FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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Jeanine Blomberg
Commissioner of Education
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
November 21, 2007
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
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District School Superintendents and High School Principals
FROM:
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Evan B. Lefsky, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Just Read, Florida!
SUBJECT:
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2008 Hazardous Weather Awareness Week Essay Contest
Just Read, Florida!, in partnership with the Florida Department of Community Affairs, Division of
Emergency Management and several other emergency management partners, is conducting a statewide
short essay contest aimed at high school students as part of the 2008 Hazardous Weather Awareness
Week, February 2-9, 2008.
Students in grades nine through twelve in all school districts are invited to participate in the statewide
essay contest. Only one student winner from each high school may enter. Each school winner’s essay
must be submitted to Just Read, Florida! by the principal of their school no later than Friday, January 11,
2008, to be eligible for the contest. Six regional winners and one grand prize winner will be selected
from each of the seven emergency management areas in the state. Each regional student winner and their
teacher will be awarded cash prizes and weather radios for their achievements. Awards will be presented
to each of the winners during the week of February 2-9, 2008, at a school in their area.
One of the goals of Hazardous Weather Awareness Week is to promote a culture of preparedness
throughout all grade levels. The essay contest is part of an annual public awareness campaign that
includes distribution of the "Florida Hazardous Weather Guide" to middle school classrooms, children's
books in elementary school classrooms, and a poster contest for fourth and fifth grade students. Also, as a
part of the campaign, there will be a statewide "Tornado Drill" conducted by the Florida offices of the
National Weather Service tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, February 6, 2008.
For more information, resources and a complete list of contest rules, deadlines, list of prizes and much,
much more, please visit the Just Read, Florida! website at http://www.justreadflorida.com/hwaw/.
EBL/jj
EVAN B. LEFSKY, PH.D.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JUST READ, FLORIDA!
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325 W. GAINES STREET, ROOM 1548 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0503 • www.fldoe.org
