Goosebumps Author and Volunteer USA Announce Very Scary Story Contest Just in Time for Fall Festivities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Elizabeth Hirst, Volunteer USA Foundation, 850.562.5300
~R.L. Stine Invites Young Readers and Writers to take a Stab at Horror Story Contest~
R.L. Stine (Photo credit: Dan Nelkin)
Bonita Springs, FL - Volunteer USA Foundation and R.L. Stine, a favorite author among children, are making sure this fall is “frightfully fun” for students in southwest Florida. Stine, the author of the famed Goosebumps book series, has teamed up with Volunteer USA to announce a Very Scary Story Contest for young readers.
Students in Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties (grades 4-7) are invited to participate in the contest, aimed at promoting the joy of reading among children and their families.
“We know children love reading books filled with mystery, mummies and twisted endings. All they need to do now is strap on their magical thinking caps and write their very own scary story,” said Liza McFadden, president of Volunteer USA. “Who could be better than kid-friendly author R.L. Stine to encourage the imagination and bright minds of young readers and writers.”
For the Very Scary Story Contest, students are asked to write their own very scary story set in HorrorLand Amusement Park as the first characters settle in for their visit to the park in bestselling author R.L. Stine's book, Goosebumps HorrorLand: Revenge of the Living Dummy. "My books are all about getting the readers' imagination churning," said R.L. Stine. "I can't WAIT to see what terrifying rides and games the kids dream up for HorrorLand, the Scariest Place on Earth!"
Contest winners, accompanied by their parents, will be recognized at a breakfast and reading event during Volunteer USA’s Celebration of Reading to be held February 12, 2010 in Bonita Springs. The students will be R.L. Stine’s guests of honor at the Celebration breakfast, part of an annual event hosted by former Governor Jeb Bush to support successful family literacy programs in the southeast.
For more information regarding contest rules, judging guidelines, prizes, classroom activities, partners, etc., please visit www.VolunteerUSAFoundation.org or if you have any questions, please email Contest@VolunteerUSAFund.org or contact Carolyn Vega-Melendez at 850.559.2208.
Contest Rules:
· Only one entry per student (grades 4-7) from the Florida counties of Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties will be accepted.
· Essay must be a minimum of 300 words.
· Entries are to be based on the book Goosebumps HorrorLand: Revenge of the Living Dummy by R.L. Stine. Kids should make up a scary ride or attraction or two and create a story where Molly and Britney leave the hotel and explore it. The story should take place outside the hotel, on the amusement park grounds.
· Each submission must include:
- Title
- Student’s name
- Parent’s name(s)
- Home address
- Home, Work and/or Cell phone number
- Grade level
- School /Library district (county)
- School/Library name
- School/Library's phone number
- Teacher/Librarian’s name
- Word count
Entries that do not include ALL of this information will automatically be disqualified.
· Deadline: All entries must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday, January 17, 2010 to Contest@VolunteerUSAFund.org or you may mail your submission to Volunteer USA Foundation, 516 North Adams St., Tallahassee, FL 32301.
· Ten winners will be selected in each of our two categories: 4-5th graders; 6-7th graders. Winning entries will be announced on our website and by press release no later than Friday, January 30, 2010.
Judging Guidelines:
| Established Criteria | ||||||||||||
| Title | Y | N | ||||||||||
| Student’s Name | Y | N | ||||||||||
| Parent(s) Name | Y | N | ||||||||||
| Address | Y | N | ||||||||||
| Phone Number(s) | Y | N | ||||||||||
| Grade Level | Y | N | ||||||||||
| School/Library Name | Y | N | ||||||||||
| School/Library’s Phone Number | Y | N | ||||||||||
| Teacher/Librarian’s Name | Y | N | ||||||||||
| Word Count (min 300) | Y | N | ||||||||||
| ~ If you answered NO to any of the above, this entry is automatically disqualified ~ | ||||||||||||
| Faithfulness/Creativity Vis-À-Vis to the Goosebumps HorrorLand: Revenge of the Living Dummy. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | _____ | |
| Grammar/Spelling | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | _____ | |
| Organization (beginning, middle and end w/use of transition words or transitional phrases) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | _____ | |
| Vocabulary (choice of words) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | _____ | |
| JUDGE’S INITIALS ______ TOTAL SCORE ______ | ||||||||||||
Contest Prizes:
· Winners and their parents will be invited to the 2010 Celebration of Reading Children's breakfast event on February 12, 2010. They’ll be R.L. Stine’s guests of honor.
Book Orders:
Goosebumps HorrorLand: Revenge of the Living Dummy Book Orders: For individual copies, and bulk orders for classrooms/schools, information will be available soon on our website at www.volunteerusafoundation.org.
Fun Downloadable Classroom Activities:
· Webcast Teacher’s Guide/Discussion Guide (PDF)
· Creepy Crossword Puzzle (PDF)
Partners:
Brown & Brown Public Risk Insurance Agency Insurance
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