2011 Fourth Grade

 To download complete mailing please click here

September 2011 

Dear Principal, 

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey / Verizon’s annual Design a Fourth Grade Folder Contest is under way. We are proud to report that over 7000 students from over 300 New Jersey schools participated in last year’s initiative. 

The contest is open to all fourth grade students in the state. Participating students are asked to create an anti- drug message with artwork relating to the topic, “Fun Things to Do Instead Of Doing Drugs”. A sample of last year’s folder and an order form for Free substance abuse prevention folders for your fourth grade students are also enclosed. Folders will be distributed on first come, first serve basis. The contest is offered to you and your students Free of Charge. 

All submissions will be judged and two winners will be chosen. The winning submissions will be featured on folders that will be distributed to every school in New Jersey. Please see attached rules and criteria for participation and the classroom contact sheet. 

The deadline to request folders for your students is October 28, 2011. If your fourth grade students wish to participate in our Design a Fourth Grade Folder Contest for 2012, please submit their artwork  to the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey by December 9, 2011. A Certificate of Achievement will be awarded to each artist. 

Please see the following contest rules. Feel free to contact Chris Barton at 973-467-2100, ext 11, if you have any questions. I look forward to receiving entries as we work together to provide a safe, healthy and drug- free environment for your students in your schools throughout our state. 

Sincerely,

Angelo M. Valente

Executive Director

Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey 

Rules and Criteria for the 2011/2012 Design Fourth Grade Folder Contest

1. Entries must e based on the theme "Fun Things to do Instead of Doing Drugs."
2. Students must work independently on their submission. Only one submission per student will be accepted
3. The student's first name, last name, school name, school address, phone number, and teacher's name must be written on the back of each submission. Submissions lacking this information will be disqualified. The enclosed Classroom Contact sheet must be submitted for each participating class.
4. As part of the printing process, a photograph is taken of each submission. To meet printing standards each submission must beet the following criteria:
   • Only white 8.5" x 11" copy paper may be used. Do not use construction or colored paper.
   • Use crayons, pens, markers, and pencils. Any color is acceptable.
   • Please do not use glitter, "sparkle" glue, collages or other media. (They don't reproduce well.)
5. No copyrighted characters, images, or celebrities may be used or inferred. This is very important. Students must depend completely on their own imagination to develop their artwork. A simple way to explain this is to note that if they have seen it on television or in the movies, it cannot be used (e.g., Pokemon, Disney characters, wrestlers, athletes, etc). We will not be able to obtain the rights to use any copyrighted characters, images, or celebrities' names. Any entry that uses a copyrighted character, images, or celebrity will be disqualified.
6. We recommend limiting text to a simple drug-prevention slogan or saying. Too much writing can clutter the picture. The focus of the submission should be the artwork.

Within these guidelines, students should be as creative and original as possible. We hope that this will be a positive learning experience for all involved and we look forward to seeing all of the submissions. Submissions must be sent by December 9, 2011 to

For additional information please call 973.467.2100 x11. Please note that submissions will not be returned.

Fourth Grade Folder Contest Response Form (Deadline: December 9, 2011)