New York, NY (October 29, 2004) -- As part of their year-long 100th anniversary celebration, Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corporation has joined Scholastic Marketing Partners, a division of Scholastic Inc., the global children's publishing media company, for the launch of Writing from Experience: Movies and Memories, a national, in-school educational program, designed to get fifth and sixth graders actively involved in learning about the role of filmed entertainment. The curriculum will be distributed at no cost to more than 10,000 teachers beginning November 10, 2004 and available online at www.scholastic.com/moviesandmemories .
 
Designed for educators and parents to use with their children, Writing from Experience: Movies and Memories is an engaging language arts and social studies program that teaches about the history of film and how movies play a role in today's society. The in-school portion of the program offers teachers a teaching guide with standards-based lessons and reproducibles, a classroom poster, and a variety of activities and complimentary materials for use in classrooms.
 
The educational components include:
· Comparative Writing - to instruct students on the use of similes in poetry writing.
· Journal Writing - to help students understand how various individuals have affected the entertainment industry.
· Writing from Oral History - to strengthen oral speaking skills, as well as encourage students to write about personal experiences and engage in discussion through interviews.
· “Reel Memories” Essay Contest - to promote interaction among students as they share their favorite movie experiences, while helping them to strengthen their writing skills.
 
In the essay contest, entrants will be encouraged to submit a one-page essay describing their most memorable movie theatre experience for a chance to win a season pass to the movies and other prizes from Loews and Scholastic. Ten grand-prize winners will receive a Loews Golden Age Family Gift Pack that will include a Season Pass for two, $50 concession gift card, a studio poster, a Loews 100th Anniversary hat and a Scholastic title, The History of Moviemaking. Twenty runner-up winners will receive a Loews Silver Screen Family Gift Pack that will include four movie tickets, a studio poster, and a Loews 100th Anniversary hat. Teachers of the winning students will also receive prizes from Loews and Scholastic.
 
“Scholastic is honored to join Loews in the celebration of this historic achievement,” said Shelley White, Editorial Director of InSchool Marketing, Scholastic Marketing Partners. “It is just another example of our continued commitment to helping teachers and parents bridge the connection between children's classroom environments and their “reel” life experiences, while providing quality learning materials that excite and encourage children to engage in discussion both at home and in school.”
 
Writing from Experience: Movies and Memories also includes a take-home component which offers students the option of completing the “Reel Memories,” contest outside of the classroom, affording them the opportunity discuss their own special movie memories with family members and friends. The materials also include information for parents to guide and encourage conversations with their children.
 
“Our relationship with Scholastic has provided us with a fun and inventive way to educate our younger moviegoers about film and Loews' rich 100 year history,” added John McCauley, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corporation. “We look forward to providing moviegoers with another 100 years worth of history and memories for them to share with their families.”
 
Scholastic and Loews will also feature the “Reel Memories” Teacher Sweepstakes in the November/December issue of Instructor magazine. Published by Scholastic Inc., Instructor magazine is the most widely read professional magazine for educators. K-12 teachers are encouraged to describe their favorite movie-going experience for a chance to win unlimited movie tickets for a year.
 
Loews is further celebrating its 100th anniversary with the Our Classroom Reel Memories Sweepstakes. Promoted on scholastic.com/moviesandmemories, teachers can take their students on a class trip of a backstage tour of a Loews theater. Students will then write collectively about their tour experience for a chance to win Loews Cineplex Entertainment Theater tickets for each member of the class. Loews continues its 100th anniversary celebration throughout November with several other programs and events including; the Ultimate Film Fan Finals Competition on November 6, a special exhibit at the American Museum of the Moving Image that highlights the evolution of Loews and its movie theaters on November 8, and a special presentation and panel discussion at The Jewish Museum with Elliot Gould on November 18. And, on November 9, in appreciation of 100 years of customer loyalty and to underscore the fun aspects of the movie-going experience, Loews invites all moviegoers to enjoy popcorn or soft drinks for only $1 at any Loews concession stand nationwide.
 
About Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corporation
Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corporation (www.enjoytheshow.com) is the third largest movie theater chain in the world, with 200 theaters and 2,176 screens worldwide and is privately held by Bain Capital, The Carlyle Group and Spectrum Equity Investors. Loews' maintains operations in the U.S., Mexico, South Korea and Spain. The company operates under the names of Loews Theatres, Cineplex Odeon, Star Theatres and Magic Johnson Theatres in the United States, as well as Cinemex in Mexico, Megabox in South Korea and Yelmo Cineplex in Spain.
 
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, www.scholastic.com.

Contacts: