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Great Valley Creating a New Age of Learning

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BHM Poster Contest

Great Valley School District 2024 – Black History Month Poster Contest

Goals:  The goals of the Black History Month Poster Contest include:

  • To further our efforts to build stronger connections between people of all backgrounds by recognizing the contributions of Black people in America – today and in the past.  
  • To move beyond words to action and support non-profit organizations that help further efforts to value Black people in America.

Dates/Deadline: 

  • The poster competition will be launched in January 2024 and will continue through the end of Black History Month, Thursday, February 29th.
  • Students should submit their completed work and accompanying documents in a sealed envelope/container to the school’s main office no later than Thursday, February 29th.

Participants: 

  • Students from all schools within GVSD are welcome to participate. Entries will be judged according to level: elementary, middle, high school.
  • Teachers and administrators within GVSD are asked to encourage/support the students in participating.

Awards: 

  • Individual Awards:  A total of nine awards will be given, three (1st, 2nd, 3rd) at each level (elementary, middle, high). Award amounts are as follows: $300 – First Prize / $200 – Second Prize / $100 – Third Prize. 
  • Non-Profit Award:  Each participating student will also need to research and recommend a non-profit organization to be considered for a donation of $500.  These non-profits must exist to further efforts to value Black people in America in some way.  In addition, an award of $100 will be given to the student that nominates the non-profit that wins the Non-Profit Award.

Instructions:

  1. Research the contributions of Black people in America – both past and present. 
  2. Research non-profit organizations that have a goal of furthering efforts to value Black people in America in some way.  Select one non-profit to nominate for the non-profit portion of the award.
  3.  Design and create a poster reflecting what you learned from your research.
  4. Write a summary of your work (one or more paragraphs) to include:
    • Description of the poster you created.
    • Explanation as to why you believe the non-profit you selected should receive a donation.
  5.  Include the name of your school, your grade, your phone number and email, and your name in your summary AND on the back of your poster.  (Note that students may work together and split the award, if desired. Please provide information for all participating students.)
  6. Submit your poster and summary in a sealed envelope/container to the school’s main office no later than Thursday, February 29th

Selection Process:

  • A diverse panel of judges has been assembled to assist in identifying winners.  This panel includes school-related individuals, as well as judges from the broader GVSD community*.
  • Posters/donation proposals will be judged based upon the degree to which the student(s) followed all of the instructions noted above; keeping in mind that the primary goal is to help us build stronger connections between people of different backgrounds by recognizing the contributions of Black people in America – today and in the past.

Award Announcements:

  • Winners will be notified by March 31st.  Donations to the non-profit organization(s) will be made as soon as administratively possible following the announcement of award winners.

More Information:

  • For questions or more information about the Black History Month poster contest, contact Neighbors in Black and White, Inc.: neighborsinblackandwhite@gmail.com or 610-909-6848.

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* Panel of Judges includes:

  • Community leaders:
    • Anita Cason Friday, Owner of Open Hearts: A Path for Racial Healing
    • Cheryl Miles, Chairperson, Black Women of Chester County in Action (BWCCA)
    • Alex Tavangar, Mainline NAACP
  • GVSD Teachers: 
    • Maureen Clark (1ST Grade – KDM & GVSD Council for Diversity and Inclusion Member)
    • Michelle Leininger (Language Arts – Middle School)
    •  Paige O’Keefe (Art – Sugartown)
    •  Sheila Startup (Art – GVHS)
  • GVSD Students:  Kira Garrett, Great Valley High School student
  • Parents: Theresa Becker, Diana Ellis, Dee Nimmagadda, Tiana Threadgill (GVSD CDI Council Member)
  • Other volunteers.  If interested in participating as a judge of the artwork/submissions, contact neighborsinblackandwhite@gmail.com
 

Special thanks to Harriet Ayoade, parent, for her marketing expertise and assistance promoting the contest!