PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2005

SEPTEMBER 15, 2005

Please extend my thanks to your students and faculty members for their efforts to respond to Hurricane Katrina. I have seen news accounts that indicate the significant outpouring of help from public school students and others across our state. When many of eastern North Carolina's schools were devastated by Hurricane Floyd a few years ago, help came from all over the Southeast to assist the recovery efforts. I am glad that we can return that neighborly gesture in this difficult time.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. Sept. 17 is Constitution Day
2. Access to Demographic Information for Dental Screenings
3. Donors Choose Grant Supports Physical Activity Projects
4. NCPAPA Conference Set for October
5. NCACE Fall Conference Scheduled for October
6. Exceptional Children Conference Scheduled for November
7. Annual Shelton Forum to be held in November
8. School Bus Safety Web Site Redesigned
9. Search Underway for Nation's Top Youth Volunteers

Sept. 17 is Constitution Day

Principals are reminded that if your school receives federal dollars your teachers are required to teach about the Constitution on Sept. 17, the day the document was adopted in 1787. The purpose of this day is to "foster a deeper reverence for and a better understanding of the U.S. Constitution." Congress has suggested public readings and/or class discussions. Since Sept. 17 falls on a Saturday, it is acceptable to hold this celebration on Friday, Sept. 16, or on Monday, Sept. 19.

Access to Demographic Information for Dental Screenings

Superintendents will receive a hard copy of a letter from State Superintendent June Atkinson about the NC Oral Health Section (NCOHS) gathering additional data about public school students. The additional information includes birth date, gender and ethnicity/race. This data will allow the NCOHS to evaluate ethnic and racial disparities in the dental health of school-aged children and better direct resources to those in greatest need. The Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) permits the collection of this data. Principals are asked to assist public health dental hygienists gather this information. For more information, please contact Rebecca King at rebecca.king@ncmail.net

Donors Choose Grant Supports Physical Activity Projects

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation recently announced a $25,000 grant for physical activity projects in North Carolina to DonorsChooseSM (www.donorschoose.org), an online marketplace that allows individuals and businesses to support specific student projects proposed by teachers. North Carolina teachers are encouraged to propose projects that integrate physical activity with academics. For example, teachers can apply for funding for an Active Steps Youth Kit, (www.beactivenc.org) which uses pedometers to help students set physical activity goals while teaching them about geography, math, history and other subjects. Priority is given to such projects over funding playground and athletic equipment. The grant is expected to support over 80 projects. For more information, please contact Missy Sherburne, DonorsChooseNC, 252.984.4011, or by email, missy@donorschoose.org.

NCPAPA Conference Set for October

The North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals Association will hold its Fall Leadership Conference, "Start Your Engines!*Life in the Administrative Fast Lane," on Oct. 2-5 at the Atlantic Beach Sheraton, Atlantic Beach. Registration fees received before Sept. 15 are $115 for members and $140 for non-members. If received after Sept. 15, the registration fees increase to $130 for members and $155 for non-members. For additional information, including registration, a conference agenda and hotel reservations, please go online to www.ncpapa.org/fallconference.html or call NCPAPA at 1-800-766-1632.

NCACE Fall Conference Scheduled for October

The NC Association of Compensatory Education (NCACE) Fall Conference, "Changing Lives for Changing Times," will be held Oct. 26-28, at the Greensboro Embassy Suites, Greensboro. Administrators, principals, assistant principals, teachers and others are invited to attend sessions on AYP, school improvement planning, public school choice, supplemental educational services, parent involvement, a USED update from Bill McGrady, and other topics. Registration is due Oct. 5 and hotel discounts are available through Oct. 4. A conference invitation, response form, overview and NAFEPA subscription form will be posted soon on the http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb/ and http://www.ncpublicschools.org/schoolimprovement/comped/ Web sites.

Exceptional Children Conference Scheduled for November

The 55th Conference on Exceptional Children, "The Knowledge to Teach, the Passion to Care," will be held Nov. 7-9 at the Koury Convention Center, Greensboro. Registration information and conference details are available online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/ec/conference.

Annual Shelton Forum to be Held in November

The Fourth Annual Hugh Shelton Forum, "Leadership that Leaves a Legacy," will be held Nov. 11 at the McKimmon Conference and Training Center, Western Blvd. and Gorman Street, Raleigh. The Shelton Leadership Forum is an annual seminar series that focuses attention on the importance of leadership development. Featured speakers include Ross Perot and Dr. John C. Maxwell. The registration fee is $159. For more information, including registration, please go online to www.continuingeducation.ncsu.edu/hughshelton.

School Bus Safety Web Site Redesigned

The North Carolina School Bus Safety Web site, www.NCBUSSAFETY.org, has recently been redesigned to make the site easier to navigate and more informative for school transportation personnel, parents and students. Every few weeks the home page will feature a photo and article related to school transportation in North Carolina. The Institute for Transportation Research and Education at NCSU maintains the School Bus Safety Web site with funding from the Governor's Highway Safety Program. Questions or comments should be directed to Laurie Vandiford Hobbs at lav@unity.ncsu.edu.

Search Underway for Nation's Top Youth Volunteers

Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals is sponsoring its annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. This Award's program recognizes outstanding community service by students in grades 5 though 12. The top middle and high school candidates in each state win $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. Program information has been sent to all middle and high school principals and guidance counselors but also is available online at www.prudential.com/spirit or by calling 888.450.9961. Students must submit completed applications to his or her principal by Oct. 31. Schools will then select the top recipients and submit those names for state-level judging. Middle and high school recipients for each state will be named in February 2006.