PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2009

MAY 21, 2009 - Principals' Biweekly Message

I know that this time of year is incredibly busy for you and your students. Not only are your students preparing for end-of-year testing, but you and your faculty are preparing to close out the year, to celebrate with your graduates and to welcome next fall's new students. Although there are many difficult financial issues for our state and nation right now, I hope that these issues can be put aside for a short time in order to celebrate our students' successes. I know that thanks to your leadership and your faculty's dedication, there are many, many student successes in our state. Thank you for all that you do to ensure all students achieve and that they excel in school and life.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. North Carolina Graduation Project Survey
2. NCDPI Encourages Students to "Find-A-Book" This Summer
3. National Honor Society for Elementary School Students
4. Presidential Scholars Named
5. Students Recognized for Community Service
6. Summer Professional Development Opportunities
7. Global Education Symposium
8. High School Student Essay Competition

North Carolina Graduation Project Survey

Earlier this spring, the State Board of Education approved a one-year delay to the North Carolina Graduation Project requirement for high school students, making the Project a graduation requirement for students who first entered ninth grade in 2007-08 (Class of 2011). In that light, the NC Department of Public Instruction has designed a survey to give you an opportunity to provide input about the N.C. Graduation Project. The survey, which should only take a few minutes to complete and is available online at www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB2297J59UWDY , must be completed by June 1.

NCDPI Encourages Students to "Find-A-Book" This Summer

The NCDPI is partnering with public libraries and parent organizations in an exciting new effort to encourage students to use their Lexile scores to boost their reading skills over the summer. In the coming weeks, public libraries, parent groups and school districts will receive important information from the NCDPI about the Find-a-Book Web site (www.lexile.com/findabook), an easy-to-use, free online tool that allows students to use Lexile scores to find books on their reading level that also match their interests. Students in grades 3-8, as well as high school students taking the English I assessment, will receive a Lexile reading score with their end-of-year test results. Principals can help the NCDPI promote summer reading by asking teachers to explain to students what their Lexile score means and to share information about the Find-A-Book Web site with their classes before the end of the school year. Principals also will receive more information about the Find-a-Book site that can be distributed to students and parents. For more information about the department's summer reading campaign, contact Sara Clark in the NCDPI Communications division at 919.807.3458 or sclark@dpi.state.nc.us.

National Honor Society for Elementary School Students

In 2008, the National Association of Secondary School Principals launched the National Elementary Honor Society to offer students in grades 4-6 an opportunity to be recognized for their scholarship, leadership, service, character and citizenship. For more information on how your elementary school can participate in this recognition program, please go online to www.nehs.org/newchapter . Applications must be received by June 30 to take advantage of a special registration offer.

Presidential Scholars Named

Three North Carolina students were recently named 2009 Presidential Scholars. The program was originally established to honor academic achievement by graduating high school seniors but was later expanded to honor students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the arts. Receiving the award for North Carolina are: Bo-Tsuong Xiang, Myers Park High (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools), Elizabeth Rodenbough, Grimsley High (Guilford County Schools) and Patrick Short, Sanderson High (Wake County Schools). Scholars receive an all expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June to attend recognition events as well as receive their Presidential Scholars medallion in commemoration of their achievements. In addition, each scholar will invite the teacher who had the greatest impact on his or her success to participate in the activities and receive a certificate of appreciation

Students Recognized for Community Service

Congratulations to the following students for receiving the 2009 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards' State Award: Austin Shaw, Wake Forest-Rolesville High (Wake County Schools) and Sydney Pfaff, Morehead City Middle (Carteret County Schools). Each received a $1,000 award, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to attend national recognition events. The following students were named Distinguished Finalists and received an engraved bronze medallion: Hannah Heidenreich, South Mecklenburg High (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools); Mason Park, West Millbrook Middle (Wake County Schools); Tyler Strasser, Mount Holly Middle (Gaston County Schools); and David Taylor, West Carteret High (Carteret County Schools). The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States' largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. The program was created in 1995 by Prudential in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to honor middle level and high school students for outstanding service to others at the local, state, and national level.

Summer Professional Development Opportunities

Summer is the best time to catch up on professional development and online PD is the best kind to fit into your summer schedule. United Star Distance Learning Consortium (USDLC), a long-time partner of the NCDPI in distance learning, is showing its support for NC educators by making its library of online, video-based courses (many filmed in NC classrooms) available at no cost through Sept. 1. Learn all the details at www.ncpublicschools.org/distancelearning/professional/usdlc.html or contact Sandy LaPlante at info@usdlc.org or 888.828.7352.

Global Education Symposium

World View's 12th Annual Global Education Symposium on "21st Century Skills for the Global Economy" will be held Oct. 14-15 at the Friday Center, Chapel Hill. Symposium details and registration are available online at www.unc.edu/world/2009K12Symposium.htm .

High School Student Essay Competition

The First Freedom Student Competition is a national essay contest offering high school students an opportunity to compete for a $3,000, $1,500 and $750 award, as they examine religious freedom, its history, current importance and relevance in today's world. Competition details including submission guidelines, student flyer and classroom poster can be found online at www.firstfreedom.org (click on the red button under First Freedom Center News). The competition is open to all high school students. The online student registration deadline is Monday, Nov. 23. The postmark deadline for mailing the essay and its accompanying materials is Saturday, Nov. 28. Winners will be announced on April 13, 2010.

 

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