2022-2023
First Lady Casey DeSantis Announces 2022–2023 Student and Educator Contests
For the first year, student essay and art contests will now include Native American Heritage Month in addition to the recurring Hispanic Heritage Month and Black History Month
Theme: “Celebrating the Achievements of Hispanic, Native American, and Black Floridians.”
The contests will coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, 2022, Native American Heritage Month in November 2022, and Black History Month in February 2023.
About the Student Art Contest
First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hispanic Heritage, Native American Heritage, and Black History Month Art Contests are open to all Kindergarten through third grade students in Florida. Each student will submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Four statewide winners will be selected for each month, and each winner will receive a $100 art supplies gift card and a 1-year pass to Florida state parks.
About the Student Essay Contest
First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hispanic Heritage, Native American Heritage, and Black History Month Essay Contests are open to all fourth through twelfth grade students in Florida. Each student will submit one essay no longer than 500 words based on this year’s theme. Six winners will be selected: two elementary school student (grades 4–5), two middle school student (grades 6–8) and two high school student (grades 9–12). Each winner will receive a 2–Year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $100 gift card for school supplies.
About the Excellence in Education Award
First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hispanic Heritage, Native American Heritage, and Black History Month Excellence in Education Award Contests are open to all full-time educators in an elementary, middle, or high school in Florida. Four winners will be selected, and nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian, or student. Excellence in Education award winners will receive $2,500 from Volunteer Florida, and a set of classroom books.
Contest Entries and Nominating Forms and Guidelines
Additional information regarding contest timelines, entries, nominating forms and guidelines will be available online here.
2023 Art in the Capitol Competition
The Art in the Capitol Competition, authorized by section 1003.49965, Florida Statutes, is a statewide visual arts competition that requires each school district to annually hold an art competition for all students in grades 6 through 8 attending public schools, private schools and home schools in Florida. The artwork should be judged by a selection committee consisting of art teachers whose students have not submitted work for the competition.
Click here for the contest flyer.
All artwork submitted for the Art in the Capitol must:
- be two-dimensional
- not exceed 28 inches wide by 28 inches long by 4 inches thick
- be original in concept, design and execution and not violate copyright laws;
- include student’s name, grade, district, school name and city
Dates for the 2023 Art in the Capitol Competition:
Fall 2022 – Districts hold annual Art in the Capitol Competition for all students in grades 6-8. All artwork must be submitted to Office of Curriculum & Instruction, K-12 Fine Arts Program Specialist Mr. Antonio Scott no later than Thursday, December 1, 2022.
January 7, 2023 – Each district’s winning selection of student artwork is given to legislator of the legislative district in which the student resides prior to or before this date
March 7, 2023 – Start of regular session and opening date of exhibit at the Capitol
May 5, 2023 – Last day of regular session; legislator will return winning submission to the student after this date.
MS Art in the Capitol Slideshow 2021
Page 30 is 2021’s winning submission from SJCSD.
2022-2023 St. Johns County Spelling Bee
Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 4:00pm
First Coast Technical College
Character Counts! Conference Center
2980 Collins Avenue
St. Augustine, FL 32084
WJCT Public Media PBS Kids Writers Contest
2022 Information Coming Soon!
The annual contest is an initiative designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning and is open to any child in grades K-3 who writes and illustrates their own story.
All writers and illustrators, who enter and meet the requirements of the contest, will have their work published online on the WJCT website and receive a certificate. First-, second- and third-place awards will be presented for stories from each grade level; winners will also receive a WJCT PBS Kids prize pack, the opportunity to create a video reading of their story and an invitation to share their story live at Be My Neighbor Day on Saturday, May 9. Winning stories will be eligible for the People’s Choice grand prize, a $100 savings bond.
“WJCT Public Media is proud to provide a platform for our youngest neighbors to share their unique stories through the WJCT PBS Kids Writers Contest,” said David McGowan, President and CEO of WJCT. “Through this contest, we hope to inspire students and their communities to experience the joy of creativity.”
For more information, including official rules and tools to help students create their stories, visit wjct.org/writerscontest.
National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest for 5th Grade Students
As part of the National Missing Children’s Day annual commemoration on date to be determined, the Department of Justice will once again sponsor a national poster contest and will announce the winner at the annual National Missing Children’s Day ceremony in Washington, D.C. The winner of this national contest, along with his or her teacher and parents, are flown to Washington to attend this special ceremony. Schools are invited to join in the efforts to educate children across the country about safety issues by giving your fifth-grade students an opportunity to participate in this poster contest.
Annual Crime Stoppers Student Poster Competition 2023
Information coming soon!
Youth & Young Adult Essay Contest
(Ongoing Contest)
This contest is designed to educate the public on measures to reduce access to tobacco and nicotine, and the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine.
The contest is year-round and anyone under the age of 21 is eligible to participate. The prize is a $100.00 gift certificate.
For more information visit: Essay Contest
Secondary STEM Fair
Fair Information Coming Soon!
Contact Marna Fox for more information.
Additional resource:
International Science Fair Website
THEME: TBA
WHO: All 3rd, 4th & 5th grade SJCSD students
WHAT: A celebration of history through student/school projects
WHEN: 2023 Information Coming Soon!
WHERE: Schools may submit the top three student entries from each category through interoffice mail
| Deliver to: Elem. History Contest | Department: Instructional Services |
HOW: All entries will be judged based on criteria described by the District
RECOGNITION: Student projects will be recognized at a SJCSD school board meeting. Prizes awarded in each category.
National History Day Competition
National History Day 2023 Theme: Coming Soon!
St. Johns County School District 2022 National History Day Competition
Additional information:
Florida History Day Website
National History Website
Project categories include: performance, paper, exhibit, website, and documentary. Category placements (1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention) may be presented for each category, when appropriate. Category placements are not automatically awarded. The county fair’s judging panel retains the option of determining if a project meets the requirements for competition at the state level. Special awards are also available—each of these has its own unique criteria.
