PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2007

SEPTEMBER 6, 2007 - Principals' Biweekly Message

Congratulations are in order for many North Carolina public schools today. A total of 71.8 percent of North Carolina's public schools made expected or high growth in the 2006-07 school year. That's a 17.5 percentage point increase over the 54.3 percent that made growth targets in the 2005-06 school year, according to the 2006-07 ABCs of Public Education accountability report approved by the State Board of Education today. We are very pleased to see significantly more schools making academic growth this year. In addition to the growth information, today's report also highlighted the cohort graduation rate - a measure that moved up in 2007 as well. In 2007, 69.4 percent of the students who entered ninth grade in the fall of 2003 graduated from high school in four years or less. That's better than the 2006 rate of 68.3 percent. My hope is that everyone who teaches students in North Carolina - whether you teach third grade, seventh grade or ninth grade - sees herself or himself as a graduation coach. That is what it will take to move our graduation rate as close to 100 percent as possible. To access the complete results of the ABCs report, go online to www.ncpublicschools.org and look under Highlights.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. Sept. 17 is Constitution Day
3. American's Legislators Back to School Week
4. School Transportation Questions Answered Online
5. USDA Grant Will Promote Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Public Schools
6. NC DECA Shines at National Conference
7. Secondary and Elementary Administrators of Physical Education Summit: 21st Century Learning Skills
8. Elementary School Conference Scheduled for October
9. Stock Market Game Workshops Offered
10. Fire Prevention Materials on the Way to Elementary Schools
11. Annual Litter Sweep Scheduled for Mid-September
12. LEARN NC Carolina Online Teacher Program
13. North Carolina Museum of History Offers Elementary Schools Virtual Field Trips
14. Energize Your Classrooms with the Help of Progress Energy
15. Literacy Grant Opportunity
16. Search Underway for Nation's Top Youth Volunteers

State Board Meeting Highlights

At today's Board meeting, members approved the 2006-07 ABCs/AYP Report and 2007-08 Assistance Program, the K-2 Literacy Assessment, and the job descriptions and salary upgrades for occupational therapist assistants and physical therapist assistants. At yesterday's meeting, Board members discussed field testing and special studies for the 2007-08 school year, and received a briefing on literacy coaches and the Learn and Earn Early College High School initiative. Complete Board highlights will be posted later next week at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights.

Sept. 17 is Constitution Day

Local school systems are reminded that if they receive federal dollars they 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. Materials educators may want to use to prepare for Constitution Day are available on the Bill of Rights Institute's Web site at http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/.

America's Legislators Back to School Week

America's Legislators Back to School Week, sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures, will be held Sept. 17-21. Principals are encouraged to extend invitations to their local representatives to visit and talk with students about the legislative process and what it's like to be a state legislator: the processes, the pressures, and the debate - the negotiation and compromise that are the fabric of representative democracy. Classroom discussions are being encouraged over school-wide assemblies. For more information, please contact Beverly Adams, Legislative Services Office, 919.733.7044, or by email, beverlya@ncleg.net. You also can visit the Back to School Web site at www.ncsl.org/public/backsch.html.

School Transportation Questions Answered Online

With the new school year and new school bus assignments come questions from parents about how school transportation works in the Public Schools of North Carolina. A new Frequently Asked Questions page is now available online. From www.ncbussafety.org click on FAQ's under "Parents and Children" or go directly to the Web page at http://www.ncbussafety.org/FAQs.html.

