2015-2016

Presented by Anna Sander

sasrr5@yahoo.com

What is Honoring Our Heroes?

A writing program sponsored by the Forsyth County Council that encourages students to recognize a person who has been special to them and to express their thoughts through writing.

Any student at a PTA school in Forsyth County can participate.

Do you know a real life hero?

The program was designed to encourage students to discover “real life” heroes who have shown generosity, trust, persistence, dedication, leadership, creativity, caring, bravery, imagination, service, gentleness, courage or compassion.

This is for students to recognize a true hero in their lives.

This year, the students can choose anyone they would like to be their hero, there are no specific requirements.

Students who would like to participate should select a real life hero who has made a difference and has shown one or more of the following characteristics: generosity, trust, persistence, dedication, leadership, creativity, caring, bravery, imagination, service, courage or compassion.

The student should show how this hero has had an impact on their life.

Who is your real life hero?

Examples of who could be considered a real life hero are:• Teacher• Policeman, Fireman• Doctor, Nurse• Coach• Community leader• Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister, Uncle, Aunt, Neighbor• Religious leader • School volunteer

Is this a contest?

Yes – at the school level.

Each participating school will submit one essay per grade to Forsyth County Council.

No – at the council level.

All essays submitted to FCC will be included in the book, and all authors and their hero will be invited to a reception where they will receive a certificate and a copy of the book. Furthermore, at the council level, we will select one essay per grade for special recognition.

There is nothing above the council level.

Before you get started• Talk to your principal about how they would like the

program to work at your school.

• There are multiple ways entries can be completed by students:• During School Hours or at Home• As a class assignment (could be for a grade in the class) or

optional

Two program structures

• During School Hours• Students complete essays

during class with teacher

direction

• Judging occurs within grade

level with each class having a

winner

• From class winners, a winner is

chosen from each grade level

to be submitted to county

• Communication with teachers

about how to conduct the

program is vital.

• At Home• Students submit the essays

completed at home by a

school-determined due date

• Judges select a winning entry

from each grade

• 1 entry per grade is submitted

to county as winner

• Advertise via school newsletter,

email through Room Parents,

website, flyers sent home, etc.

Honoring Our Heroes – LU Process• Select a Chairperson• Establish a structure (choose between in school or at home program)

• Determine timeline• Publicize• Collect entries• Judge the entries• Award your school winners• Turn in grade-level winners to FCC by February 12, 2016• Attend FCC HOH Reception on March 17, 2016 at

Piney Grove Middle School

Timeline

Work backward from the FCC due date.

Your calendar will depend on how your school implements the program.

February 12, 2016 is when entries are due to FCC

Judging• Each LU judges their own entries and submits one per

grade level to FCC.• You can do this similar to how you get Reflections judges.• You can also ask teachers to swap from different grades

and read the entries.• You can use a PTA officer/chair committee to judge.• Entries should be judged based on the student’s

ability to articulate the qualities of the hero and to describe the manner in which the hero affected the student’s life, either directly or indirectly.

Format of Entries• Entries are limited to ONE 8.5x11 inch piece of paper. The

student may use both sides of the paper. • Entries may be handwritten or typed.• Pictures drawn by the students or photos may be included

as part of the entry, but they are to be judged primarily on content, and not on artistic ability and they must fit onto the one piece of paper allowed.

• Each entry submitted to FCC must have an completed HOH Entry Form with students name, address, school name included.

The Heroes• We are also asking for the Heroes address on the entry

form.• The hero will receive their own special invitation to the

Honoring Our Heroes reception on March 17th.• The Heroes will also receive a certificate of appreciation

and a copy of the book at the reception.

Submitting Entries to FCC• When you submit your entries to FCC, please include a

completed Forsyth Council Packet Cover.

• Completed packets should be mailed by county internal mail or delivered to:• Anna Sander, PTA, Settles Bridge Elementary• Please email me when they are sent so that I can be on the lookout

for them. sasrr5@yahoo.com

Do not fold the entries! Please lay flat in a 9x12 envelope.

Also, be sure to make a backup copy of the entries for your records.

Entries must be submitted by February 12, 2016

The Reception• The FCC HOH Reception will be held at Piney Grove Middle

School on Thursday, March 17, 2016 from 7pm-8pm.• Who is Invited: all school essay winners and their hero, plus

their parents and family, PTA presidents and officers, School teachers and principals.

• Invitations for both winners and their heroes will mailed to you by February 15 via internal mail to your school. You will be asked to mail the invitation to the winners and heroes. That is why it is important to have the addresses on the entry forms.

• Each winner and their hero will be presented with a book that has all the school winning entries. They will also receive a certificate of appreciation.

Refreshments• Each school that participates in HOH is requested to bring

a snack item for the Reception that can be eaten by hand (cookies, fruit, cheese, sandwiches, etc.)

• We will send a Sign Up Genius to each LU HOH chairperson so you can select which snack to bring.

• ---?--- will provide the drinks.

Questions?