PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2008

APRIL 17, 2008 - Principals' Biweekly Message

I believe the new Executive Evaluation Instrument debuting statewide in 2008-09 offers North Carolina educators the chance to dramatically strengthen the performance reviews of principals and make the information you receive more meaningful. Please remember to register for this summer's training on the instruments. Regional trainings will be held June 23-24, June 25-26, July 7-8, July 9- 10, July 14-15, July 16-17, July 21-22, and July 23-24. If you haven't done so already, please register online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/profdev/conferences/executivetraining to attend these training sessions. Upon registering, you will receive an email confirmation indicating that your registration has been received. You will be registered for your first choice unless otherwise contacted by a member of the NCDPI's Office of Professional Development. Should you have any questions please contact the NCDPI's Office of Professional Development at 919.807.3312.

On a related note, the Teacher Working Conditions survey provides important information for the new evaluation instrument. I encourage you and your staff to go online and complete the survey so that your school's climate is well described and represented in the survey results. If you or your staff need a code to access the survey or have any questions, please contact the Teacher Working Conditions Help Desk toll free at 1.877.628.9208. The TWC Survey ends Monday, April 21, at midnight.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. Algebra I Resource
2. Cumberland County School Receives Inaugural Innovator Award
3. Lasers, Optics, and Fiber Optics Workshop
4. 2008 Holocaust Observance and Commemoration
5. 2008 NEA American Indian/Alaska Native Issues Conference
6. Math, the Arts, and M.I.
7. County Government Essay Contest for 10th Graders
8. H. Glenn Williams Power of One Awards
9. 2008 National High School Journalism Teacher Awards' Program

Algebra I Resource

Formative feedback can be a valuable tool for students to become better math problem solvers. Students with weak problem solving skills often have trouble with word problems, even if they know the procedures. A new, short document available on the NCDPI Test Development Web site provides an approach to use the sample Algebra 1 questions with a specific list of problem solving strategies. To access this resource, please go to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/testing/eoc/algebra1 then scroll down to "Using Algebra 1 Sample Questions to Improve Problem Solving Skills (Draft)."

Cumberland County School Receives Inaugural Innovator Award

Congratulations to Cross Creek Early College High who last week was presented with the inaugural Innovator Award by Governor Mike Easley. The school received the award in recognition of its success preparing all students for college, careers and life. The school, which is located on the campus of Fayetteville State University, was one of the first Learn and Earn high schools to open in North Carolina. Since it opened three years ago, Cross Creek has not had one student drop out of school. Its passing rate on state end-of-course exams was 77 percent last year, compared to a 60.8 percent rate in its school district. In particular, black male students at Cross Creek had an 83 percent passing rate, compared to a 44 percent passing rate for black males statewide. The school's students recorded an overall 2.6 GPA last year, topping the average for the freshman class at Fayetteville State University, its partner higher education institution. These results have come while nearly three-quarters of the school's students are disadvantaged, a proportion that exceeds the overall average in Cumberland County's schools. Most of the high school's 209 students are also the first in their families to attend college.

Lasers, Optics, and Fiber Optics Workshop

At the request of the NCDPI's Career and Technical Education Division, The National Center for Optics and Photonics Education (OP-TEC) and Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) are hosting a free workshop on Optics & Lasers for Secondary Education at the CCCC-Harnett County campus in Lillington on Wednesday, April 23, from 1-5 p.m. Optics and lasers/fiber-optics are rapidly transforming the way we work and live. They are the dominant science affecting changes in lighting, displays, entertainment, health care, building design/construction, interior decoration, environmental monitoring, and defense and homeland security. Optics, lasers and fiber-optics are also enabling the advancement of new and emerging technologies such as telecommunications, biomedicine and nanotechnology. It is important that optics and lasers are taught, with applications, to enhance science and technology education in secondary courses and programs, particularly in STEM initiatives. This workshop is specifically designed for local superintendents, principals, CTE directors to provide up to date information on this area and to discuss curriculum needs for implementation of programs. To register for this free valuable workshop you can either register online at www.op-tec.org/secondary.php or call 254.741.8338 ext 394.

2008 Holocaust Observance and Commemoration

The North Carolina Council on the Holocaust will present the 2008 Holocaust Observance and Commemoration on Sunday, May 4, beginning at 3 p.m., at Jones Auditorium on the campus of Meredith College, Raleigh. The keynote speaker will be a woman who was rescued by the British when she was a child. There will be an art exhibit by area high schools and a dramatic dance presentation by East Garner Middle School. There is no charge for the event. For more information, please contact Mike Abramson at mabramson@nc.rr.com.

Math, the Arts and M.I.

Registration is now open for the A+ Schools Program's 2008 "Best Practices" Conference, "Math, the Arts and M.I..," to be held Aug. 7-8 in Greensboro. Sponsored by the A+ Schools Program and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, this year's conference includes sessions on the role of the arts and Multiple Intelligences strategies in moving K-8 students to deeper understanding of math skills and concepts, and on exploring the integration of math with other "non-arts" areas of the curriculum. The Conference is open to all K-8 educators, administrators and teaching artists. For registration and conference information, please visit the A+ Schools Program Web site at http://aplus-schools.uncg.edu.

2008 NEA American Indian/Alaska Native Issues Conference

NCAE is hosting the 2008 NEA American Indian/Alaska Native Issues Conference on June 6-8 in Raleigh. Information about the conference, including hotel accommodations, is available on the NCAE Web site at http://www.ncae.org/structure/neaissuesconference08.pdf. The deadline for ALL registrations is Friday, May 23. For additional information, please contact Linda Powell at linda.powell@ncae.org.

County Government Essay Contest for 10th Graders

As part of its centennial celebration, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) is hosting an essay contest on county government for 10th grade students. The essay topic is, "How does my county government improve the lives of its citizens?" Essays will be limited to 500 words. The winning student and his/her teacher will each receive $500 and will be invited to the NCACC's Annual Conference in August to read the winning entry during a General Session on Friday, Aug. 22. More details, including a complete set of contest rules, is available online at http://www.welcometoyourcounty.org/content/2008_essay_contest.shtm. The entry deadline is May 9.

H. Glenn Williams Power of One Awards

Communities In Schools of North Carolina (CISNC) is taking nominations for the annual H. Glenn Williams Power of One Awards. The H. Glenn Williams Power of One Awards were created to honor individual volunteers, organizations, or corporations who have demonstrated considerable contributions of time and/or resources to educational efforts in North Carolina. The awards, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, will be presented at the 6th Annual NC Education Ball on June 7 at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh. The awards honor long-time CIS supporter, community volunteer, and business leader, H. Glenn Williams. Nomination forms are available online at www.ncedball.org or by contacting Kristin Hicks, khicks2@nc.rr.com or 919.846.3589. The nomination deadline is May 2.

2008 National High School Journalism Teacher Awards' Program

The Newspaper Fund, which was founded by editors of "The Wall Street Journal," is recognizing "dynamic newspaper, news magazine and news Web site teacher advisers whose students' work consistently shines with quality reporting and editing" with its 2008 National High School Journalism Teacher Awards. The winning teacher will receive a laptop computer and software and will be a featured speaker throughout the 2008-09 school year at newspaper industry and journalism education conferences. A student at the school of the national winner will receive a $1,000 college scholarship to study news-editorial journalism. Students of the four Distinguished Advisers also will receive $500 scholarships to study news-editorial journalism. Additional information, including the application, is available online at https://www.NewspaperFund.org by clicking on Teacher of the Year under the Programs link. Applications and supporting materials must be postmarked by July 1.

 

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