E-COMM ALERT
December 16, 2005 – Vol. 1, #15
A Weekly Bulletin of News and Notes for Members of the Pennsylvania School Public Relations
Association
“Sweet Success in School Communications”
PenSPRA Symposium March 7-8, 2006, Hershey Lodge & Convention
Center
1. Register Now for the PenSPRA Symposium March 7-8, 2006
Registration is now open for the Annual PenSPRA Symposium, March 7-8, 2006 at the Hershey
Lodge & Convention Center, co-sponsored by PenSPRA and PASBO. Go to
http://www.pasbo.org and click on the link “PenSPRA Symposium Registration” to register and
reserve your rooms for the Symposium or use the attached forms below. Information is also
available on the PenSPRA website at www.penspra.org. Conference registration is required in
order to make lodging reservations. If staying onsite at the Lodge, breakfast and lunch are
required. Register early and reserve your room as rooms fill up quickly! Plan to join us and
experience “Sweet Success in School Communications.”
(Thanks to the PenSPRA Symposium Committee of Marci Davis, Laura Feller and Jessie Long
for their planning efforts and to PASBO staff members Corrine Shearer, Jane Hack and Suzy
Yorty for working with the Committee to provide a great professional development opportunity!)
2. PenSPRA Excellence in Education Communication Contest Info Available Online
The deadline is a little over a month away to enter the PenSPRA Excellence in Education
Communication Contest (deadline-January 20th). The contest form is available on the PenSPRA
website (www.penspra.org). Enter your award winning entry now!
3. Scholarship Awarded for NSPRA Conference
Nicole McGalla from Pocono Mountain School District is the recipient of the ½ scholarship to the
National School Public Relations Association 2006 Chicago seminar. Nicole received the
scholarship because she is a newer member to PenSPRA and has never attended the NSPRA
conference. Thanks to all who applied and congratulations to Nicole!
4. National High School Essay Contest
On January 16, 2006, The Oprah Show will also announce Oprah's National High School Essay
Contest. The essay contest will be based on the book she reveals and will be open to high
school students across America. Then, based on their essays, a panel of learned judges will
select 50 high school students. Each finalist, along with one designated parent or guardian, will
receive a trip to a special Oprah Show taping in late February.
Please get the word out to your students, their parents and teachers. The deadline for entries is
Monday, February 6, 2006. For more details on Oprah's National High School Essay Contest go
to www.Oprah.com. We're hoping to get as many students and educators involved as possible.
(Thanks to Patricia Kennedy for providing this helpful resources)
5. Clip Art Resources
When the Microsoft® Clip Art Gallery http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us
doesn’t provide you with what you want, check out the following sites for free or cheap electronic
clip art and photographs:
 Classroom Clip Art…a source for free clip art, pictures and illustrations –
http://classroomclipart.com/
 Animation Factory…not free but inexpensive (and remember a few ‘gimmicks’ go a long
way) – http://www.animationfactory.com/
 Pics 4 Learning – http://www.pics4learning.com/
(Thanks to Judi Boren for providing these helpful resources)
6. Next e-Comm Alert – January 13
There will be a break in the distribution of e-Comm Alert due to the holidays. The next issue will
be published on January 13th. Have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year.
If you have an item for E-COMM ALERT, contact Todd O’Shell at (724) 352-1700, ext. 1604 or
email oshell@southbutler.k12.pa.us.