September 2, 2011 |
Vol. 5, Issue 18 |
News Slices
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month With Student and Educator Contests
As part of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, 2011, Florida students in kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to participate in student contests centered around the theme, "Celebrating Hispanic Leaders in Business - Past, Present and Future." Students, parents, teachers and principals are also invited to nominate full-time Hispanic educators in elementary, middle and high schools for the Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award. All contest entries and nomination forms must be postmarked by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Sept. 23, 2011.
Student Contests
- Art Contest for Grades K-3
- Essay Contest for Grades 4-12
Excellence in Education Award
Students, parents, teachers and principals can nominate any Hispanic full-time educators at an elementary, middle or high school in Florida for the Excellence in Education Award. Three winners will be selected - one each from each level - and will receive a check for $1,500.For full information about the Hispanic Heritage Month student and teacher contests, including complete guidelines and entry forms, please visit http://www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com.
2011-2012 Florida KidCare Act Out for Health Contest
It's time for the 2011-2012 Florida KidCare Act Out for Health Contest! This year, the contest features lesson plans for teachers to help their students submit their entries in the essay, TV Public Service Announcement, and Billboard categories. The contest offers tons of prizes for students and schools. The Act Out for Health Contest kicked off Sept. 2, 2011, and runs through Jan. 6, 2012. For more information, visit http://www.actoutforhealth.org.
School Districts Participate in Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
The United States Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program provides funding to schools so they can offer a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to students three to five days per week outside the regular breakfast and lunch service. The program seeks to create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience, increasing children's fruit and vegetable consumption, and positively impacting children's present and future health by introducing healthy fruits and vegetables into their diet.
For the 2011-12 school year, 32 school districts received funding to introduce fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options. For further information and to view the list of schools and districts, visit http://www.fldoe.org/FNM/ffvp/.
Statewide K-12 Library Resources Now Available Online
Teachers, students and parents now have access to K-12 public school library holdings through http://k12.floridalibraries.org. Searches can be done at the school district or state levels and tailored by school, genre, format, topic and language. Citations in Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), and Chicago styles are available. For more information, contact Katrina Figgett in the Florida Department of Education's Office of Library Media at Katrina.figgett@fldoe.org.
Free Financial Aid Training Offered
The Florida Department of Education's Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) is offering the 2012-13 National Training for Counselors and Mentors (NT4CM) during the last three months of 2011. The NT4CM program provides free training and support for counselors and mentors who assist students and their families in preparing financially for college. Professional trainers will present up-to-date information on federal and state student aid programs, scholarship searches, avoiding financial aid fraud, and other relevant topics. For a complete list of workshop dates and locations or to register, visit https://ffelpreports.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/osfatraining/WorkShopRegister.aspx. For more information, contact an OSFA Outreach Team Member at http://www.navigatingyourfinancialfuture.org/ContactUs/School_Rep.aspx.
NBC News to Host Teacher Town Hall
A Teacher Town Hall hosted by NBC News will be held on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, and educators are invited to join in the conversation. The live event will be held at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City beginning at noon Eastern Time and broadcast on MSNBC. Simultaneously, EducationNation.com will host a live teachers-only chat titled, "Teachers' Lounge." The Teachers' Lounge will open for questions in early September so any teacher can join the live conversation. For more information or to register visit http://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=4A366CA0-C804-11E0-A1C9000C296BA163.
Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher Grants Available
Certified Florida K-12 teachers wishing to integrate agricultural concepts into non-agricultural curricula have until Oct. 1, 2011, to apply for a Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc. Teacher Grant. The program funds classroom projects that teach Florida students about the importance of agriculture and introduces them to agricultural producers and representatives in their area. For more information and to download an application packet, visit http://www.flagintheclassroom.com/grants.html.
Project WILD Emphasizes Conservation and Environmental Education
Educators of K-12 students looking to capitalize on children's natural interest in wildlife can take advantage of free Project WILD instructional materials. Project WILD educational materials, which are classroom tested and aligned with the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, are available at no charge for all educators who attend instructional 6-hour workshops offered by certified leaders and supported by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. For more information and a schedule of upcoming workshops, visit http://myfwc.com/education/educators/project-wild/.
Clorox "Power A Bright Future" Grants
Clorox is seeking nominations for a chance to win a $50,000 grand-prize grant or one of four $25,000 grants to help provide resources to school programs that give kids the opportunity to grow and transform. Send in a nomination by Oct. 17, 2011, and tell how your school would use the grant to make a difference. Voting begins Oct. 24, 2011, and the winners will be announced in January 2012. Visit http://www.clorox.com/classrooms/grants/ for more information and to nominate your school. Don't forget to vote!
Free Student-Focused Financial Education Program Available for Elementary Teachers
A free student financial literacy program from the Volunteer USA Foundation is available for a limited time this year for elementary teachers. What's on the Menu? Financial Education for Families focuses on assisting educators in teaching financial education skills through fundamental math skills and an interactive approach. The fun, menu-based training helps parents teach their children how math applies to everything from opening checking and savings accounts to calculating restaurant tips. In addition to a professional trainer to host a free family workshop, the program provides the participating teacher with detailed lesson plans, worksheets and materials focused on teaching students about banking, budgeting and saving. What's on the Menu? is available on a first-come, first-served basis to elementary schools; Title I schools are encouraged to apply early. To sign up, contact Teecy Matthews with the Volunteer USA Foundation at Teecy.Matthews@volunteerusafund.org. For more information about the program, visit http://www.volunteerusafoundation.org/.
