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sankofa bird

KCPS Sankofa Oratory Competition 2024

This unique opportunity allows students to showcase their skills in public speaking, while also exploring and celebrating African heritage and history. The contest name, "Sankofa," comes from the Akan people of Ghana and translates to “go back to the past and bring forward that which is useful.”

Participants are encouraged to explore their heritage, the heritage of their ancestors, and share what they have learned through a powerful and thought-provoking speech. This is a chance for our students to showcase their talents and gain valuable experience in public speaking, while also learning about and honoring their heritage. So grab a pen, open a book, and start preparing for your chance to shine at the Sankofa Oratory Contest!  
Here are all the details of the contest: Sankofa Oratory Contest 2024

2024 Sankofa Oratory contest

To submitt your ART piece to the SI SE PUEDE! Art Competition 2023.
Go to:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfOqqn-zAIBBNyz_a8iT5er1rubmwp4dutsHQN8FwbM1zhxIA/viewform?usp=sf_link





 

 

SiSePuede_ART_competition_FLYER

National Mentoring Month Flipgrid Competition 2023

A Celebration of National Mentoring Month

History of National Mentoring Month: Launched in 2002 by MENTOR National and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, National Mentoring Month focuses national attention on the need for mentors, as well as how each of us—individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and nonprofits—can work together to increase the number of mentors to help ensure positive outcomes for our young people. This campaign celebrates mentoring and the positive effect it can have on young lives. Its goals are to:

  • Raise awareness of mentoring in its various forms
  • Recruit individuals to mentor, especially in programs that have waiting lists of young people
  • Promote the rapid growth of mentoring by recruiting organizations to engage their constituents in mentoring

National partners work with local leaders to organize special events in their communities supported by local media outlets and public officials. These events help interested adults learn how to turn their concern for young people into direct action by becoming mentors. 

In celebration of National Mentoring  Month, we encourage all students to create a meaningful video on Flipgrid that lets the world know who your mentor is and what makes them special to you. Here are some guiding questions to consider as you create your video:

  1. Who is your mentor and what makes them special to you?
  2. What do you want the world to know about your mentor?
  3. What have you learned from your mentor?
  4. How has your mentor helped you?

All submissions are due by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 17, 2023. The top 8 winners will receive a $25 dollar gift card and their video will be used in a promotional video showcasing the benefits of mentoring. Also, all student participants will receive a certificate of participation. The top 8 winners will be announced on January 25, 2023.

All schools are encouraged to allow time during the school day for students to create a submission. All students with a KCPS Mentor, or a mentor from any other mentoring program, are encouraged to participate.

Competition Rules:

  • Only one (1) submission is allowed per student, so please rehearse your content before submitting it. You must submit your Flipgrid video by clicking here. Before submitting your video,  type your school's name and your grade in the description box.
  • Entries must be submitted electronically using Flipgrid by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 17, 2023.
  • Only individual submissions will be accepted (no pair or group work submissions).
  • Flipgrid videos will be reviewed in the by the following criteria areas:
  4 3 2 1
Preparedness Student is completely prepared and has obviously rehearsed. Student seems largely prepared but might have needed further rehearsal. The student is somewhat prepared, but rehearsal was lacking. Student does not seem prepared to present.
Purpose/ Thesis Well developed and defined position that establishes a clear motive for speaking. Good but formulaic position that establishes a motive for speaking. Adequate position but not fully developed to establish the motive for speaking. Poorly defined purpose that offers no context for speaking.
Content Central purpose is clearly supported with sound generalizations and specific, relevant details. Central purpose is defined and supported with sound generalizations and largely relevant details. Purpose is supported with adequate generalizations and detail but may be overly predictable. Lacks substantial supporting evidence to support purpose; numerous unsound generalizations, and/or needless repetition.
Pitch & Volume Pitch conveyed emotions appropriately. Speaker is heard by all audience members throughout the presentation. Pitch used but the emotion conveyed was not always as expected. Speaker is heard by all audience members most of the time. Pitch rarely used or emotion conveyed not expected. Speaker is heard by audience members some of the time. Pitch was not used to convey emotion. Volume is often too low to be heard by all audiences.
Speaks Clearly Speaks clearly and distinctly throughout and no words mispronounced. Speaks clearly and distinctly most of the time, but mispronounces a word or two. Speaks clearly and distinctly much of the time. Mispronounces words on occasion. Often mumbles or cannot be understood and/or mispronounces words.

Please contact the Equity, Inclusion and Innovation Department with questions at equity@kcpublicschools.org.

National Mentoring Month

Si se puede Art Competition

Thank you to all the students that participated!

Past Winners

Past Winners

Celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Thank you to all the students that participated!

Envelope Decoration Examples

Chinese

Chinese Envelope Example

Japanese

Japanese Envelope Example

Cambodian

Cambodian Envelope Example

Vietnamese

Vietnamese Envelope Example

PAST WINNERS