PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2006

MAY 4, 2006

The 2005-06 ABCs release will be a baseline year, in many respects. Not only are there new ABCs formulas this year, but other changes will make a difference in how schools are designated under the accountability model this year. To help you in communicating about this with your school community, the Department of Public Instruction is developing a number of materials that explain the new formulas and other details. The release date for the 2005-06 ABCs results is set for Oct. 5.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. Hickory Public Schools' Teacher Named Teacher of the Year
3. North Carolina Schools Among Finalists for Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction Awards
4. Wake County Magnet Schools Receive National Awards
5. Office of School Readiness' Newsletter Online
6. 2006 Middle Math Summer Institutes
7. Registration Deadline for Kaleidoscope Extended
8. Seminar Addresses Dual Language and Immersion Programs
9. 2006 National High School Journalism Teacher Awards' Program
10. Shelton Leadership Challenge Institute

State Board Meeting Highlights

State Board Meeting Highlights - At their meeting this week, Board members approved exemption requests under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act and revision of the add-on licensure policy. Board members also discussed Supplemental Education Service Providers for 2006-07 and revisions to the school counselor job description. In their Issues Session, Board members heard a presentation on education for the 21st century and adopted a framework for 21st century learning. They also heard from Clearmont Elementary School (Yancey County Schools) Principal Pete Peterson, Williford Elementary School (Nash-Rocky Mount Schools) Principal Sandra Farmer and Westwood Elementary School (Ashe County Schools) Principal Keith McClure and Wells Elementary School (Wilson County Schools) parent Paula Benson who described how technology has transformed their schools into 21st century learning environments. Complete Board highlights will be available online Tuesday afternoon at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights by clicking on the appropriate link.

Hickory Public Schools' Teacher Named Teacher of the Year

Hickory Public Schools' Teacher Named Teacher of the Year - Congratulations to Diana Beasley, a biology teacher at Hickory High School, who Tuesday night was named the 2006-07 North Carolina Teacher of the Year. Beasley received a 2006 Hyundai Elantra from the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association in recognition of her selection. She succeeds Wendy Miller from James W. Smith Elementary School, Craven County Schools.

North Carolina Schools Among Finalists for Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction Awards

North Carolina Schools Among Finalists for Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction Awards - John R. Griffin Middle (Cumberland County Schools); North Brunswick High (Brunswick County Schools), Davidson International Baccalaureate Middle (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools) and A.B. Combs Elementary (Wake County Schools) are among 48 public and private schools named as finalists for the Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction Awards. The awards honor schools for implementing innovative and replicable programs that support positive educational outcomes. Sixteen winners will be selected from eight categories - one each for elementary and secondary schools. Winning schools also will compete to be named "Best of the Best." The schools are being evaluated on vision, data, research, best practices and the use of assessment to boost student achievement. The schools are competing for $190,000 in grants from the Intel Foundation and additional prizes from sponsoring companies, which will be presented at an awards ceremony in October. For more information about the Schools of Distinction Awards, visit www.schoolsofdistinction.com.

Wake County Magnet Schools Receive National Awards

Wake County Magnet Schools Receive National Awards - Congratulations to Wake County Public Schools' for garnering top honors at the Magnet Schools of America Conference held last week. Combs Elementary won the top award, the Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Merit Award, and received a $5,000 honorarium for the school. Farmington Woods Elementary and Ligon Middle took the two other top awards. Farmington Woods received the Donald L. Waldrip Distinguished Elementary Merit Award and $2500 and Ligon Middle received the American Education Solutions Distinguished Secondary Award and $2500.

Office of School Readiness' Newsletter Online

Office of School Readiness' Newsletter Online - The Office of School Readiness' April 2006 Newsletter focuses on "Foundations: Early Learning Standards for North Carolina Preschoolers. " Please go online to http://www.governor.state.nc.us/Office/Education/Newsletter.asp to access this latest edition.

2006 Middle Math Summer Institutes

2006 Middle Math Summer Institutes - The NCDPI Division of Middle Grades Education Mathematics and Science Section in partnership with the North Carolina Mathematics and Science Education Network will offer Middle Math Summer Institutes at eight locations statewide. Middle Math Summer Institutes are two days in length and provide grade level institutes focused on content knowledge, effective teaching strategies and assessment methods that align with student academic performance standards in North Carolina. For more information, including dates and locations for the workshops and how to register, please go online to http://www.unc.edu/depts/cmse or contact Elizabeth Murray at emurray@dpi.state.nc.us or 919/807-3936. The registration deadline is May 15.

Registration Deadline for Kaleidoscope Extended

Registration Deadline for Kaleidoscope Extended - NCDPI's K-12 Programs Section has extended the registration deadline for KALEIDOSCOPE: Teaching and Learning Through a Global Lens Institute to May 19. This Institute, which will be held June 28-30, is for K-12 Teachers of Dance, ESL, Foreign Language, Health Education, Music, Physical Education, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, and Media Coordinators/Technology Facilitators. For more information, including registration, please go online to http://community.learnnc.org/dpi/ or contact Helga Fasciano, Second Language Consultant at hfascian@dpi.state.nc.us or 919/807-3865.

Seminar Addresses Dual Language and Immersion Programs

Seminar Addresses Dual Language and Immersion Programs - NCDPI's K-12 Programs Section is sponsoring a one day seminar with Dr. Myriam Met from the National Foreign Language Center on dual language and immersion programs from an administrator's point of view. The seminar will be held July 10 in Raleigh. There is no cost to attend however, there is limited seating and registration is required. For more information, including registration, please go online to http://community.learnnc.org/dpi/secondlang/ or contact Helga Fasciano, Second Language Consultant at hfascian@dpi.state.nc.us or 919/807-3865.

2006 National High School Journalism Teacher Awards' Program

2006 National High School Journalism Teacher Awards' Program - The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund is sponsoring its 2006 National High School Journalism Teacher Awards' Program to recognize journalism teachers and publications' advisers, including newspaper, news magazine and news Web site advisers, whose students' work consistently shines with quality reporting and editing. The winning teacher will receive a laptop computer and software and a student at the school will receive a $1,000 college scholarship to study news-editorial journalism. Students of the four distinguished advisers will receive $500 scholarships to study news-editorial journalism. The 2006 nomination form, which is available online at DJNewspaperFund.dowjones.com/fund/forms/TOY.pdf, must be completed and submitted with supporting materials by July 1.

Shelton Leadership Challenge Institute

Shelton Leadership Challenge Institute - As a reminder, The General Hugh Shelton Initiative for Leadership Development will be sponsoring its fourth annual Shelton Leadership Challenge Institute for youth on July 9-14 at the Eastern 4-H Environmental Education Conference Center in Columbia, and on July 23-28 at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. The one-week summer sessions will focus on Leadership Roles and Accountability, Team Building, Leadership Styles and Situations, Motivating Others, Citizen Responsibility, Integrity as a Leader, Public Speaking, Changing Behaviors, and Goal Setting. Reflection is a key component for each exercise and daily review. Students are placed in leadership roles and participate in a 360° evaluation conducted by the Coach, Mentor, Trainers (CMTs) and Peer Leaders. The cost to attend the institute is $375, which includes lodging, meals and materials needed for the sessions and a graduation ceremony at the end of the week. For more information, please go online to http://www.ncsu.edu/extension/sheltonleadership/youth_leadership/leadership_challenge.htm or contact Debbie Reno at debbie_reno@ncsu.edu or at 919/513-0150.