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To: Catholic Elementary School Principals, DREs, Home School Associations From: Mary Catherine Damon, Respect Life Coordinator Date: August 15, 2016 Re: Respect Life Contest – January 1-31, 2017

I. LETTER FROM THE COORDINATOR Thank you to all who participated in last year’s contest. It’s a joy to share the booklet of winning entries with people throughout the diocese. A few of the past overall winning entries are featured on the sample page of this year’s contest materials. The purpose of the annual Respect Life Contest is to create an opportunity for teachers and children to discuss the theme(s) and the need to respect human life in all forms: the unborn, the prisoner on death row, the disabled, the sick, the elderly and those with special needs. This year’s themes are listed below along with instructions for participation. Suggestions for incorporating this contest into your curriculum and increasing participation from your school/religious education program are included. NEW: this year we have made the essay contest a separate portion for the Level 3 age group. Since these two mediums of the arts are vastly different, we have heard that many people have a difficult time choosing between artwork and an essay. You may submit both a Level 3 winner for the poster contest and a Level 3 winner for the essay contest. With that said, the Overall Winner will still be only one of the age group winners. We will not accept more than one Overall Winner unless a submission was a collaborative effort. Once again this year we would like to draw attention to the importance of participants generating original artwork and writing, so please carefully review the participation guidelines. We also have a stream-lined entry submission process available through an online form found at www.dcfl.org/respectlifecontest2017. We look forward to receiving your program’s submissions for the 2017 Respect Life Contest!

II. THEME

Poster Contest: Moved by Mercy: “We are called to show mercy because mercy has first been shown to us.” – Pope Francis

NEW: SEPARATE ESSAY CONTEST

Essay Contest: Pope Francis tells us that “we are called, to protect our humanity, and this means, in the first place, accepting it and respecting it as it was created.” (AL 56) Explain how you can build a culture of life today by respecting human life as it was created and ordered by God.

Level Grades Participation Options

Level 1 K – 1 – 2 8 ½ x 11 Poster

Level 2 3 – 4 – 5 8 ½ x 11 Poster

Level 3 6 – 7 – 8 8 ½ x 11 Poster

Level 3 6 – 7 – 8 Essay (300 word minimum)

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Please read each item carefully. Failure to submit all indicated items will result in exclusion from the contest.

1. The submission form is due by February 17, 2017 by mail or through our online form, www.dcfl.org/respectlifecontest2017

2. Complete Submission Check List:

Submission Form - filled out completely

Original artwork of the overall winning entry only

Original essay (if applicable) of Level 3 essay contest winner

Release of Original Work form – This is only required for the overall winning entry student(s) filled out by their parent/guardian. If the DCFL receives a winning entry without this form, we cannot award the recipient.

100% Participation Prize Selection Form (if applicable) - A prize is given to programs that involve all classes in the contest. This does not mean that 100% of the students in each class must participate, but that you must receive entries from all the classes in your school or program. If you do not meet the 100% participation requirements, check “no” on line 3.b of submission form or select “no” on the online submission form.

3. Original Work –All entries must be entirely original works. a. Text Quotes – must be properly cited indicating the author, source, date it was written and

date the quote was retrieved. (APA or MLA citation formats preferred) b. Professional photos of family members need a written release in order to be used. c. We are NOT able to accept entries with the following:

i. Pictures, images, graphic design elements not originally generated by the student (for example, images from Google)

d. IMPORTANT: Any entries that are not strictly original works will, unfortunately, be excluded from the contest due to copyright concerns.

4. Only entries that focus on human life should be chosen.

5. Winning Entries

a. Winners are chosen by the School, Religious Education Program, or Home School Association.

b. Winners can be determined by Principal/DRE/Association Coordinator or by a panel of “judges”.

c. One winning poster entry is chosen for each level. d. One separate winning essay entry may be chosen for Level 3. e. From the Level 1& 2 posters and Level 3 poster & essay winners, one overall poster or essay

winner is chosen as the Overall Winner. Please indicate the winning entries on line 3 of submission form and overall poster winner on line 4 of submission form.

6. The overall winner(s) from each participating program will be included in the 2017 Respect Life

Contest Booklet. Two copies of the booklet are mailed to the contact name on the submission form: one for the overall winner(s) and one for the program/school.

7. A certificate signed by the Bishop and a precious feet pin are provided for each level winner. These are mailed to the contact name on the submission form.

III. CONTEST RULES

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IV. SUGGESTIONS

1. Find creative opportunities to display all entries - the parish center during Sunday coffee hour, in the hallways of the school, a vestibule display, insert a winning essay in the bulletin. This allows the whole church or school community to see the value of human life as presented through the eyes of their children.

2. 100% Participation Prize - you are encouraged to think of creative ways to get 100% participation

(like dress down day, extended recess, etc.). If your program has 100% participation (at least one entry from every class), check “yes” on line 3.b. of submission form or select “yes” on online submission form.

3. Catholic Schools Week - Schools that wish to incorporate this contest into Catholic Schools Week should modify dates so that a winner is chosen during the last week in January.

