FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Commissioner of Education
Contact Information
:
Dawn Mikola
1-888-356-4774
mcic@fdle.state.fl.us
K12
:
2008:03
TO:
District School Superintendents
Elementary School Principals
FROM:
Dr. Frances Haithcock
DATE:
January 23, 2008
SUBJECT: Florida Missing Children’s Day Statewide Essay Contest Deadline -
April 14, 2008
The Department of Education recognizes that schools impart valuable safety lessons to
their students every day. To reinforce the message of personal safety, the Office of
Safe Schools and the Florida Missing Children Information Clearinghouse Advisory
Board are sponsoring the 2008 Florida Missing Children’s Day (FMCD). This special
ceremony remembers past and present missing children and recognizes those citizens
who work hard to bring children home safely. This year’s ceremony will be held on
Monday, September 8, 2008, at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee.
To create awareness among the children of Florida, an essay contest is being held in
conjunction with FMCD. I want to encourage all fifth grade students to participate in this
contest, with each school selecting one winner. The chosen essays will be submitted to
the Missing Children Information Clearinghouse Advisory Board. One essay will be
selected as the statewide winner. The winner will be invited to Tallahassee to read the
essay on the steps of the Capitol. The winner will also receive a trip to Tallahassee with
his or her parent, a check for $100, and a trophy. This year’s theme is,
“Safety starts
with ‘S’, but begins with ‘You’.”
DR. FRANCES HAITHCOCK
CHANCELLOR, K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
Florida Missing Children’s Day Statewide Essay Contest Deadline –
April 14, 2008
January 23, 2008
Page Two
A contest poster and the guidelines for the essay contest are attached. Entries of the
winning essay from each school must be submitted by April 14, 2008, to:
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Missing Children Information Clearinghouse
ATTN: Essay Contest Coordinator
Post Office Box 1489
Tallahassee, Florida 32302-1489
The essay entry may also be faxed to (850) 410-8744. If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact Ms. Dawn Mikola at 1-888-356-4774 or via e-mail at
mcic@fdle.state.fl.us. We look forward to welcoming the statewide winner to
Tallahassee.
FH:jc
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