Father of the Year
January 17, 2012
TO: Merced County School District Superintendents & Principals
FROM: Steven E. Gomes, Ed.D.
County Superintendent of Schools
SUBJECT: MERCED COUNTY FATHER-OF-THE-YEAR ESSAY CONTEST
I’m pleased to announce the start of the 2012 Merced County Father-of-the-Year Essay Contest. This will be the 11th Anniversary of the event. State Senator Anthony Cannella is serving as Honorary Chairman this year.
Over 10,000 of our County’s K-12 students have participated during the ten previous years, so this year’s goal is being set at an ambitious 2,500 new essays. I encourage you to involve your students. This activity combines language arts experience, reinforcement of family values and recognition not just for the quality of student persuasive writing and parenting but also for the schools’ efforts to support positive parenting.
Once again this year, an opportunity is being given to fathers to respond to their child's essay. The comment of one father was typical of the comments received by many of the fathers who responded last year: "I just had no idea my child felt that way about me. I'm overwhelmed!"
The deadline for submitting essays is April 20, 2012. Contest rules, information and entry forms are available on the internet at www.mercedcountyfatheroftheyear.org. Also, an entry packet can be obtained by calling (209) 631-7491.
Winners and their families will be invited to an Awards Banquet, sponsored by local business and professional companies, on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 6:30 pm. The banquet will be held at the Challenger Learning Center at Castle Technology Center. Senator Cannella will announce the Father-of-the-Year for 2012 and present awards.
Additional information is available via email (info@MercedCountyFatheroftheYear.org) or phone (209) 631-7491.
Please support this program by having at least one class from each of your district’s schools participate.
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