"School Matters" Writing Contest

The Save Our Schools Castro Valley! organization is having their  "School Matters" Writing Contest for students in 4th grade through 12th grade. Participants must submit persuasive essays on one or more of eight topics related to the current school budget cuts situation. 

Topics include:

•  Why are school sports programs important to students?
•  Why are small class sizes important to the K-3 students and 9th grade English students?
•  Why is it important for households without children in our district schools to support our schools through this period of cuts?
•  Why is the elementary vocal and instrumental music program important?
•  Why are librarians important to our district’s schools?
• Why are counselors important to our district’s students?
• Why is it important for local businesses to support our district’s schools?
• A teacher, administrator, or classified employee who has influenced me?

Winning submissions will each be turned into letters published in the Castro Valley Forum from Feb. 16 through March 23.  The purpose is to convince the Castro Valley community to support the CVUSD financially (through SOSCV!) in order to prevent the various proposed budget cuts being considered by the district.

Each submission must be between 250 and 300 words in length.  Winners will be chosen based on the quality of writing, the strength of the argument made and the ability to persuade the reader to donate.  Prizes will be awarded for the best submissions in each of three grade-level groups:  elementary, middle and high school.  

All submissions must be emailed to SOSCV! (info@soscv.org) by Wednesday, February 2nd, at 5:00pm. Winners will be notified by phone and email by Friday, February 11 at 12:00pm.

For more information, visit http://www.soscv.org/contest/.