TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2005

SEPTEMBER 22, 2005

It seemed that within hours of the news about Hurricane Katrina's devastation of the Gulf coast, schools across North Carolina began collection and charity efforts to help the people affected by the storm. Many of you were instrumental in organizing activities for your students to respond to the losses they saw on TV and on the Internet news sites. This helps students and all of us remember that one person really can make a significant difference. I have encouraged schools to set a goal of $1 per child so that North Carolina public schools can send "$1.4 million from our 1.4 million public school students." Thank you for all that you have done to make this a reality.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. NC NBC Candidate Resource Center
2. Mentors Needed for NC A&T State University Candidate Support Program
3. NBC Online Application Process Deadline Draws Near
4. Elementary Educators' Input Sought
5. Donors Choose Grant Supports Physical Activity Projects
6. NCACE Fall Conference Scheduled for October
7. World View Schedules Fall Symposium
8. Exceptional Children Conference Scheduled for November
9. Register Now to Participate in NC Stock Market Game
10. Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program
11. Search Underway for Nation's Top Youth Volunteers
12. Grant Opportunities

NC National Board Certification (NBC) Candidate Resource Center

Two new presentations are available for National Board Certification candidate support providers in the NC NBC Candidate Resource Center (www.ncpublicschools.org/nbpts/resource.html). The presentation, "Providing Ethical Support for National Board Certification," provides some guidance to National Board Certified teachers who are working with candidates. The presentation, "Myths and Misperceptions," highlights many of the myths about state funding and the portfolio that candidates prepare when pursuing certification. For more information, please contact Deanna Harris, Center for Recruitment and Retention, NCDPI, 919.807.3358, or by email, dharris@dpi.state.nc.us.

Mentors Needed for NC A&T State University Candidate Support Program

NC A&T State University is looking for mentors for National Board Certification support sessions. Mentors assist candidates by reading entries, addressing directions and standards, and watching candidates' videotapes. Mentors are paid a stipend. If you are interested in serving, please contact Patrice Faison at 336.334.7323 ext. 2288, or by email, pjfaison@ncat.edu by Nov. 1.

NBC Online Application Process Deadline Draws Near

North Carolina teachers planning to seek National Board Certification should complete the online application at www.nbpts.org and then complete the online application for NC funding. Guidelines for applying for National Board Certification in North Carolina can be accessed at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nbpts/apply.html. Beginning this year, initial NBC candidates will pay a $65 processing charge to NBPTS before they submit their application. NC pays the assessment fee of $2,300 for all candidates who meet the eligibility criteria. The NC funding application window for 2005-06 candidates pursuing National Board Certification ends Nov. 15.

Elementary Educators' Input Sought

The NCDPI's Elementary Division is considering a new NC Guide for the Elementary Years and is seeking feedback so that staff can better meet the needs of elementary educators across the state. We recognize that this is a busy time of year and would appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to help us with this important project by responding to six questions available through an online survey at http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB224HFWW8UMG. PLEASE RESPOND BY OCT. 7. For more information, please contact Amy Smith, Elementary Education Division, NCDPI, 919.807.3852, or by email, asmith@dpi.state.nc.us.

Donors Choose Grant Supports Physical Activity Projects

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation recently announced a $25,000 grant for physical activity projects in North Carolina to DonorsChooseSM (www.donorschoose.org), an online marketplace that allows individuals and businesses to support specific student projects proposed by teachers. North Carolina teachers are encouraged to propose projects that integrate physical activity with academics. For example, teachers can apply for funding for an Active Steps Youth Kit, (www.beactivenc.org) which uses pedometers to help students set physical activity goals while teaching them about geography, math, history and other subjects. Priority is given to such projects over funding playground and athletic equipment. The grant is expected to support over 80 projects. For more information, please contact Missy Sherburne, DonorsChooseNC, 252.984.4011, or by email, missy@donorschoose.org.

