PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2006
PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2006FEBRUARY 2, 2006
What does it mean to graduate from high school? It indicates a mean annual salary that is at least three times greater than the salary of someone who didn't graduate. It means a greater likelihood of being healthy and a greater likelihood of many other positive indicators. Our state cannot afford to allow students to drop out of high school. With that, I have set a goal of bringing North Carolina's graduation rate to 85 percent in the next four years. While North Carolina's cohort graduate statistics have relied on estimates in the past, we will have an actual graduation rate count available to us this fall. The more accurate data will help us to build support for the efforts - including a higher compulsory school attendance age - that are needed to keep more students in school for graduation.
Regards,
June Atkinson
In this Biweekly Principals' Message:
- State Board Meeting Highlights
- Super Safe Schools Announced
- January Words to the Wise Online
- CECAS Newsletter Posted Online
- Jay Robinson Leadership Award
- 2006 Abstinence Education Regional Workshops
- Information Sessions on 2006-07 Online Courses
- Recruiting Schools for International Partnerships with China, Denmark and Mexico
- Fulbright Opportunity
- Essay Contest
State Board Meeting Highlights
At today's Board meeting, members approved an option for a growth model for determining Adequate Yearly Progress for submittal to the U.S. Department of Education, exemption requests under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act, and technology plans for 89 school systems and nine charter schools. Board members also discussed items included in their 2006-07 Supplemental Budget request. Complete Board highlights will be available online Tuesday afternoon at www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights by clicking on the appropriate link
Thanks to their efforts to provide students and staff with a safe learning environment, 43 schools in 22 school districts today were designated "2005-06 Super Safe Schools" at the 2006 Safe Schools and Character Education Conference. To find out which schools received this honor, please go to the NCDPI Web site at www.ncpublicschools.org and click on the appropriate link under "News."
January Words to the Wise Online
The January edition of the Words to the Wise newsletter is now available online. In this issue you can read about the import and export procedures for USDDC, learn about the new ACC Data and Test files, find out what's new in SIMS, and learn how to register for the NC WISE Symposium. To read or download the newsletter, just go online to http://www.ncwise.org/newsletter/wise_newsletter_01_27_06.pdf.
CECAS Newsletter Posted Online
The December 2005/January 2006 edition of the Comprehensive Exceptional Children Accountability System (CECAS) newsletter is now available online and includes the following items: CECAS Q3 Software Release Highlights, Behavioral Support Services Module, CECAS Support Email Address, Child Count Verification Form, Recording Addendum IEPs in CECAS, and CECAS Training Site Cleanup. To read more, please go to the CECAS Web site at http://www.nccecas.org/info/downloads.html and click on the appropriate link under Newsletters.
It's not too late to submit a nomination for the Jay Robinson Leadership Award. The award was established by the Public School Forum Board of Directors in recognition of outstanding leaders in the field of public education. The award may be given to anyone who has displayed innovative, creative, effective leadership for the public schools of North Carolina. Nominations must be postmarked by March 1. The award recipient receives a $5,000 award sponsored by Progress Energy. To request an application, please contact Jo Ann Norris, Public School Forum, 919/781-6833, or by email, jnorris@ncforum.org.
2006 Abstinence Education Regional Workshops
The NCDPI is sponsoring a one-day workshop on effectively teaching abstinence education. Workshop topics address what you can and cannot teach in the classroom, how to access new data and effective classroom activities. Workshop dates are as follows: Feb. 20, Holiday Inn Asheville Biltmore East, Feb. 21, Holiday Inn Express Greensboro East, and Feb. 22, Holiday Inn Express East (Greenville). There is a limit of 60 abstinence educators per site. Registration is $25 and is non-refundable. Registration information is available online at http://www.nchealthyschools.org/abstinence/workshop/. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Langer, NCDPI, 919/807-3867, or by email, slanger@dp.state.nc.us.
Information Sessions on 2006-07 Online Courses
Each year, LEARN NC hosts teleconferences for individuals who are interested in learning more about online courses offered through LEARN NC. These information sessions are conducted by phone and include a LEARN NC staff member and one or more instructors of the online course subjects listed for that day. Teleconferences generally last 30-45 minutes and include a 10-15 presentation by the instructor and time for students, parents, facilitators, guidance counselors and principals to ask questions. Schools must register in advance for teleconferences. For the full schedule of teleconferences and registration information, please visit http://www.learnnc.org/announcements/34
Recruiting Schools for International Partnerships with
China, Denmark and Mexico
Help our students learn with and not just about people of other cultures through ongoing relationships between your school and a school abroad. Most international school-to-school partnerships rely on technology - videoconferencing, email, Web blogs - and some include actual exchanges of teachers and students between countries. Your students will be involved in the world marketplace, working for international companies, or perhaps working on international teams to solve world health and environmental challenges. Help give them the knowledge, skills and perspective they'll need to succeed in our ever-changing global environment. North Carolina in the World, a statewide international education initiative coordinated by the Center for International Understanding in Raleigh, is seeking to establish at least one school partnership in every North Carolina school district by 2008. For more information, please contact Matt Friedrick, NCIW Project Manager, via email at mfriedrick@northcarolina.edu, or by phone at 919/733-0601. In addtion, a "how to" manual on creating an international school-to-school partnership is now available online through North Carolina in the World at Help our students learn with and not just about people of other cultures through ongoing relationships between your school and a school abroad. Most international school-to-school partnerships rely on technology - videoconferencing, email, Web blogs - and some include actual exchanges of teachers and students between countries. Your students will be involved in the world marketplace, working for international companies, or perhaps working on international teams to solve world health and environmental challenges. Help give them the knowledge, skills and perspective they'll need to succeed in our ever-changing global environment. North Carolina in the World, a statewide international education initiative coordinated by the Center for International Understanding in Raleigh, is seeking to establish at least one school partnership in every North Carolina school district by 2008. For more information, please contact Matt Friedrick, NCIW Project Manager, via email at mfriedrick@northcarolina.edu, or by phone at 919/733-0601. In addtion, a "how to" manual on creating an international school-to-school partnership is now available online through North Carolina in the World at http://ciu.northcarolina.edu/docs/partnershipsmanualjan1006.pdf
The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program is currently seeking candidates for six-week, administrative job-shadowing exchanges in Argentina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Mexico, Romania, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Applicants must be current elementary/secondary school or district administrators, two-year college administrators, or teacher training institution administrators. Exchanges may be in the areas of personnel administration, curriculum development, student affairs, or educational policy and methodology. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 20. For more information and a link to the application, please go online to http://www.fulbrightexchanges.org/View/ViewOtherOpps.asp.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial&Museum is sponsoring its fifth annual essay contest for students in fifth through 12th grades to honor the 168 people killed in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The essay contest invites students to share their insights about "personal responsibility and making a difference in the world." Winning essays become a part of the Memorial's Virtual Archives. Winners in each division will receive a monetary award in addition to being recognized along with their teachers at the Oklahoma City National Memorial&Museum. Additional information, including essay topics and submission procedures are available online at http://www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/media/medi_pres_deta.htm?id=2458573 or by contacting Lynn Roller, Lynne Roller, Oklahoma City National Memorial &Museum, at 405/235-3313, or by email, lynneroller@oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org