TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2007

AUGUST 29, 2007 - Teachers' Biweekly Message

As you begin a new school year, I would encourage you to consider setting as one of your goals preparing students to know what to do when things go wrong. I am indebted to Rafe Esquith, a nationally acclaimed 5th grade teacher from Hobart Elementary School in Los Angeles, for that goal. When I heard him describe it, I thought it involved all of the things we should embrace as teachers: to teach young people how to think, to solve problems for themselves, to make the right choices, to be resilient in the face of disappointment, and to live meaningful lives. It is hard to test these things, or to always measure them, but at the end of the day, these are the things that matter throughout our students' lives.

On another note, this year's state budget moves us forward in providing all students with a better framework of support for their learning, from pre-K through college. With additional spaces for pre-kindergarten students in More at 4 programs, the expansion of Learn and Earn, the advent of Learn and Earn Online (www.ncpublicschools.org/learnandearnonline), the opportunities of the NC Virtual Public School, and the other efforts underway in various school districts across the state to improve high schools and expand college scholarships, students have more support for college than ever. College is in reach for any family in North Carolina, if their students meet the academic requirements. This is a cause for celebration and diligence to ensure that we help young people understand the opportunities awaiting them.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. Upcoming Performance Data Releases
3. Tobacco Free Schools
4. Gov. Easley Expands Water Restrictions for State Agencies
5. Additional Course Offerings through the NCVPS
6. Learn and Earn Online Reminder
7. LEARN NC Offers Teachers Professional Development Opportunity
8. Calling All Kindergarten Educators
9. Mathematics Conference is Oct. 11-12 in Greensboro
10. School Bus Safety Poster Contest Winners Announced

State Board Meeting Highlights

The State Board of Education met earlier this month and approved interim academic achievement cut scores for the NCEXTEND2 OCS assessments in English and mathematics effective with the 2006-07 school year, a request from several school systems for the flexible use of mentor funds, and proposed standards for the approval of pilot programs for the licensing of lateral entry teachers. Board members also discussed job descriptions and salary upgrades for occupational therapist assistants and physical therapist assistants and recognized seven teachers with 50 years of teaching service. Complete Board highlights are available online at www.ncpublicschools.org/sbe_meetings by clicking on the appropriate link.

Upcoming Performance Data Releases

It's that time of year when a variety of academic performance data releases are scheduled. Most school system administrators have released their district/schools preliminary AYP results. The NCDPI has posted local AYP Web sites at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb/abcayp/ayp in case you want to access your district/school scores and others across the state. The state and national ACT results for the graduating class of 2007 were released Aug. 15... Individual school scores are not available. To read the release, please go to the NCDPI Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org and click on the appropriate link under "News." The College Board will release 2007 SAT scores on Aug. 28. This release also will be posted on NCDPI's Web site under the "News" link. The 2007 ABCs/AYP results and graduation cohort rates will be presented to the State Board of Education on Sept. 6 at its regular meeting. This information will be available online that morning at http://abcs.ncpublicschools.org/abcs/.

Tobacco Free Schools

Session Law 2007-238: Tobacco Free Schools requires all local boards of education to adopt, implement, and enforce a written policy that prohibits use of all tobacco products by any person in public school buildings, on public school campuses, and in or on any other school property owned or operated by the district. The policy also prohibits use of all tobacco products by persons attending school-sponsored events at other locations when students or school personnel are present. The North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission has been directed to provide assistance to local boards of education in implementing this policy that must be in place no later than August 1, 2008.

Gov. Easley Expands Water Restrictions for State Agencies

Gov. Mike Easley has expanded his directive to state agencies to stop non-essential use of water to include 74 counties as the latest federal drought map shows the severe lack of rain has spread east as far as Interstate 95. Almost three-fourths of North Carolina, including the coastal plain and Piedmont, are in either severe or extreme drought. He also continued to call on citizens to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by at least 10 percent. State agencies that need guidance on water conservation measures should go to www.sustainablenc.org/.

Additional Course Offerings Through the NCVPS

Additional course offerings including AP, Honors English, French, and German from outside providers are now available through the NCVPS. Additional sections to courses offered by NCVPS also are being added daily. Please continue to check the course catalog and registration system for the latest information... For more information, please contact Jim Barber, Interim Director, NCVPS, at barberj@email.unc.edu.

Learn and Earn Online Reminder

The Learn and Earn Online Web site (www.ncpublicschools.org/learnandearnonline) provides the information that high school students and guidance counselors need in order to take advantage of this no-cost college opportunity for students. As high school students return for the 2007-08 school year, please encourage qualified students to consider taking a Learn and Earn Online course. Plenty of spaces are still available at both UNC-Gi and the participating community colleges.

LEARN NC Offers Teachers Professional Development Opportunity

Sorry for the late notice on this but wanted to pass along just in case you'd like to try and take advantage of this professional development opportunity. Teachers can explore the future of history with free online professional development classes from LEARN NC. "American Indians in North Carolina" and "African American History to 1950" are enrolling now, with courses beginning Aug. 27. Teachers will analyze primary sources through engaging activities and create lesson plans for their classroom, all with the flexibility of an online course. For more information, please visit www.learnnc.org/courses or contact Bill Ferris at bferris@learnnc.org.

Calling all Kindergarten Educators

NCDPI's Elementary Division/Primary Team is collaborating with the North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children Organization to offer a special track, "The Power of K," at their upcoming annual conference at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro on Saturday, Sept. 15. This day will be especially geared to kindergarten teachers, kindergarten assistants, curriculum supervisors, and others who work with some of our youngest students. Please encourage your kindergarten educators to attend this special session. You will find detailed information on the organization's Web site at www.ncaeyc.org. If you have additional questions, please contact Eva C. Phillips, NCDPI, 919.807.3850 or by email, ephillip@dpi.state.nc.us.

Mathematics Conference is Oct. 11-12 in Greensboro

The North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics will hold its 2007 State Conference on Thursday, Oct. 11, and Friday, Oct. 12, at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. This annual event is for educators in elementary-university instruction who want to advance teaching strategies through sessions and workshops taught by master teachers. Commercial exhibits will feature current mathematics education products. Pre-registration is $55 for NCCTM members, $65 for non-members and $5 for full-time students. Registration onsite is $75 for members, $85 for non-members and $5 for full-time students. The conference program and registration materials will be online approximately one month prior to the conference at www.ncctm.org. Contact Cyndy Davis at cdavis45@triad.rr.com for more information.

School Bus Safety Poster Contest Winners Announced

Congratulations to Parker Greene, a student at Cleveland Elementary (Rowan County); Estela Garcia, a student at Spring Creek Elementary (Wayne County Schools); Christopher Smith, a student at Eastern Wayne Middle (Wayne County Schools); and Zoe Silvey, a student at Ira B. Jones Elementary (Asheville City) for winning top honors in North Carolina's 2007 National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest, "Stop on Red, Kids Ahead." As first place winners, each received a $50 savings bond sponsored by the Governor's Highway Safety Program and had their posters featured, along with other category winners, on the School Bus Safety Web site at http://www.ncbussafety.org.

 

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