PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2007

OCTOBER 4, 2007 - Principals' Biweekly Message

When was the last time you sat down with a pencil and paper and composed a letter, or a report or anything more substantial than a grocery list? For most of us, pencil and paper writing is limited to simple lists and maybe forms, while more extensive writing now happens on the computer. For today's students, technology can be a motivator to practice writing. Recently, an English teacher in Caldwell County told me that by using blogs, instant messaging and other technology tools, he has been successful in getting his students to write - and to write with enthusiasm. I hope you will encourage such experimentation among your faculty. By allowing students to use the tools of their time, we make writing more relevant to them.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. 2007 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Announced
3. 2008 North Carolina Blue Ribbon Schools Nominations' Process
4. The 57th Conference on Exceptional Children
5. NCCAT's Ocracoke Campus Grand Opening Scheduled for Oct. 20
6. Fire Prevention Booklets for Third Grade Classrooms
7. National Schools of Character Awards Program

State Board Meeting Highlights

he State Board of Education met in Dare and Hyde counties this week, holding its formal meeting today at the new campus of the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching in Ocracoke. The Board toured First Flight elementary, middle and high schools in Dare County and also The Ocracoke School in Hyde County as part of their visit. The Ocracoke School is one of the few pre-K-12 schools in the state. This month, the Board approved school calendar waivers based on weather history, two new charter schools, changes to the 2006-07 ABCs/AYP results and the 2007 textbook adoption. Complete Board highlights will be posted online later next week.

2007 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Announced

Congratulations to Bee Log Elementary (Yancey County Schools), District No. 7 Elementary (Cumberland County Schools), Hendersonville Elementary (Henderson County Schools), South Charlotte Middle (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools), and Tryon Elementary (Polk County Schools) for recently being named 2007 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. Two representatives from each of these schools will be honored during a National Recognition Ceremony scheduled for Nov. 12-13 in Washington, DC, where they will receive a plaque and a flag signifying their No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School status.

2008 North Carolina Blue Ribbon Schools Nominations' Process

Recently, Department staff have received questions regarding the 2008 Blue Ribbon Schools nomination process. NCDPI staff is currently performing a statewide data analysis to determine which schools will be eligible to be nominated for this award. Through calculations, the U.S. Department of Education has determined that North Carolina can nominate only nine schools annually. Those nine schools must then complete an application process and pass the Blue Ribbon Schools Committee review. In late October, staff will then contact the top nine schools meeting the eligibility requirements. For more complete information regarding the criteria from which the determinations will be made, please go online to www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb and click on the 2008 Blue Ribbon Schools Criteria Brief link.

The 57th Conference on Exceptional Children

The 57th Conference on Exceptional Children will be held on November 12-14 at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel/Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. Superintendents, exceptional children administrators, principals, classroom teachers, parents, related service personnel and all others involved in the education of students with disabilities and/or academic gifts are welcome and encouraged to attend. Highlights of the conference are 110 informative instructional sessions, a dynamic plenary session and keynote presentation, poster displays on innovative programs, the annual Teachers of Excellence awards, post-conference institutes for administrators and related service personnel, and exhibits from vendors and non-profit organizations from throughout North Carolina and the nation. This conference, hosted by the Exceptional Children Division, is the largest and longest-running exceptional children conference sponsored by a state education agency in the country. For more information and online registration, please visit www.ncpublicschools.org/ec/conference.

NCCAT's Ocracoke Campus Grand Opening Scheduled for Oct. 20

Grand opening ceremonies for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) eastern campus on Ocracoke will take place Saturday, Oct. 20, at what was formerly the Coast Guard station. A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony with guest speakers will begin at 1 p.m. following the festivities, the U.S. Coast Guard Brass Quintet will perform in a special hour-long concert. After the concert, the NCCAT staff will conduct tours of the facilities and host a reception for the public. NCCAT, a center of the University of North Carolina system, provides professional development seminars in the arts, sciences, humanities, and technology for prekindergarten-12th-grade public school teachers. The seminars, usually five days in duration, are offered on a year-round basis at no cost to participating teachers. All seminars incorporate the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. For more information about the opening ceremony or NCCAT seminars, please go online to www.nccat.org or call 800.922.0482.

Fire Prevention Booklets for Third Grade Classrooms

If you are an elementary school principal, your school may have recently received (or will be receiving) fire prevention booklets for your third grade classrooms. These booklets are meant to teach third grade students about fire safety and prevention and lead them through a series of activities until they become a "Junior Fire Marshal." The Department of Insurance sends out fire prevention materials every year as a FREE service in order to comply with state education laws. If you have questions about these materials, or you need additional copies, please contact Kristin Milam with the Department of Insurance, 919.733.5238 or kmilam@ncdoi.net.

National Schools of Character Awards Program

oes your school have a comprehensive character education initiative? You can serve as a model for others and receive $20,000 to enhance your program and to help share your practices with other educators. Apply to be recognized as a National School or District of Character. Go to www.character.org/nsoc for details. The deadline to apply is Dec. 3.

 

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