PBS Guam: Calling young writers!

February 2, 2010, Mangilao, Guam – PBS Guam is proud to announce the launching of the PBS KIDS GO! Writer’s Contest from February 4 – March 24, 2010. The contest, which is a national competition, was designed to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills through hands-on active learning.

“We encourage children in grades Kindergarten through 3^rd in our schools and community to join the contest by creating original stories and illustrations”, states PBS Guam General Manager Dr. Sam Mabini. “We are always amazed with the creativity and incredible imaginations of our young children and the work that they put into each story that is submitted to our office.”

According to Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President of Children’s Media at PBS, “We know from research that there is an important connection between writing and the development of early literacy skills, critical cornerstones for school readiness and achievement, PBS KIDS GO! uses the power of media to open up the worlds of letters and words for all children, encouraging them to explore ways to communicate more effectively.”

Applications and additional information will be available beginning February 4, 2010 from PBS GUAM’s office in Mangilao and at www.pbsguam.org.  Copies of the entry forms will also be available at the Guam Public Libraries as well as public, private and DODEA elementary schools throughout the island.

PBS GUAM will actively partner with schools, public libraries and other literacy organizations to implement the Contest.  Children will be encouraged to write and illustrate stories and submit them to PBS GUAM, which will select winners and award prizes.  First place local winners will be entered into the national level of the Contest where a renowned panel of judges will identify the national winners.  Winners will be announced and national prizes, including laptops, digital cameras and MP3 players will be awarded in summer 2010.  For our local winners, top finishers will receive prizes in addition to having their stories broadcasting on Channel 12 and recognized during an awards ceremony at a local island venue.

The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest extends the powerful tradition and annual success of the 15 year national “Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest,” originally created by WNED-TV Buffalo/Toronto and NET Nebraska.  The new Contest is produced by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and PBS and is part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative which uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages 2-to-8, with an emphasis on children from low-income families.  The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. 

For more information about the contest, PBS KIDS, PBS KIDS GO! or any of the national sponsors, please contact PBS GUAM at 734-5483 or visit www.pbsguam.org.

The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, which is funded in part by a Ready To Learn grant, in a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Education and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The contents of these contest rules were developed under a grant, #PRU295B050003, from the Department of Education.  However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. 

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