Entries beings taken for Law Day contests
Maine students in grades 4-12 are invited to submit entries for this year’s Law Day contests sponsored by the Maine State Bar Association. Students in grades 4-8 may participate in the art poster contest and students in grades 9-12 may enter the essay contest. The deadline is April 1.
This year’s theme is “Advancing the Rule of Law Now.” The rule of law is a set of principles, or ideals, for ensuring an orderly and just society. Many countries throughout the world strive to uphold the rule of law where no one is above the law, everyone is treated equally under the law and everyone is held accountable to the same laws.
All entries should reflect the student’s interpretation of the 2021 Law Day theme by responding to the following prompt: “What steps, if any, do you feel need to be taken in order to make the rule of law more fair and just for all?”
The art poster contest has cash prizes of $50 each for the student and teacher in two categories for grades 4-5 and 6-8. The essay contest has a $75 first-place cash prize for both the student and teacher and a $50 second-place cash prize for both the student and teacher. Winning essays and posters will be published online and in the Maine Bar Journal. Winners will be announced on April 30.
Students invited to ‘catch a wave’
The Maine Department of Education announced a new program for Maine teens called WAVES (Wilderness Activities and Virtual Engagement for Students). The initiative connects teens from throughout the state and invites all Maine teens to browse the website and join one or more of the WAVES virtual communities.
Hosted by Maine educators, the virtual communities are designed to connect teens across the state who share a common interest or passion. Teens are invited to join, for example, an environmental activism group, a mindfulness session, a yoga practice, a poetry and creative writing group, or a Boston Bruins Fan Club through the website at maine.gov/doe/waves/virtual.
WAVES will continue to build on the offerings, so if teens do not find a community with which they would like to connect, they can complete the Virtual Community request form on the website.
March of the Living recruiting for trips
A $2,000 scholarship is being offered to every qualified high school junior and senior who participates in the 2022 March of the Living Jewish heritage trip to Poland and Israel.
“This is the only program of its kind and it’s important that we take as many students as possible,” said Irv Kempner of Sharon, chairperson of New England Friends of MOTL. Trip guides include educators, rabbis and Holocaust survivors.
The annual trip teaches about the roots of prejudice and Holocaust history, builds lifelong Jewish identity, creates ambassadors for Israel and helps teens meet new friends from around the world, Kempner said. Highlights of the two-week trip include visits to historic Jewish sites in Poland, visits to concentration camps with Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom HaShoah) ceremonies in Poland, followed a week later with tours throughout Israel, climaxing with celebrations in Jerusalem on Israel Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut).
The 2022 MOTL trip will run from April 24 to May 8, 2022. Contact Aaron Kischel, director of teen programming, at kischel7241@gmail.com or 781-799-4765. Space is limited and early registration is advised. More information can be found at motlnewengland.org.
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