Indian River State College Awarded National Science Foundation Grant The National Science Foundation has awarded Indian River State College (IRSC) a $70,000 Advanced Technical Education Grant to plan a Southeast Regional Center for Optics and Photonics Education and Training. Using the grant funding, IRSC will lead a six-state initiative to develop a comprehensive plan outlining the workforce needs of the photonics industry and develop training strategies that meet those needs. The Center will create a pipeline of highly-skilled employees qualified for photonics careers. For more information, contact Dr. Chrys Panayiotou at IRSC at cpanayio@irsc.edu or (772) 462-7621. Grant to Help Pensacola State College Assist Victims of Gulf Oil Spill Pensacola State College will use a $125,000 grant from the Fund for Gulf Communities - Florida to assist with tuition for Adult Education/GED and baccalaureate students. The Fund for Gulf Communities - Florida is a project of Catholic Charities funded through the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors to assist local residents who were affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Students impacted by the oil spill will receive priority. For more information, visit http://pensacolastate.edu/news/news.asp?ID=1480&newsType=article. Brevard County School Gets Donation to Support Technical Education Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School in Brevard County recently received a $10,000 donation from The Grainger Foundation to support the school's new Geospatial Information System (GIS) Program. The GIS program is a high-tech field of study that applies mapping techniques to solve problems and is applicable to hundreds of fields, including pest control, city planning and homeland security. Students completing three years of study are eligible for industry certification if they pass a project-based exit exam. Polk County Teacher Practiced Extreme Science at Magnetic Lab Leonda Narramore, a teacher at Lake Alfred Middle School in Polk County, spent six weeks of her summer digging into cutting-edge science at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee. She was one of 15 teachers selected nationwide to explore materials and phenomena at extreme magnetic fields, pressures and temperatures while working alongside some of the world's most renowned scientists, magnet designers, and engineers. |
| Branching Out |
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Florida Reading Association Annual Conference Sept. 8 - 11, 2011 Shingle Creek Resort Orlando, Fla. The Florida Reading Association Conference on Sept. 8 - 11, 2011, is an opportunity for educators to build potential partnerships that help expand their educational and professional network. In addition, the conference features pre-conference institutes as well as a host of speakers and authors. Registration is now open at http://www.flreads.org/. Florida Association for Staff Development Leadership Conference Sept. 19 - 21, 2011 Tradewinds Resort St. Petersburg Beach, Fla. The Florida Association for Staff Development (FASD) Leadership Conference will provide attendees with a full-day general session with nationally-known speaker Marcia Tate, and a variety of break-out sessions on current topics in education. For more information or to register, visit http://www.fasdonline.org. Florida Distance Learning Association Annual Conference Sept. 23 - 24, 2011 Nova Southeastern University Orlando Campus Orlando, Fla. The Florida Distance Learning Association will host its annual conference at the Orlando campus of Nova Southeastern University Sept. 23 - 24, 2011, with the theme "Distance Learning: Best Practices and Beyond." The conference seeks to raise awareness of the best practices in distance learning, promote greater participation in dialogue and exchange, and strengthen distance education in the state and nation. For more information or to register, visit http://www.fdla.com or contact Conference Program Coordinator Tara Kobel at tleconsultants@aol.com. National Career Pathways Network Annual Conference Oct. 12 - 14, 2011 Orlando Marriott World Center Orlando, Fla. The National Career Pathways Network conference provides opportunities for administrators, teachers, counselors and business partners to learn and network with the goal of creating and sustaining partnerships to reduce dropouts, increase transitions to college, and create high-wage, high-tech careers. For more information about the conference, visit https://www.ncpn.info/2011-ncpn-conf.php. Florida Dance Education Organization Annual Conference Oct. 27 - 29, 2011 New World School of the Arts Miami, Fla. The Florida Dance Education Organization will hold its 10th Annual Conference Oct. 27 - 29, 2011, in Miami, Fla. with the theme "Dance Education: Legacy and Literacy." Florida-based dance authors, the American Dance Legacy Institute and other dance educators, administrators, and teaching artists will present aspects of dance literacy and legacy. In addition, Bill Evans, internationally renowned choreographer, performer, teacher, author and movement analyst is the keynote presenter. For more information, visit http://www.fdeo.org. Florida Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference Nov. 1 - 5, 2011 Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate ChampionsGate, Fla. Join with school professionals from around the state at the Florida Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference Nov. 1 - 5, 2011, in ChampionsGate, Fla. The conference features multiple sessions on current topics of professional interest including autism, bullying, prevention and intervention, working with memory deficits and more. Also, keynote addresses will be delivered by Department of Education Chief of the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services and President of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education Bambi Lockman, LL.D., and President, National Association of School Psychologists Phil Lazarus, Ph.D. For more information or to register, visit http://www.fasp.org/Conferences/Annual_Conference.html. Florida School Counselor Association 2011 Convention Nov. 3 - 5, 2011 Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The Florida School Counselor Association will host the most focused program in school counseling in Florida at the 2011 Convention Nov. 3 - 5, 2011, in Ft. Lauderdale. The most relevant and up-to-the minute topics will be explored by leading industry advocates, state officials, counselor educators and professional school counselors. For more information, visit http://www.fla-schoolcounselor.org/convention2011/. 2011 Learn Green: A Green Schools Conference and Expo Nov. 11, 2011 Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts West Palm Beach, Fla. Teachers, administrators, students, community members and anyone interested in learning how to make schools "greener" are invited to attend the 2011 Learn Green: A Green Schools Conference and Expo on Nov. 11, 2011, at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Fla. Sponsored by the Pine Jog Environmental Education Center at Florida Atlantic University and the School District of Palm Beach County, the exciting one-day conference provides a forum to share innovative and effective "green school" practices, facilitate professional development and encourage cooperative initiatives through a variety of sessions and exhibits. For more information visit http://www.ourgreenschools.com/learngreenconference or contact Natalia Arenas with Palm Beach County Schools at (561) 357-7662 or arenasm@palmbeach.k12.fl.us. |
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