In keeping with our policy to keep our agenda as interesting and as wide ranging and inclusive as possible, we are introducing a number of new dimensions to this year’s competitions.    In 2012, Ennis Tidy Towns Committee adapted the theme “Ennis, Our Town, Love It”.    We have decided that our 2012 Schools’ Competitions should reflect this and that young people in Secondary Schools as well as Primary Schools are now invited to participate. A variety of new competition categories have been introduced – to include Art, Poster Design, Poetry, Persuasive Writing and Photography.

You are no doubt familiar with the schools ‘Art Competitions’ run by Ennis Tidy Towns Committee in previous years.   We are very grateful for your schools participation over the years and the competitions have certainly helped to raise awareness of the benefits of caring for our environment and keeping our town right up there every year among the elite award winners in the prestigious National Tidy Town Competition.     Indeed, this year’s results which were announced recently enhanced Ennis’ reputation even further – the town received several awards including;

· Tidiest town in the Mid-West Region, and

· Tidiest large urban centre in Ireland.

The participation of young people in these competitions and in other ways has contributed enormously to this continuing success and we wish to convey our sincere appreciation to you and your staff for your ongoing support.

The main features of this year’s competitions are:

1. Participation of both Primary and Secondary schools,

2. A variety of competition categories – to include Art, Poster Design, Poetry, Persuasive Writing and Photography.

3. The competition a student enters depends on the class he/she is in,

4. Awards to be presented in respect of “Highly Commended” entries and an “Overall Winner” in each category,

5. All entries must reflect the theme “Ennis, Our Town, Love It”.

The various Competition Categories are to apply as follows;

Primary Schools:

· First and Second Classes – A piece of Art based on the theme “Ennis, Our Town, Love It”

· Third and Fourth Classes – Create a Poster incorporating the words “Ennis, Our Town, Love It”

· Fifth and Sixth Classes – Write a Poem based on “Ennis, Our Town, Love It”

Secondary Schools:

· First and Second Years – A piece of Persuasive Writing based on the theme “Ennis, Our Town, Love It”

· Transition and Fourth Years – A Photograph based on the theme “Ennis, Our Town, Love It”.

Details of the various Competition Categories as they apply to your school are outlined below.    The closing date for receipt of entries is Thursday, October 25^th, 2012.     When all entries from your school are ready for submission, please feel free to contact the undersigned and we will arrange to have them collected from you.     Alternatively, you may hand deliver them – appropriately labelled and packaged and clearly marked “Ennis Tidy Towns Schools Competitions” – to the Ennis Chamber of Commerce office in O’Connell St. not later than 4pm on the above stated closing date.

Please ensure that each entry is labelled on the back with the following details – students name, school and class. Photographs may be emailed to the following address-info@ennistidytowns.com    Ennis Tidy Towns Committee reserves the right to retain all entries.   Winning entries will be used in the promotion of our 2013 campaign.

Details of the competition are outlined below and also be available on Facebook We look forward to your schools participation and continued support.

ENNIS TIDY TOWNS COMMITTEE SCHOOLS COMPETITIONS

Poster competition (3^rd and 4^th Classes)

ENTRANTS are invited to produce a poster based on the theme and incorporating the words “Ennis, Our Town, Love It”.     It should be on paper suitable for Art or Drawing and can be finished in any of the following – Paint, Crayon, Pastels, Pencil or Charcoal.    Posters should not be smaller than A4 size and should not be larger than A3 size.    The closing date for submission to Ennis Tidy Towns Committee is Thursday, October 25^th, 2012.

Art competition (1^st and 2^nd Classes)

ENTRANTS are invited to produce a piece of art based on the theme “Ennis, Our Town, Love It”.     It should be on paper suitable for Art or Drawing and can be finished in any of the following – Paint, Crayon, Pastels, Pencil or Charcoal.    Paintings or drawings should not be smaller than A4 size and should not be larger than A3 size.  The closing date for submission to Ennis Tidy Towns Committee is Thursday, October 25^th, 2012.

Poetry competition (5^th and 6^th Classes)

ENTRANTS are invited to write a poem based on the theme “Ennis, Our Town, Love It”.     The closing date for submission to Ennis Tidy Towns Committee is Thursday, October 25^th, 2012.

Persuasive writing competition (1^st and 2^nd years)

ENTRANTS are invited to compose a piece of persuasive writing based on the theme “Ennis, Our Town, Love It”. The closing date for submission to Ennis Tidy Towns Committee is Thursday, October 25^th, 2012.

Photography competition (Transition and 4^th years)

ENTRANTS are invited to produce a photograph based on the theme “Ennis, Our Town, Love It”. The photograph can be in Black and White or Colour and the closing date for submission to Ennis Tidy Towns Committee is Thursday, October 25^th, 2012.

Additional queries please contact our education Officer Anne Tiernan on Mobile:    086-3900691