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2012 SARAH MOOK
POETRY PRIZE

The Sarah Mook Memorial Poetry Contest is entering its eighth year, and we appreciate your generous support and participation. (The POSTMARK deadline for this year's contest is March 31, 2012.) You inspire confidence in the value of our mission to acknowledge, encourage, and reward the efforts of student poets. In the first seven years of the contest, we received more than 9,000 poems and awarded more than $6,000 in prizes to many deserving young poets. The prize money is provided by a small fund established by Sarah's family in her memory. Additionally, all donations from contest participants are given in Sarah's name to a designated charity. Donations last year went to Smile Train, an organization providing free cleft surgery for millions of poor children in developing countries. Our participant's donations paid for Haseena Khatoon, age 4, to have this life-changing surgery. A letter from Smile Train included a photo of Haseena, "a little guy with a great big smile - and a very promising future thanks to your recent gift." Smile Train thanks you, and Sarah's family thanks you. This year's donations will go again to Smile Train, according to The New York Times, "…one of the most productive charities - dollar for deed - in the world." I hope you will join in supporting this charity. An optional donation of $5.00 (five dollars) to support this charity is appreciated along with your entry form (see below) and poem(s). Please make checks payable to: Sarah Mook Outreach Fund.

JUDGING:
This charitable piece is important, but the focus of our efforts is always the young poets and their poems. Careful consideration is given to every poem submitted, and the finalist's poems are read numerous times before any decisions are made. In her own words, final judge Marie Kane acknowledges, I take great care in getting this right. Several teachers have praised Marie Kane's generosity in the extensive written commentary she provides on each of the winning poems in all four age groups. These are two examples:
As a teacher I was inspired by the very specific and detailed critique given by the judge…. Marie Kane reminded me that THIS very specific feedback is the way to help kids become confident writers who will take risks. Hats off to Marie Kane for such a splendid commentary! Lauren Johnson, Fruitville Elementary School

I am completely overwhelmed by the care and insight Ms. Kane provided in response to each poem. It's absolutely EXTRAORDINARY. Our students have won other competitions and occasionally they'll receive brief comments from the judges, but Ms. Kane went above and beyond the call of duty in such a meaningful and instructive way. I learned a great deal just by reading her comments and am inspired to do a better job
of providing feedback to my students. In fact, I imagine I will use her comments when teaching students about poetry next school year. Peter Kahn, Oak Park/River Forest High School

It is heartening for us to know that we are having success in encouraging student writers, and also, thanks largely to Marie Kane, the contest is providing inspiration to teachers as well.

I want to share another email we received about the Sarah Mook contest and the value of writing: Thank you for encouraging our next generation to be creative and express their vision, emotions and experience. I know these are the things that build peace and understanding in our world. Bethann Morgan, Clerk, Buckingham Friends Meeting

It is doubly heartening to think that these young writers just may be the generation who will build peace and understanding in our world. Because both writing and our children are important, the work all of our teachers are doing is equally important. We thank you!

AWARDS:
This year's awards will be $100 First Prize, $50 Second Prize, and $25 Third Prize in each of four categories: kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade, and ninth through twelfth grade.

HOW TO ENTER:
Students may enter up to two poems (no more) of any length on any subject, any style. Poems should be typed or word-processed. The student's name, address, or school should NOT appear on the poems. Anonymity is important. You must include a separate cover sheet with the poem title(s), your name, grade level, and address. Winners will be notified by mail.

Teachers are encouraged to submit entries from the class. If sending poems from a whole class, please include your name, a list of student names, poem titles, and grade level for each student, as well as contact information for the school. Please include a self-addressed-stamped-envelope and/or email address in order to receive the results.

As noted for each entry, an optional donation of $5 (five dollars) to Sarah Mook Outreach Fund will be appreciated. All donations will be given to Smile Train.

Please note that a donation is optional. All poems received by the deadline will be eligible for prizes, whether or not accompanied by an entry fee. Entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in late May.

Mail entries to:
Sarah Mook Poetry Prize
P.O. Box 20
Lahaska, PA 18931

Winning poets will be recognized with both their poems and Marie Kane's comments published on the Poetry WITS (Writing in the Schools) website.

Thank you. We look forward to reading your poems!

David Mook and Family
Email: davidmook@aol.com

I PLAY A GAME WITH MY DAD by Sarah Mook (1st Grade) We have a piece of paper with words on it. Then we copy one word off it, then another, all silly like bees with fish wings or this ivy stick with books hanging off it instead of leaves. When we play this game I am as happy as a dolphin singing a song.

Thank you. We look forward to seeing your poems!
David Mook and Family