USDA Grant Will Promote Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Public Schools

Thanks to a $1 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, students in the following 25 elementary schools will be able to participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program this school year: Bearfield Primary, Hertford County Schools; Mattamuskeet Elementary, Hyde County Schools; Supply Elementary, Brunswick County Schools; Graham A. Barden Elementary and Oaks Road Elementary, Craven County Schools; Edwin A. Alderman Elementary, New Hanover County Schools; Johnson Primary and Tarawa Terrace II Elementary, Camp Lejeune Dependents Schools; Rich Square-Creecy Elementary, Northampton County Schools; Edgewood Elementary, Whiteville City Schools; Boone Trail Elementary, Harnett County Schools; Candor Elementary, Montgomery County Schools; Long Branch Elementary, Public Schools of Robeson County; Cyrus P. Frazier Elementary, Guilford County Schools; Southmont Elementary, Randolph County Schools; Elizabeth Hanford-Dole Elementary and North Rowan Elementary, Rowan-Salisbury Schools; Aquadale Elementary, Stanly County Schools; Walter Bickett Elementary, Union County Schools; Sparta Elementary, Alleghany County Schools; Mountain View Elementary, Ashe County Schools; Newland Elementary, Avery County Schools; Hall Fletcher Elementary, Asheville City Schools; Smokey Mountain Elementary, Jackson County Schools; and Sunshine Elementary, Rutherford County Schools. The primary purpose of this program is to increase students' consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. For more information on this program, please contact the NCDPI's Child Nutrition Services at 919.807.3506.

NC DECA Shines at National Conference

North Carolina DECA (the official Career Technical Student Organization for students enrolled in Marketing Education) had an outstanding performance at the recent International Career Development Conference held in Orlando, Fla. DECA members from C. B. Aycock High School (Wayne County) and North Mecklenburg High School (Charlotte-Mecklenburg) were first place winners in the events of Learn and &Earn and International Business Plan Event respectively. North Carolina also had two second place winners, eleven top ten finishers, and the Quiz Bowl team finished in the top five in the nation. Sixty-three percent of their competitors were Gold Seal Award of Excellence recipients. Proving not only tops in the competitive arena, but in academics and community service, eight students were awarded scholarships to further their education and Hopewell High School (Charlotte Mecklenburg) was recognized as the top four fundraising school in the country for the Muscular Dystrophy Organization. The North Carolina Association of DECA was presented with a Membership Increase Award and the State Advisor for the organization, Pamela O'Brien, was bestowed the Outstanding Service Award for her visionary faith in DECA, understanding of their goals and untiring efforts on behalf of the youth in this "Association of Marketing Students."

Secondary and Elementary Administrators of Physical Education Summit: 21st Century Learning Skills

The 2007 Fall Physical Education Leadership Training will be held Sept. 20-22 at the Trinity Conference Center, Pine Knoll Shores. The conference will focus on the State Board of Education's mission to prepare all students to be successful in the work place or continuing education in the 21st century. Session topics include "Visionary Physical Education," "Why We Need Quality Physical Education," "Healthy Habits: Live Them to Teach Them," "Is Physical Education Ready for the Global Economy?" and "Accountability: What's Missing in Physical Education?" More information, including registration, is available online at https://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Register/IdentityConfirmation.aspx?e=547d9eae -9c09-4324-9f3e-371547e5eac7.

Elementary School Conference Scheduled for October

Registration is now being accepted for the Fourth Annual NC Elementary School Conference to be held Oct. 8-9 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel &Convention Center, Research Triangle Park. Information on conference topics, presenters, and registration can be found online at www.ncelementary.org. Registration is limited to 800 participants. Hotel rates are good until Sept. 10. For more information, please contact Michelle Palmer Weaver at michellepweaver@gmail.com.

Stock Market Game Workshops Offered

The North Carolina Council on Economic Education (NCCEE) is offering free two-hour workshops to teachers new to the Stock Market Game (SMG). The SMG is an online, interactive, real time stock market simulation that utilizes a true portfolio trading system. Students compete in teams against their peers across the state for portfolio growth. The program includes lesson plans that are correlated to standards in the areas of social studies, business, language arts, math, technology, family and consumer sciences and economics for grades 4-12. All workshops are conducted by teachers currently using the program as a supplement with their students. For more information on the SMG or to register for a workshop, please visit www.nccee.org and click on the Stock Market Game or call the NCCEE offices toll free at 866.606.2233.

