FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
MISSING CHILDREN INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE
ADVISORY BOARD
Presents the
2008 FLORIDA MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY
STATEWIDE FIFTH GRADE ESSAY CONTEST
Title: Safety starts with “S”, but begins with “YOU”
PURPOSE:
To promote safety awareness among Florida’s children and encourage them
to proactively think of ways to keep themselves safe from those who would harm them.
It is very important for children to have a plan to keep themselves safe from abduction
and predators. There may be times when they find themselves away from the safety of
their parents. As children grow older they encounter different situations. Whether at
play, on the Internet, on social networking websites, walking to and from school, at the
school bus stop or other places, all children should have a safety plan. They should ask
themselves “how can I stay safe from abduction when my parents are not with me?”
Children should talk to their parents and follow their parent’s direction in this regard.
This year, we would like fifth grade students to write an essay about ways to stay safe
from abduction when they are away from their parents. They will need to conduct
research and construct their thoughts into a one page essay. The slogan Safety starts
with “S”, but begins with “YOU” is the title for the essay. The body of the essay must
focus on ways children can stay safe from abduction if they are away from their
parents.
Attachment # 1 of this document provides a few websites children can use to conduct
their research. Teachers and parents are encouraged to review these sites and hold
discussions with the children. Doing so will arm them with the ability to protect
themselves at all times. They can clearly understand the risks of meeting someone they
do not know. Listed below are helpful hints to use in the discussion:
•
What would you do if you are approached by someone who makes you feel
uncomfortable?
•
What if someone tries to take you somewhere or get you to go somewhere with
them? What would you do?
•
What if you are chatting on line and the person wants to meet you somewhere or
asks for personal information?
- 1 -
CONTEST GUIDELINES:
1.
The contest is open to all 5
th grade students in the state of Florida.
2.
We encourage all schools to hold an essay contest among their 5
th grade students.
Each school must choose only one “School Winner”.
3.
The School Winner’s essay must be submitted to the Essay Contest Coordinators by
the deadline (April 14, 2008) in order to be considered for the regional and
statewide competitions. ONLY ONE ESSAY FROM EACH SCHOOL WILL BE
ACCEPTED BY THE ESSAY CONTEST COORDINATORS.
4.
Essay topics must focus on safety tips that children can use to protect themselves
from abduction if they are not with their parents. They may be at the bus stop,
walking to or from school, at the library, on the internet, or at a friend’s house.
Essays may be based upon, but are not limited to:
•
Personal experiences where the child had to overcome adversity.
•
Discussions with their parents and teachers about abduction safety tips.
•
Discussions with their parent about places they can go to get safely away from
uncomfortable situations.
•
Interviews with people who could assist them if they should encounter
situations beyond their control.
5.
Participants should develop their thoughts into an essay no longer than one (1)
typewritten page or two (2) handwritten pages. If it is typewritten, the font and
font size must be Times New Roman, size 12 or 14. If it is hand written, it must be
written in print rather than cursive. The child’s first and last name must be on the
page with the essay.
6.
The submission form (see Attachment # 4) with complete school contact information
must accompany each essay.
7.
Essays must be grammatically correct and free of spelling errors. They must
demonstrate clear thought processes and be based on realistic scenarios.
- 2 -
AWARDS:
1.
School Winner
– Each participating school must select
one (1) winner
. The
winning essay must be submitted to the contest coordinators, Patricia Rutherford
or Dawn Mikola, by
Monday, April 14, 2008
. A certificate of participation will
be given to all of the school winners. The school contact person should submit the
school winner’s essay in one of the following ways:
•
E-mail from school: Forward the following to mcic@fdle.state.fl.us
Submission Form
A copy of the school’s winning essay
•
Fax: (850) 410-8744
•
Mail: FDLE, Missing Children Information Clearinghouse, PO Box 1489,
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489, ATTN: Essay Contest Coordinator
2.
Regional Winner
– All essays received by April 14, 2008, will be reviewed by a
committee. One winner from each of the seven FDLE regions will be chosen as
Regional Winners. Please see the map on Attachment # 2 to determine the region
in which your County is listed. The seven FDLE regions are:
(1)
Tallahassee Region
(2)
Jacksonville Region
(3)
Tampa Region
(4)
Orlando Region
(5)
Miami Region
(6)
Ft. Myers Region
(7)
Pensacola Region
Each regional winner will receive:
•
A certificate
•
A $100 check
•
A chance to be selected as the statewide winner
3.
Statewide Winner
– The statewide winner will be selected from among the 7
regional winners and should be available to participate in the Florida Missing
Children’s Day formal ceremony on Monday, September 8, 2008. At that time the
Statewide Winner will receive the following:
•
A trip to the Capitol in Tallahassee to read the winning essay during the
formal Missing Children’s Day Ceremony on Monday, September 8, 2008
•
An additional $100 Cash Award
•
A trophy
•
A VIP package from Universal Studios
**** Winners will be announced prior to the close of the 2007-2008 school year.
- 3 -
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
Students
•
You can use the interview sheet (see Attachment # 3) to conduct interviews of
individuals who can provide helpful child safety tips. Ask them if they are
available to help you if you feel you are in a dangerous situation.
•
Discuss the subject of abduction and internet safety with friends and classmates.
Determine if anyone has received messages or requests for information from
someone that they do not know. Talk about what should be done in such cases.
•
Hold discussions to find out what your friends and classmates would do if they
are approached by someone who tries to get them alone or make them feel
uncomfortable.
•
With your parent’s permission, go to the library or visit the internet to research
different sites (some are listed on Attachment # 1) to find helpful websites that
offer information to protect you from abduction.
•
Talk to your parents about the internet and social networking sites and ask their
permission before you conduct interviews or go on the internet.
