TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2007
TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2007NOVEMBER 8, 2007 - Teachers' Biweekly Message
American Education Week is being celebrated Nov. 11-17 this year with the theme of "Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Responsibility" to spotlight the importance of providing every child in America with a quality public education and the need for everyone to do his or her part in making public schools great. To celebrate this week, I am visiting schools in Johnston and Lee counties to participate in activities with students, parents and teachers. American Education Week offers an opportunity to recognize the contributions of public schools to our country's success and to encourage everyone to be involved in their future.
Regards,
June Atkinson
In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:
State Board Meeting Highlights
At last week's Board meeting, members approved replacing the current "Procedures Governing Programs and Services for Children with Disabilities" with "Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities" to meet federal requirements and recommended final cut scores for Algebra I, Geometry and English I end-of-course assessments. Board members discussed revising the National Board Certification Promissory Note, the NC Teacher of the Year Policy and the licensure policy to facilitate the licensing of administrators and instructional support personnel as teachers. Complete Board highlights are posted online at www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights.
MRSA Information
MRSA continues to be in the news, and it is important
that all of us have correct, adequate information about this infection. Here
are some key facts from our public health partners:
- Many people carry MRSA on their skin, and most will never get sick from it. Skin infections occur when the bacteria get in through small scrapes or cuts, sometimes too small to notice.
- The infected area usually begins with a red bump that resembles a pimple or insect bite. If untreated, the lesion may become hard and painful or may have drainage.
- MRSA is most often spread through direct physical contact with an infected person. Outbreaks of MRSA have occurred within households, on sports teams, in daycare centers, and in other settings where people have close contact or share equipment and personal items.
- The spread of MRSA is controlled with normal and consistent hygiene habits and cleaning procedures.
- MRSA cases are not required to be reported to public health authorities.
School Psychology Awareness Week
Nov. 12-16 has been designated School Psychology Awareness Week by the National Association of School Psychologists. According to the North Carolina School Psychology Association, there are an estimated 700 dedicated men and women employed as school psychologists in school districts across the state. School psychologists provide comprehensive psychological services, including consultations with parents and school personnel. They also develop intervention programs for individuals and groups, provide educational assessments, create meaningful programs, and conduct useful research that play an important role in the personal and academic development of our state's children.
Museum of History Offers Virtual Field Trips
Learn what goes on "Behind the Scenes" at the North Carolina Museum of History, or explore their "What We Wore" or "Rhythm and Roots of North Carolina Music" exhibits with a virtual field trip to the museum via two-way videoconferencing. These interesting and interactive programs allow students to experience history firsthand. Students will see, hear, and talk with an expert at the museum, examine reproduction artifacts, and participate in group activities. All classes meet specific goals of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and are appropriate for third through fifth grades. Materials and other information are available on the Web at www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/edu/outreach.html by clicking on virtual field trips. Other one-hour virtual field trips for elementary schools include: "American Indians in North Carolina;" four different "History Mystery" classes (Colonial Life, Health and Healing, Rural Home Life, and Tools and Gadgets); and "Moccasins to Motorcars." The North Carolina Information Highway makes connecting to the museum easy. For more information, please contact Jerry Taylor at jerry.taylor@ncmail.net or 919.807.7972. The museum's classes are free of charge.
North Carolina American Indian Heritage Month Celebration
The North Carolina American Indian Heritage Month Celebration will take place on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., at the NC Museum of History, Raleigh. Performances, crafts, games, demonstrations and foods will highlight the day's celebration. An event flyer is available online at www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/aihc07/index.html.
North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center
Awards
The North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology (SMT) Education Center is pleased to announce its inaugural SMT Awards. These awards recognize individuals and organizations whose extraordinary contributions to science, mathematics, and technology education in North Carolina are helping to advance the mission of the SMT Center. Recipients of the awards will be honored at the Celebration of Science, Mathematics, and Technology on April 19 at the Embassy Suites, Cary. Profiles of the individuals or organizations honored will be featured on the SMT Center Web site (www.ncsmt.org). The deadline for receipt of all materials is Dec. 3. To find out more about this new award's program, including the various awards and appropriate nomination forms, please go online to http://www.ncsmt.org/prog.awards.html or contact Lisa Rhodes, NC Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Center, 919.991.5111.
If you'd like to review past Teachers' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/teachersarchive/ .