Fire Prevention Materials on the Way to Elementary Schools

It's that time of year again - time for elementary schools statewide to receive their 2007 Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 7-13) materials. This year, materials will be packaged in groups of 25 and shipped directly to schools for distribution to third grade classrooms. If your elementary school principals fail to receive their materials by Oct. 10, they can order extra materials (first-come, first-serve basis only) by contacting Kristin Milam with the North Carolina Department of Insurance at 919.733.5238, or by email, kmilam@ncdoi.net.

Annual Litter Sweep Scheduled for Mid-September

The N.C. Department of Transportation is sponsoring its annual Litter Sweep cleanup Sept. 15-29... In support of this event, Gov. Mike Easley has proclaimed Sept. 15-29 as "Litter Sweep" in North Carolina and encourages all citizens to take an active role in making their communities cleaner and more beautiful. Educators may want to use this event to highlight the importance of recycling and environmental responsibility with students. For more information, please contact Helen Landi, Office of Beautification Programs, 919.715.3188.

LEARN NC Carolina Online Teacher Program

Teachers can earn their stripes as an online instructor through the Carolina Online Teacher program (COLT). Teachers prepared for the online classroom have a career advantage over those who aren't. In five core courses and two electives, totaling a minimum of 17 CEUs, teachers can master the component skills of online teaching: effective collaboration and facilitation, creating learning communities, navigating the virtual classroom, and developing student-centered instruction. For more information, visit www.learnnc.org/courses or contact Bill Ferris at bferris@learnnc.org.

North Carolina Museum of History Offers Elementary Schools Virtual Field Trips

The North Carolina Museum of History invites third-fifth grade elementary school students to take a virtual field trip to the North Carolina Museum of History via two-way videoconferencing. Interesting and interactive programs allow students to see, hear, and talk with an expert at the museum, examine reproduction artifacts, and participate in group activities. All classes meet specific goals of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study Curriculum, and are appropriate for grades 3-5. Pre- and post-program classroom activities are provided. The following one-hour virtual field trips for elementary schools are currently being offered: "American Indians in North Carolina;" "Behind the Scenes at the Museum: Who Works Here?" four different "History Mystery" classes; "Moccasins to Motorcars;" and Gallery Cart Classes, which explore actual exhibits at the museum. These materials and other information are available on the North Carolina Museum of History's Web site at www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/edu/outreach.html by clicking on "Virtual Field Trips." Connecting to the museum is easy, using the North Carolina Information Highway. For more information contact Jerry Taylor at jerry.taylor@ncmail.net or 919.807.7972. The museum's classes are free-of-charge.

Energize Your Classrooms With the Help of Progress Energy

This school year, Progress Energy will fund $50,000 in creative energy education projects in the North Carolina communities it serves. Funded projects will help students understand where the energy they use every day comes from - and how they can use it wisely. Educators can submit their project ideas through DonorsChoose.org to take advantage of this funding opportunity. For more details, please go online to http://www.donorschoose.org/docs/DonorsChoose-Energy-Flyer.pdf or email Energize@DonorsChoose.org.

Literacy Grant Opportunity

Dollar General is now accepting applications for its Youth Literacy Grant Program, which provides funding to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations to help with the implementation or expansion of literacy programs for new readers, below grade-level readers, and readers with learning disabilities. Applicants must be located in Dollar General's 35-state operating territory and within 20 miles of the nearest Dollar General Store. (A store locator is available on the Dollar General Web site.) The RFP is available online at http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/10008591/dollargeneral. The submission dates are Oct. 5, 2007 and Feb. 5, 2008.

Search Underway for Nation's Top Youth Volunteers

Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals is sponsoring its 13th 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 877.525.8491. This year, students can obtain an application online at www.prudential.com/spirit. 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. The middle and high school recipients for each state will be named in February 2008. State honorees will travel with a parent to Washington, D.C., May 3-6 for national recognition events. Ten national honorees will be named and among other things, will receive an additional $5,000 in awards.

 

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