NCACE Fall Conference Scheduled for October

The NC Association of Compensatory Education (NCACE) Fall Conference, "Changing Lives for Changing Times," will be held Oct. 26-28, at the Greensboro Embassy Suites, Greensboro. Administrators, principals, assistant principals, teachers and others are invited to attend sessions on AYP, school improvement planning, public school choice, supplemental educational services, parent involvement, a USED update from Bill McGrady, and other topics. Registration is due Oct. 5 and hotel discounts are available through Oct. 4. A conference invitation, response form, overview and NAFEPA subscription form will be posted soon on the http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb/ and http://www.ncpublicschools.org/schoolimprovement/comped/ Web sites.

World View Schedules Fall Symposium

World View, an international program for educators, will offer its annual fall Symposium, "Global Science: What /Every/ Educator Needs to Know," on Oct. 24-25, at the Friday Center. The Symposium is co-sponsored by DESTINY, the Traveling Science Learning Program at UNC-Chapel Hill. This Symposium will explore science-related global issues and is designed for K-12 educators of all subject areas and grade levels. CEU credits will be offered. Participants may register online at http://www.unc.edu/world/regform.shtml. For more information, please contact Regina Higgins at 919.843.7793, or by email, regina_higgins@unc.edu.

Exceptional Children Conference Scheduled for November

The 55th Conference on Exceptional Children, "The Knowledge to Teach, the Passion to Care," will be held Nov. 7-9 at the Koury Convention Center, Greensboro. Registration information and conference details are available online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/ec/conference.

Register Now to Participate in NC Stock Market Game

The 20th Annual North Carolina Stock Market Game (SMG) is a unique statewide competition designed to provide the most realistic, educational and reliable stock market simulation available to both teachers and students. The game is sponsored by the North Carolina Council on Economic Education (NCCEE), which is a non-profit organization dedicated to the financial literacy of all students in NC. SMG is a valuable and motivating tool in teaching the fundamentals of investing, as well as learning about how our overall economy works. The SMG is offered to all students and teachers in grades 4-12 for a 10-week trading period during the fall and spring semesters. The fall session will run from Oct. 3-Dec. 9; and the deadline to register is Sept. 26. For more information, please log on to www.nccee.org and click on the Stock Market Game link.

Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program

The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program (JFMF) provides U.S. primary and secondary school teachers and administrators with the opportunity to participate in three-week study visits to Japan and to return home with a follow-on plan designed to introduce Japanese culture to American students. The JFMF Program features an orientation to Japan followed by visits to primary and secondary schools, teacher training colleges, cultural sites, and industrial facilities. Meetings with Japanese teachers and students and a home stay with a Japanese family also are key components of the program. The application deadline for the 2006 program is Dec. 10. For more information, please go online to http://www.iie.org/jfmf

Search Underway for Nation's Top Youth Volunteers

Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals is sponsoring its annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. This awards 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 888.450.9961. Students must submit completed applications to their principals by Oct. 31. Schools will then select the top recipients and submit those names for state-level judging. Middle and high school recipients for each state will be named in February 2006.

Grant Opportunities

"Grants for Implementing Service Learning Projects" - The State Farm Companies Foundation will fund 100 grants through Youth Service America for teachers, youth (ages 5-25), and school-based service-learning coordinators to implement service-learning projects for National & Global Youth Service Day, April 21-23, 2006. The maximum award is $1,000. The deadline to apply is Oct. 17. For more information, please go online to http://www.ysa.org/awards/award_grant.cfm

"Youth Garden Grants Program" - Home Depot will provide gift cards to 150 child-centered, outdoor garden programs that emphasize education, plant-to-food connections, environmental awareness, entrepreneurship, or social aspects of gardening. The maximum award is $500 gift cards for the purchase of gardening materials and supplies. Applicants must plan to garden in 2006 with at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18 years. The deadline to apply is Nov. 30. For more information, please go online to http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants.asp

"Outdoor Classroom Grant Program" - Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper and National Geographic Explorer! classroom magazine have partnered to create an outdoor classroom grant program to provide schools with additional resources to improve their science curricula by engaging students in hands-on experiences outside the traditional classroom. The maximum award is $20,000 (to districts or schools with major outdoor classroom projects) and $2,000 to individual schools. The application deadline varies. Additional information is available online at http://www.lowes.com/