PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2007

APRIL 5, 2007 - Principals' Biweekly Message

Congratulations to Kinston High School (Lenoir County Schools) Principal Craig Hill, who was named North Carolina's 2007 Wachovia Principal of the Year during a luncheon ceremony held today in Raleigh. Craig's commitment to the success of his students is clearly demonstrated in the programs he has implemented since becoming principal at Kinston High. He has led a reform movement that embraces the concepts of rigor, relevance, and relationships by offering students an opportunity to participate in such programs as International Baccalaureate, Freshman Academy, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), career academies and talent development. He also embraces the involvement of staff, parents, students, and members of the community in assessing school needs and identifying action plans to meet them. He has recognized that business as usual is not going to produce graduates who can compete in a 21st century global economy. I join our State Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee in applauding him and his staff's efforts to ensure the long-term success of all their students.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. State Board Extends Appreciation to Those Who Attended Regional Meetings
2. State Board Meeting Highlights
3. Exceptional Children Division Schedules Public Hearings
4. 2007 Governor's School Selections Announced
5. Focus Groups Scheduled on Proposed Standards for North Carolina Teachers
6. Poetry Out Loud
7. Littersweep Roadside Cleanup Scheduled
8. Asia Society and Goldman Sachs Sponsors International Education Award

State Board Extends Appreciation to Those Who Attended Regional Meetings

The State Board of Education wishes to express their appreciation to all the educators across the state who were able to participate in the Regional Meetings on the Proposed Future-Ready Core for high school graduation. They also want to thank again the school systems that served as hosts. The board has listened to your concerns and comments and will be deliberating the policy during upcoming Board meetings. Once a policy recommendation is developed, the proposal will be vetted again regionally, with some face-to-face meetings and videoconferencing. You will be receiving further information in the very near future.

State Board Meeting Highlights

Item to come.

Exceptional Children Division Schedules Public Hearings

The NCDPI's Exceptional Children Division will hold three public hearings to receive comments on the Department's "Policies and Procedures Governing Programs and Services for Children with Disabilities" pursuant to Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). The dates, times and locations are as follows: April 12: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Auditorium, Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory; April 17: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Leslie Bldg., Room 143, Pitt Community College, Winterville; and April 30: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Education Building, Room 150, Raleigh. Meeting locations are accessible to individuals with disabilities. If auxiliary aid or service is required, please contact the NCDPI at 919.807.3976 or 919.807.3996 at least two weeks prior to the scheduled meeting date. The "Policies and Procedures Governing Programs and Services for Children with Disabilities" is available online at www.ncpublicschools.org/ec or by contacting the Exceptional Children Division at 919.807.3969. Comments on the proposed state policies and procedures will be accepted through May 1. Written comments should be sent to: Public Schools of North Carolina, Exceptional Children Division, ATTN: Brenda Gilchrest or Ira Wolfe, 6356 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-6356 or by email ECPolicy@dpi.state.nc.us.

2007 Governor's School Selections Announced

Eight hundred North Carolina rising high school juniors and seniors have been selected to attend the 2007 Governor's School, a six-week summer program for academically or intellectually gifted students. The 2007 session runs from June 17 - July 28. To read more about their selection and to access a complete list of Governor's School East and West participants, please go to the NCDPI Web site at http://www.ncgovschool.org/nomination/.

Focus Groups Scheduled on Proposed Standards for North Carolina Teachers

The North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards Commission invites educators to attend focus group meetings being held around the state to provide input into ³Standards for North Carolina Teachers." The proposed Standards are aligned with the 2006 mission and goals of the NC State Board of Education and focus on 21st century skills and knowledge. What students need to know and be able to do is changing. How does this affect what teachers need to know and be able to do? Join members of the Commission as they discuss this topic. For session locations, please go online to http://www.ncptsc.org. If you cannot attend any of the sessions, the standards are available online at the above Web address and comments can be submitted via email to Carolyn McKinney, Executive Director of the NC Professional Teaching Standards Commission, at cmckinney@dpi.state.nc.us. All comments need to be received by April 24.

Poetry Out Loud

The North Carolina Arts Council will celebrate National Poetry Month this April with video podcasts of high-school students from across the state recorded during this year's Poetry Out Loud: National Poetry Recitation Competition. Each school day in April, the Council will post a new video of one of the students reading a poem they presented in competition. You can access the videos from the Council's home page at http://www.ncarts.org. By encouraging high school students to memorize and perform great poems, Poetry Out Loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into the English class. This exciting new program, created in 2005 by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. For more information about Poetry Out Loud, contact Linda Bamford, NC Arts Council, 919.807.6502, or by email, linda.bamford@ncmail.net. For more information about the podcasts, contact Rebecca Moore, NC Arts Council, 919.807.6530, or by email, rebecca.moore@ncmail.net.

Litter Sweep Roadside Cleanup Scheduled

The Department of Transportation's (NCDOT) Office of Beautification Programs is sponsoring a spring Litter Sweep roadside cleanup on April 14-28; and Gov. Easley has proclaimed this week as Litter Sweep time in North Carolina. Cleanup supplies can be picked up from your local NCDOT maintenance yard. Schools are encouraged to participate if possible and teachers may want to use this time to discuss the importance of environmental protection and recycling. For more information, please contact Helen Landi, director of Office of Beautification Programs at 919.715.3188.

Asia Society and Goldman Sachs Sponsors International Education Award

Asia Society and The Goldman Sachs Foundation are pleased to announce the 2007 Goldman Sachs Foundation Youth Prize for Excellence in International Education. The 2007 competition asks students to select a problem or challenge that affects their local community as well as a community outside the United States. They are to then create an in-depth written, audio, video, or animated feature that compares and contrasts how these two communities have addressed the issue and explain why these approaches reflect the different cultural backgrounds of those involved and what lessons the different communities could learn from each other. Five winners will be selected and will receive up to $10,000 each as well as an all-expense paid trip to New York City in early November 2007 where they will be recognized at Asia Society's Gala Annual Dinner. Please visit http://askasia.org/students/gsfprizes.html for the contest question, guidelines, rules, and online application. The deadline for applications is June 11.

 

If you'd like to review past Principals' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/principalsarchive/.