2025 Black History Dramatic Reading Contest
The Black History Dramatic Reading Contest is a celebration of Black History Month. It is open to Clarke County public and home-school students in grades 2, 3, 4, and 5, who will read passages they select from published fiction and nonfiction work written by or about Blacks.
The 2025 Black History Dramatic Reading Contest is at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. (Snow date 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.)
DEADLINE TO APPLY: Friday, Feb. 7. Find application at http://www.jschoolmuseum.org/JSCM-2025-Dramatic-Reading…
Contact the Josephine School Community Museum at jschool515@verizon.net.
CONTEST GUIDELINES:
• Reading selections must be taken from a published work of fiction, poetry, folklore, history, or biography written by or about African Americans. Excerpts may be used.
• Students in grades 2 & 3 read for not less than 1 minute and not more than 3 minutes.
• Students in grades 4 & 5 read for not less than 2 minutes and not more than 4 minutes.
• Reading selections must be taken from a published work of fiction, poetry, folklore, history, or biography written by or about African Americans. Excerpts may be used.
• Students in grades 2 & 3 read for not less than 1 minute and not more than 3 minutes.
• Students in grades 4 & 5 read for not less than 2 minutes and not more than 4 minutes.
JUDGES CRITERIA:
• Choice of selection (20 points) is age appropriate, meets criteria above, and meets time requirements.
• Interpretation (60 points) means enunciates and pronounce words clearly, reads with expression, reads from the text (not memorized), helps audience enjoy and understand the literary work.
• General stage presence (20 points) means neat appearance, stands with good posture, and makes eye contact with audience.
• Choice of selection (20 points) is age appropriate, meets criteria above, and meets time requirements.
• Interpretation (60 points) means enunciates and pronounce words clearly, reads with expression, reads from the text (not memorized), helps audience enjoy and understand the literary work.
• General stage presence (20 points) means neat appearance, stands with good posture, and makes eye contact with audience.
Prizes will be awarded for the best readers in each grade level. Every participant will receive a certificate.
The annual Black History Dramatic Reading Contest is hosted by the Josephine School Community Museum & Clarke County African American Cultural Center. The museum is in a circa 1882 two-room schoolhouse that served the residents of Josephine City. The building, located at 303 Josephine St. in Berryville, Va., is on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization.
For more information, contact 540-955-5512, 540-333-0692, or jschool515@verizon.net
