PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2009
PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2009SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 - Principals' Biweekly Message
Last week, I joined Gov. Bev Perdue and other members of her cabinet at a news conference to call attention to the need for everyone to get the seasonal flu vaccine and to practice good hygiene and other preventive measures to slow the spread of the H1N1 flu virus. Citizens identified as priority, which includes all of our school-aged students, also are encouraged to take the H1N1 vaccine as soon as North Carolina begins to receive supplies of this new vaccine. Public health authorities say that the first shipments are slated to arrive in mid-to-late October and will continue in the subsequent weeks and months. School-based vaccination clinics are being planned in conjunction with local health departments since the school-age population is particularly vulnerable to this flu virus. Please work closely with your health department to plan for this. Remember that there are a number of H1N1 flu information resources available online from the front page of NCDPI's Web site. Just go to www.ncpublicschools.org and click on Emergency Communication Resources. These items are being continually updated with the latest guidance on the appropriate response to H1N1 and other preparedness issues. And remind students and faculty alike to wash their hands, practice good cough hygiene and to stay home when they are ill.
Regards,
June Atkinson
In this Biweekly Principals' Message:
America's Legislators Back to School Program
America's Legislators Back to School Program, sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures, will be held Sept. 21-25. Educators 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.
Apply Now to North Carolina Principal Fellows Program
Principals are asked to share the following information with teachers. The North Carolina Principal Fellows Program, a merit-based scholarship loan program funded by the North Carolina General Assembly, is accepting applications to its full-time, two- year Master of School Administration (MSA) degree programs. The program provides funding for two years of full-time study in the amount of $30,000 for first year and the equivalent of beginning assistant principal 10-month salary plus $4,100 in second year. Scholarship loan recipients agree to practice at an approved site in North Carolina as a full- time school-based administrator for four years or repay the loan. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15, 2010. For applicant criteria and an application, visit www.ncpfp.org . Questions may be directed to Caroline Green at cogreen@northcarolina.edu.
NBPTS Application Deadline Approaching
Principals are asked to share the following information with teachers. The deadline for requesting state funding for applications for National Board Certification is Oct. 31. In 2009-10, there is state funding for the National Board application fee. However, Per Senate Bill 202 Section 7.30(a), beginning in 2010-11, the application fee will no longer be paid by the State. Eligible candidates will be able to take out a loan for the funds through the State Education Assistance Authority. For more information on the National Board application process, visit www.ncpublicschools.org/recruitment/nationalboardcertification/
NC Outdoor Classroom
Symposium
North Carolina’sClassroom Symposium will be held Friday, Oct. 23, at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. This symposium is targeted for PreK-12 grade teachers, administrators, parent volunteers and others will focus on techniques for creating, maintaining and using outdoor classrooms and strategies for integrating outdoor learning into the classroom. Please visit www.eenorthcarolina.org/outdoor_classrooms_home.htm for full details including registration. The registration deadline is Oct. 14.
"Lights On Afterschool"
On Oct. 22, more than 7,500 communities and one million Americans will celebrate "Lights On Afterschool," a nationwide event organized by the Afterschool Alliance to rally support for afterschool programs. Community organizations and schools are invited to hold their own celebration, or participate in a local event, and help call attention to the benefits of afterschool programs. To sign up to host an event, locate an event in your area, or access event planning tools visit: http://afterschoolalliance.org/loa.cfm . A sample announcement along with other helpful tools are available online at http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AfterschoolAlliance/f3fc77908b/7522cf8782/ab62409678
If you'd like to review past Principals' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv
group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/principalsarchive/.