52nd Annual

Collin County Poetry Contest

Sponsored by the Mockingbird Chapter of the Poetry Society of Texas – www.mockingbirdpoetry.org

No Entry Fee

Categories for:

Students: Open to all Collin County public, private, and home school students (K-12).

· Winners are chosen from each grade level.

College Students: Open to College Students who currently attend school in, or reside in, Collin County.

Adults: Open to all adults residing in Collin County.

Mockingbird Chapter Members: Open to all members regardless of residence.

Winners will be announced at the 52nd Collin County Poetry Awards in Spring of 2023 (if possible).

Winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd place and Honorable Mention) receive certificates and one Anthology.

Winning poems will be PUBLISHED in a 2023 Winner’s Anthology

Accepting entries now through February 1st 2023 (Postmark Date)

Contest Rules (Poems WILL BE DISQUALIFIED if they do not follow these rules)

1. Each contestant may enter one poem, written in any style and on any subject.

2. Poem must be the original work of the contestant.

3. Poem is not to exceed 28 lines (title and white space between lines or stanzas are not counted).

4. Line width should not exceed 60 characters (including spaces and punctuation).

5. A poem is not eligible that has been published (school publications acceptable).

6. Contestants must retain a copy of their poems. Submitted copies will not be returned.

Preparation of Entries

1. Submit two (2) typed copies of the poem. (If poem has two pages, please staple together.)

2. In the TOP LEFT corner of BOTH COPIES, write which category applies:

· Student with grade level

· College

· Adult

· Mockingbird Member

3. In the TOP RIGHT corner of ONE COPY, write your identification information:

· STUDENT winners will be contacted through their school so please share Student’s Name,

School Name, School address, Teacher’s name and Teacher’s email address.

· COLLEGE STUDENTS: share your Name, Address, College, and your email address.

· ADULTS: share your Name, Address, and Email Address.

4. TEACHERS may submit student entries in one envelope. Please stack each student's set with

the identification copy on top. Please do not staple the two copies together. The copy with no

identification is used for judging.

Mail to: Mockingbird Poetry Society – 7404 Townsend Blvd. – McKinney, TX 75071

The 2023-24 Plano ISD Academic Calendar was approved by the Board of Trustees during their meeting on Tuesday, December 6. The calendar features a start date of Wednesday, August 9, 2023, and an end date of Friday, May 24, 2024.

The new calendar includes 10 additional instructional minutes per day to allow for the following:

• Banked minutes (up to three days) for any unforeseen school closures, such as inclement weather
• An additional teacher/student holiday

Other new calendar features include:

• A full week fall break for students
• A three-day fall break for campus staff (returning Thursday and Friday for staff days)
• Professional Learning Trade Days in December and February (rather than during the week of Thanksgiving)
• A winter break that provides more balance between the two semesters and aligns with neighboring school districts
• Spring break during the second full week of March (March 11-15), which aligns with neighboring school districts

Many factors were considered during the calendar development period, which included establishing parameters based on new and historical input from stakeholder groups (parents, students, campus and district administrators, teachers and community members). The administration provided updates, shared multiple calendar options and sought input from the Board of Trustees during three board meetings on October 18, November 1 and November 15. The final calendar, approved December 6, aligns with the following parameters:

• Length of the required school day/instructional minutes (75,600 minutes)
• Two semesters with a similar number of instructional days (while considering local, state and national testing in the spring)
• Mid-week start for first semester
• Exam/testing calendars (district, state, PSAT, AP and IB)
• Alignment with dual credit/Collin College
• Alignment with neighboring school districts
• Planning/professional learning time for teachers
• Fall break consideration
• Week off at Thanksgiving for students and campus staff
• Professional learning trade days scheduled outside of Thanksgiving week
• End first semester before winter break
• Two full weeks for winter break
• Professional learning day for campus staff following winter break
• Later spring break
• Banked minutes for unforeseen school closures such as inclement weather
• End school before Memorial Day

Revised School Hours for All Campuses

• Early Childhood Schools (Beaty, Isaacs, Pearson and Head Start) – 7:55 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
• Elementary Schools (grades pk/k-5) – 7:40 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.
• Middle Schools (grades 6-8) – 8:25 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
• High/Senior High Schools (grades 9-12) – 9:00 a.m. to 4:25 p.m.
• Academy High School – 9:20 a.m. to 4:40 p.m.
• Solomon Adult Transition Center – 9:45 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.
• Special Programs
• Elementary (grades K-5) – 7:40 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.
• Secondary (grades 6-12) – 8:30 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.

• Click here to view PISD's Student/Parent Policy Guide.
• Click here to view breakfast and lunch menus.
• Click here to learn about PASAR after school care.
• Click here to fill out PISD's volunteer application (must be done annually).