4. Presenting Certificates - Please make the presentation of the certificates signed by the Bishop into a special occasion if possible. You could recognize the children after a Sunday Mass, at a graduation ceremony, or on the last night of religious education. Think of a way that allows the parents to be included.

V. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

Lesson guides for Grades K-8th can be found at www.dcfl.org/respectlifecontest2017 for teachers who would like supplemental ways to incorporate respect life themes in their classrooms. These materials are not required for those participating in the Respect Life Contest and can be used anytime during the year to supplement textbook material. Additional curriculum ideas and classroom resources are available through the Archdiocese or Los Angeles’s Respect Life Week: www.archla.org/respectlifeweek. If you have material or suggestions you would like to share concerning respect life themes, please send your comments to cdamon@dosafl.com or fax to (904)738-8043.

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SAMPLE

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Complete this submission and

release form and mail with the overall winning entry to:

Respect Life Coordinator Diocesan Center for Family Life

2577 Park Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204

OR

Complete the online submission form at www.dcfl.org/respectlifecontest2017

and mail the release form & overall winning entry to Respect Life Coordinator

Diocesan Center for Family Life 2577 Park Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204

For questions, email amechling@dosafl.com or call (904) 551-2619 ext. 101 ALL INFORMATION MUST BE PROVIDED

1. Type of Program - SELECT ONE and indicate school or program name: (Please note: a separate form must be submitted for each school or program.) School ________________________________________________________________________ Religious Education Program ______________________________________________________ Home School Association ________________________________________________________

2. Address where winning certificates need to be mailed: School/Program Name ______________________________________________________________

Attention ________________________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________________________

City ____________________________________ State ___________ Zip Code _______________ Phone number ___________________________ Email ____________________________________

3. A. Winning entries - certificates will be provided. *Send artwork and release form only for the Overall

Winner(s). Level 1 Grades K – 2 Name _______________________________________________________

Level 2 Grades 3 – 5 Name _______________________________________________________

Level 3 Grades 6 – 8

Poster Contest Winner Name ___________________________________________

Essay Contest Winner Name ____________________________________________

3. B. 100% Program Participation: Yes No If Yes, indicate prize (options on page 8) ______________________________________

4. Overall Winner - Select one entry from level 1, 2 or 3. (Please note: Submit ONLY this entry’s original artwork or essay and release of artwork form.)

Name ___________________________________________________________________________ Release of Original Work form attached (page 6)

Respect Life Contest 2017 Submission and Release Form

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Release of Original Work

By submitting this entry, I hereby certify that the entry submitted is an original work created by the student on whose behalf I am signing. I understand that the entry submitted becomes the property of the Diocesan Center for Family Life (“DCFL”) with all rights to reproduce, exhibit, and otherwise use such entries for the purposes of the DCFL. I release the DCFL from any claims and demands arising out of the use of the entry. Signature of Parent/Guardian Parent/Guardian (Please Print) Date Name of Student

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Overall Winner Samples – 2016 Contest

Audrey L.

St. Joseph’s Catholic School

Camille F.

St. John the Baptist Religious Education

Christopher W.

San Jose Catholic School

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100% Participation | Prize Selection Options

School/program is eligible if an entry from every class of your program is received. This does not mean 100% of the students in each class have to participate. Indicate prize selection on 2017 Submission Form.

Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss Horton realizes the inherent dignity in all life, regardless of whether or not it fits into commonly held conceptions. “A person’s a person no matter how small.”

Squire & Scroll by Jennie Bishop and Preston McDaniels This adventure follows a young squire who travels a long, dangerous road beside his brave knight. Children will gain valuable insight as they learn what it means to face the dangers of temptation, and what it takes to guard one's heart from all that is impure.

Princess and the Kiss by Jennie Bishop and Preston McDaniels

A king and queen present their daughter with a gift from God - her first kiss - to keep or to give away. The wise girl waits for the man who is worthy of her precious gift. Book portrays the ageless message that "love... comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

Angel in the Waters by Regina Doman

In its mother’s womb, a tiny baby grows, explores the waters, and talks with the angel who is there. Book has illustrations and wise words tell the story of that baby and the angel in the waters . . . a story that delights all children, because the journey from conception to birth is their story, too.

Live from the Womb: Baby Steps DVD 16 Stages of Pre-Birth Development. Amazing 4-D Ultrasound imagery features preborn babies, 7 weeks to 22 weeks old, as they roll, yawn, spin, smile, blink, stretch and sneeze.

Skiff & AJ’s Fantastic Voyage DVD by Lumen Entertainment

When inanimate objects Skiff (the incense boat) & AJ (the aspergillum) test-drive their homemade time machine, it shrinks them to a gnat size. After a pregnant lady mistakenly inhales the wannabe time travelers, the two soon encounter an extra-special being dwelling within. Skiff & AJ begin to communicate with, learn about, and start a new friendship with the baby in the womb.

Theology of Her/His Body by Jason Evert Two books in one that will feed your teens with liberating answers to their most pressing questions about love and sexuality. Teens are encouraged to not only learn the truth about their own body, but also to discover the beauty of the opposite sex, for it is in seeing the complementarity of the two sexes that one discovers the real meaning of his or her own body and the invitation to love as God loves.