Teacher/Family
For your use, a promotional flyer has been created and an electronic copy is included
with this information. We encourage you to duplicate the flyer and post it to advertise
this contest to all of your fifth grade students. You can use the essay topic as a daily
journal entry or writing prompt. Some suggested topics are:
•
What would you do if you are approached by someone who makes you feel
uncomfortable?
•
What if someone tries to take you somewhere or get you to go somewhere with
them? What would you do?
•
What if you are chatting on line and the person wants to meet you somewhere or
asks for personal information?
Conduct a class or family discussion about situations that make them feel uncomfortable
or what they can do if someone asks them to secretly meet somewhere.
Have students break into groups to discuss safety measures to use when creating social
networking sites.
- 4 -
Have students make a safety “quilt” that shows ways to be safe. Have each square
represent a danger and the solution to overcome it.
Suggest that students discuss the essay topic during dinner, while traveling in the car,
or at any time a “teachable” moment arises. Suggest they include all siblings as much as
possible.
If a child opts to conduct interviews, help devise a plan with the permission of the
parents, so that the information gathered can be helpful.
- 5 -
WEBSITES WITH CHILD SAFETY INFORMATION:
The following is a brief list of websites that are available to provide information
concerning child safety. Each of these sites has appropriate information for students,
teachers, and parents and will be helpful in developing a child safety plan. You are not
limited to this list. If you know of other helpful websites, feel free to use information
from those sites as well.
1.
FDLE, Missing Children Information Clearinghouse
http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MCICSearch/SafetyTips.asp
http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MCICSearch/Documents/SafePassage2005.pdf
http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MCICSearch/Documents/Child%20Safety%20Guide2
004.pdf
2.
Department of Education Office of Safe Schools
www.i-safe.org
www.ikeepsafe.org
www.safekids.com
3.
Jimmy Ryce Center for Victims of Predatory Abduction
www.jimmyryce.org/ Provides tips on how to be a predator smart kid.
4.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
www.ncmec.org/
(Click “Child Safety” link on left)
www.netsmartz.org/ Provides information about Internet Safety.
5.
National Crime Prevention Council – McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog
http://www.mcgruff.org/Advice/
6.
Office of the Attorney General of Florida
www.myfloridalegal.com/
(Click “Child Safety” link on left)
ATTACHMENT # 1
- 6 -
Map of the 7 FDLE Regions
ATTACHMENT # 2
- 7 -
INTERVIEW SHEET
If you decide to interview someone, you may use this sheet. Be sure to interview adults
who can provide helpful tips to help protect you from abduction. Be sure to get
permission from your family prior to contacting anyone. You may duplicate this form if
you have additional people to interview. The information you gather can be used to
write your essay.
Suggested people you can interview with your parent’s permission: school resource
officers, family members, school officials, security officers, law enforcement officers,
etc.
Name_____________________________________________
What is your name and what is your occupation?
What tips can you provide to help me stay safe from abduction?
If I am in an area and need help, are you available? When is the best time to contact you?
May I have a good phone number to reach you?
If you are not available, is there someone else that I can call?
Parent/Guardian Signature____________________________________
ATTACHMENT # 3
- 8 -
SUBMISSION FORM
2008 FLORIDA MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY
STATEWIDE ESSAY CONTEST
THEME: Safety starts with “S”, but begins with “YOU”
Complete this submission form and send with the essay to the attention of the Essay
Contest Coordinator at either of the following.
E-mail from school to mcic@fdle.state.fl.us
Fax: (850) 410-8744
Mail: FDLE, Missing Children Information Clearinghouse, PO Box 1489,
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489, ATTN: Essay Contest Coordinator
PLEASE PRINT
Student’s Name as it should appear on the certificate.
School Name
School Address
City
State Zip Code School County
Florida
Teacher/School Contact Name Phone Number
Fax Number email address
Alternate School Contact Name
Phone Number email address
ATTACHMENT # 4
- 9 -
Calling all 5
th grade students across the state of Florida!
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•
What would you do if you are approached by someone who makes you feel uncomfortable?
•
What if someone tries to take you somewhere or get you to go somewhere with them?
What would you do?
•
What if you are chatting on line and the person wants to meet you somewhere or asks for
personal information?
A TRIP TO THE CAPITOL IN TALLAHASSEE to read your essay during
the formal Florida Missing Children’s Day Ceremony, on September 8, 2008,
a Trophy,
a check for $100.00, and
a Universal Studios VIP Package!
*
*
*
•
Contest is open to all Florida 5th grade students
•
Each school is encouraged to hold an essay contest among their 5
th grade students. Only
the school’s winning essay can be submitted to the Essay Contest Coordinators via
Email address - mcic@fdle.state.fl.us
Fax number - 850-410-8744
Mail - FDLE, Missing Children Information Clearinghouse, PO Box 1489,
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489, ATTN: Essay Contest Coordinator
•
Essay topics must focus on safety tips that children can use to protect themselves from
abduction especially if they are not with their parents. They may be at the bus stop,
walking to or from school, at the library, on the internet, or at a friend’s house.
•
Essays may be based upon, but are not limited to:
o
Personal experiences where the child had to overcome adversity.
o
Discussions with their parents and teachers about abduction safety tips.
o
Discussions with their parent about places they can go to get away safe from
uncomfortable situations.
o
Interviews with people who could assist them if they should encounter
situations beyond their control.
•
Essays must be no longer than one (1) typewritten page using Times New Roman font
sizes 12 or 14, or two (2) handwritten pages.
All entries must be received by
April 14, 2008
- 10 -
For more information, contact
Patricia Rutherford or Dawn Mikola
at (888) 356-4774.
