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Inclusion Matters!
Call for Entries
New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education (NJCIE)
6th Annual Inclusive Schools, Inclusive Lives Poster Contest
December 1, 2014
RE: “Inclusion Matters!”, NJCIE’s 6th Annual Inclusive Schools, Inclusive Lives Poster Contest
Dear Administrator:
The New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education is hosting its 6th Annual Inclusive Schools, Inclusive
Lives Poster Contest, open to NJ public school students in grades 2-12, December 1st through April 15,
2015. Contest co-sponsors include the New Jersey Office of Special Education Programs (IDEA Part B
funds) and the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association.
Each year teachers use this contest as a vehicle for discussing the importance of having a school where
ALL children, including those who are marginalized because of a disability, are welcome, respected and
provided a supportive quality education within general education classrooms. For the past five years
NJCIE’s poster contest has encouraged more than 1,500 New Jersey students to express their understanding of inclusive education by submitting creative, thoughtful, two dimensional forms of art.
NJCIE’s contest compliments the December 1st kickoff of National Inclusive Schools Week, http://
www.inclusiveschools.org/inclusive-schools-week/. NJCIE’s poster contest theme is Inclusion Matters!
Please share the attached guidelines and call for entries to any art, classroom or other teacher, who
might be interested in discussing the dignity and value of each individual and the continued improvement of an inclusive environment in schools where
Differences do not result in isolation;
Everyone gets the help and support they need;
All students take care of each other, themselves and their school;
Everyone feels they belong.
Please feel free to contact NJCIE via phone (732-613-0400) or e-mail, [email protected], if you have
any questions.
New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education
(NJCIE) Invites You to Participate in its
6th Annual Inclusive Schools,
Inclusive Lives Poster Contest
NJCIE’s Poster Contest, December 1st through April 15th, 2015, is a
celebratory kickoff of National Inclusive Schools Week, which begins on December 1, 2014.
Break Out ThoSe CreAtive ToOLs!
Create an original poster illustrating this year’s theme, “Inclusion Matters!” Show us why inclusion is important, what it means to you, what it looks like in your school, on the playground,
in the classroom, on the school bus. Talk about your ideas with your friends, teachers, family
& send us your own vision on how “Inclusion Matters!”
Keep In Mind
An inclusive school is one in which inclusion works and refers to a local public school where
everyone feels accepted regardless of their learning challenges, differences or disabilities.
CaTeGories:
SubmisSioNs:
Category I:
Category II:
Category III:
Category IV:
Send flat in an envelope. DO NOT ROLL
OR FOLD! Do not mount, frame or laminate. Schools or artists may submit multiple posters in one envelope. Posters must
be received by noon April 15, 2015. It is
the entrant’s responsibility to ensure that
their entry has been received. Submissions
will not be returned unless a sufficiently
stamped, self-addressed envelope is included with the entry. All submissions
become the property of NJCIE; no compensation will be provided.
Students, grades 2 - 5
Students, grades 6 - 8
Students, grades 9 - 12
A collaborative effort by 3 or
less students, 1 of whom
has a disability
CriTeRia:
 Original artwork must be completed by a
student(s) attending a public school
within a local school district,
 Must be a two-dimension painting, drawing, collage or combination, in color or
black & white,
 Must include the title, “Inclusion Matters!”, (spelled correctly!) on front of the
artwork,
 Be created on sturdy paper or illustration
board, between 9”x12” & 12”x18”,
 Labeled on the back with:
 Artist(s) name, age, school name &
address, grade, home address &
phone number (for contact use only—
will NOT be sold or used for solicitation purposes);
 School contact person’s name, phone
number & e-mail address.
JudGinG:
Posters will be judged on how well they
convey the message, “Inclusion Matters!”,
originality, creativity, attractiveness, & if
they meet all of the criteria requirements
outlined. Winners will be selected in each
Category & a Grand Prize winner chosen
from each Category’s winning posters.
AwaRds:
The Grand Prize winner will receive a $100
award. Printed copies of his/her poster will
be distributed to schools throughout the
state & be placed on NJCIE’s website.
Other Category Winners will receive a $50
award. Winners’ posters & those receiving
honorable mentions will be announced &
exhibited at NJCIE’s Summer Inclusion
Conference on June 24 & 25, 2015,
Montclair State University. The Inclusion
Matters! Exhibit will travel to NJ locations
during the 2015-2016 school year.
SPonsoREd bY:
NJCIE:
Phone: 732-613-0400
Web: http://NJCIE.org
Email: [email protected]
NJPSA & NJDOE-OSEP IDEA-Part B Funds
Mail SubMissions to:
NJCIE — Poster Contest
60 Park Place, Suite 601
Newark, NJ 07102