and reef, the rainforest, and wild life. Please provide specific examples. Keep in mind: • You must provide attribution and/or citation for any statistics, assertions of fact, and quotations. • Including your own well-reasoned opinions is encouraged. • Appropriate references to The Festival of San Joaquin and/or Zee Edgell’s other books are encouraged.
Zee Edgell’s The Festival of San Joaquin National Essay Contest for Belize’s High School Students ESSAY COVER SHEET (entries without cover sheet will be disqualified) PLEASE PRINT (in blue or black ink) NAME of Entrant __________________________________________________ E-MAIL address (if any) _____________________________________________ BIRTH DATE _____________________________________________________ FORM IN 2008-09 SCHOOL YEAR (circle one) I II III IV SCHOOL ________________________________________________________ SCHOOL ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE________________ HOME ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE________________ Student Rules & Guidelines: • Please do not include your name on the essay itself, only on this cover sheet. The judging will be “blind,” so that judges will not know the identities or the schools of the entrants. • Be sure to type and double space your pages, number them, and paper clip the pages together. • Only one entry per student, please. • Entries will not be returned, so please be sure to keep a copy of your essay. Also, keep an electronic copy (computerized). If you win, your essay will be posted on the Macmillan web site. • Entries will be judged on creativity, accuracy, grammar and spelling, how well the entrant followed the rules of the contest, and how well the writer has addressed his or her chosen theme. • You must provide attribution and/or citation for any statistics, assertions of fact, and quotations. • Plagiarism will result in disqualification. • Appropriate references to The Festival of San Joaquin and/or Zee Edgell’s other books are recommended. • Failure to follow contest rules and guidelines may result in disqualification. *****See your School Principal or Contest Coordinator for instructions on where to submit your entry***** PLEASE DIRECT QUESTIONS TO NATALIE WILLIAMS (BELIZE): nataliesadasey@yahoo.com OR HOLLY EDGELL (USA): hedgell@yahoo.commailto:nataliesadasey@yahoo.commailto:hedgell@yahoo.comshapeimage_4_link_0shapeimage_4_link_1
 

Ms. Monica Tucker
Sponsors: