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Seeds of Success:
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| Rutherford Student Government Association Receives Medallion Award |
| Okaloosa County Teacher Named Science Teacher of the Year |
| Choctawhatchee High School Student Wins ADDY Award |
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March 28, 2008 |
Vol. 2, Issue 7 |
News Slices
Governor Crist Announces Sunshine Week Essay Contest
Winners
Governor Charlie Crist recently announced the winners
of the 2008 Sunshine Week Essay Contest. Florida high school students
had the opportunity to submit essays relating to open government. Sunshine
Week celebrated the State of Florida’s dedication to making state
and local government more accessible to the public.
The student essays answered the question, “What role does open government play within a democratic society and a democratic government?” The first place winner received a $5,000 scholarship, the second place winner received a $2,500 scholarship, and third place received a $1,500 scholarship. The winners are:
First Place: Jordan Loar, Fort Walton Beach High School,
12th Grade
Second Place: Nathaniel Fritz, Western High School (Davie), 11th Grade
Third Place: Ryan Menard, H. B. Plant High School (Tampa), 9th Grade
For more information on Open Government, visit
www.flgov.com/og_home.
Florida Virtual School Launches New and Improved
AP Reviews
Students throughout Florida planning to take AP
Exams can prepare using an online AP Review. The Web-based tool features
multiple choice assessments in a self-paced, interactive environment.
The AP Reviews will arm students with resources and practice tests developed
from previously released AP examinations and materials licensed by the
College Board. The test reviews are offered free of charge to all students
and are available for the following courses: AP Art History, AP Biology;
AP Calculus AB; AP English Language (new tutorial); AP English Literature;
AP Government and Politics; AP Macroeconomics; AP Spanish (new tutorial);
AP U.S History; and AP European History. Students currently enrolled in
Florida Virtual School (FLVS) AP courses are pre-registered for the AP
Review that corresponds with their AP course; a link to the review is
embedded in their course content. Students not currently enrolled in FLVS
courses can register for the AP Reviews by going to http://aptestreview.flvs.net.
Oceanography Camp Promotes Science Careers for Girls
The University of South Florida Oceanography Camp for Girls program provides girls a chance to see what oceanography and other geosciences have to offer by engaging them in real life marine science activities. Organized by the USF College of Marine Science, the three-week camp begins June 23 and runs through July 11. Participants will be treated to hands-on experiences as they accompany ocean scientists on field trips to ocean settings, take part in conservation activities and set sail on three-day research cruises.
The camp is free and open to any Pinellas County
girl who is going from eighth to ninth grade.
Deadline for applications is March 30. For more information or to apply
for the camp, go to www.marine.usf.edu/girlscamp, or call (727) 553-3921.
Governor Crist Announces Task Force on Autism Spectrum
Disorders
Governor Charlie Crist recently announced the creation
of the Task Force on Autism Spectrum Disorders to address the growing
health crisis that autism represents through coordinating efforts and
setting a proactive agenda. The task force, comprised of leaders in autism
advocacy and treatment, health care practitioners, and family members
of persons with autism, will submit a final report to the Governor by
March 20, 2009.
Florida Department of Education Chief of the Bureau of Exceptional Education Bambi J. Lockman was appointed to the task force for a term beginning March 7, 2008.
Five Florida Community Colleges Named to President’s
Honor Roll
President George W. Bush recently named five Florida
community colleges to the 2007 Higher Education Community Service Honor
Roll. These institutions were selected based on community service activities
conducted during the 2006-2007 academic year. The following community
colleges received honors:
Brevard Community College - Honor Roll with Distinction
Florida Community College at Jacksonville
Gulf Coast Community College
Hillsborough Community College
Miami Dade College
The President's Honor Roll sponsors include the Corporation for National and Community Service's Learn and Serve America program, U.S. Department of Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development, USA Freedom Corps, Campus Compact and the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. To view the entire list of honorees, visit www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll.
Seeds of Success
|
Rutherford Student Government Association
Receives Medallion Award Okaloosa County Teacher Named Science Teacher
of the Year Choctawhatchee High School Student Wins ADDY
Award |
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Branching Out The Florida Department of Education and its Florida Learn & Serve program is recognizing and celebrating Service-Learning Month this April. The “Raising Your Voice for Service Learning” Conference will be held in Tallahassee April 21-22, 2008, at the Florida Museum of History (R.A. Gray Building – Auditorium). The conference will provide training for teachers, students, partners, and community organizations engaged in service learning. Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities. Training will focus on communication and presentation skills, and working with the media, public and elected officials to increase awareness of service-learning projects conducted by students to meet identified community needs. The conference is an opportunity for students, teachers, and others to showcase their service-learning projects and experiences, to gain additional training, and to share the impacts of service learning. The conference will also be a valuable experience for other program planners, teachers, administrators, state-level leaders, and business partners to learn more about service learning. If your school, district, or organization participates in or implements service learning, contact Mary Matthews at Florida Learn & Serve at (850) 488-2687 or mmatthews@admin.fsu.edu for more information about the conference or to display a service-learning project. To register for the conference visit www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5hEdfSrnG46sKj6Wv_2b8_2fKA_3d_3d. Whether you attend the above conference or
not, April is a great time to promote and highlight service-learning
activities in your district, school or organization. Florida's 3rd
Annual Bullying Prevention Conference Florida's 3rd Annual Bullying Prevention Conference, sponsored by the Florida Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, will be held April 24-25, 2008, at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, to raise awareness and provide prevention information and tools about bullying. Prevention specialists, school guidance counselors, teachers, principals, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Coordinators, school health educators, school psychologists/social workers, School Resource Officers (SROs)/law enforcement, staff development directors, etc., are encouraged to attend. To register, please visit https://www.aceofflorida.org/Register/Register01.cfm?lngEventDateID=238&lngEvent=132. |
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Advanced Placement Summer Institute for Administrators The Advanced Placement (AP) Summer Institute for Administrators will take place at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort on June 25-27, 2008. Teachers, principals and district personnel are invited to participate to discuss a variety of topics about AP programs. This year's institute will focus on building equity in AP programs, teaching strategies and the relationship of the course to the AP Exam. For more information, please e-mail sro@collegeboard.org. |
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7th Annual Just Read, Florida! K-12 Leadership Conference The Just Read, Florida! office is pleased to announce the 7th Annual Just Read, Florida! K-12 Leadership Conference to be held June 29 - July 2, 2008 at the Orlando World Center Marriott. This year's Leadership Conference will also combine forces with the Division of Public Schools, Office of Mathematics and Science to present a strand of curriculum sessions focusing on innovative best practices for K-12 curriculum and implementation of the new standards (in lieu of the annual fall K-12 Conference). This year's conference is expected to be the largest ever with an audience of more than 5,000 educators. Registration and additional information on the conference is available at www.justreadflorida.com/conference/. |
For more information on this electronic newsletter, please e-mail thecore@fldoe.org.