December 5, 2011 DirectLine

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December 5, 2011 DirectLine

CONTESTS
Out-of-this-world science contest, literally Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut and perform experiments on the International Space Station? Well, now you and your students can! Lenovo is sponsoring a contest that asks participants to come up with a science experiment and upload the idea to YouTube. If the idea wins, it will be performed and streamed live on YouTube. Other prizes will be given, too. Participants must be 14-18 years old and enter by Dec. 14. More information can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/spacelab. 2011-2012 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Art and Writing Contest Attention teachers: CMS students have the opportunity to participate in the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Art and Writing Contest and the citywide celebration honoring the life and work of Dr. King. In keeping with our district Common Core State Standards writing focus on argumentation, the committee has chosen, Defending the Dream as this years theme. This theme allows students to incorporate a wide range of skills as they work to creatively express their understanding of Dr. Kings life, work, and dream. They also have the chance to investigate the relativity of the dream as our world continues to face challenge and change. If you have questions, contact Tanji Reed Marshall at (980) 343-0657. CMS Energy Poster Contest The CMS Energy Department invites teachers to have CMS students showcase their artistic talent and commitment to environmental stewardship by participating in the CMS Energy Poster Contest. This contest will help CMS improve its Energy Stewardship by involving Students in Energy Conservation Awareness. Click here for more information.

COMMUNITY NEWS
Like free food? Here's a quick easy way to get some from Earth Fare! Just sign up on their website for their once-aweek freebie coupon and get a coupon that day for a free chicken. www.EarthFare.com/welcome home. Funding for CMS teachers through DonorsChoose.org ASC is partnering with DonorsChoose.org to support projects in CMS with a $25,000 matching grant for arts, science and history projects posted by CMS teachers. Matching gifts will be available for projects beginning Jan. 5.

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Backcountry Christmas Celebration On Saturday, Dec. 10, the President James K. Polk State Historic Site presents a Backcountry Christmas Celebration. This living history event will show visitors how the Christmas holiday was celebrated in Mecklenburg County in the year 1801. Each building will be decorated in 19th century style and costumed interpreters will take visitors back in time to see a Christmas celebration of 1800! There will also be a craft area for children. The free event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information click here or call (704) 889-7145 Mummies are at Discovery Place; special pricing is available Mummies of the World, the largest collection of mummies and related artifacts ever assembled, is now on exhibition at Discovery Place through April 8, 2012. Featuring a never-before-seen collection of mummies from around the globe, students experience mummies from Asia, South America, Oceania as well as Ancient Egypt and learn that mummification occurs both intentionally and by natural processes. Using modern scientific techniques, including radiocarbon dating and computer tomography, scientists have studied these mummies to learn about health, disease, culture and technology. Tickets to Mummies of the World are available to CMS classes for $12 per ticket a 50 percent discount from the general admission price. Call (704) 372-6261, ext. 300 to book now. There is curriculum available that aligns with National Education Standards in history and science. Education materials are available for download. Park and Recreations issues latest guide The winter 2012 Park and Rec Get Going Guide is out. The guide was posted yesterday and includes programming for December through February. This issue marks the first time that we are using a flip book format to display content.

DISTRICT NEWS
Principal Talent Pool application period The application period for the principal talent pool will be open through Dec. 7. This application period will only be for candidates who are interested in becoming principals. The principal talent pool consists of potential candidates for principal positions who have gone through a rigorous screening and selection process. To be eligible for principal positions, you must either currently be a principal or be in the principal talent pool. Superintendent online survey results Listed below are some results of the CMS Superintndent Online Survey. For complete results, click on the box.

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Update on Renewal Credits for a Standard Professional 2 License Community meetings set for CMS superintendent search CMS will begin the second phase of its superintendent search process with a series of community meetings. The district will hold six meetings Dec. 5 8 and community members will have an opportunity to discuss criteria for the new leader through structured, small-group discussions. Field to Fork Program accepting applications The Field to Fork Program is a 6-month partnership(January-June) with CMS elementary classes to address childhood obesity through hands-on learning of gardening, nutrition and healthy eating. This year, 14 schools will be selected to participate in the learning, teamwork, gardening and eating pizza at Fuel PizzaCaf! Applications can be submitted through 5 p.m. on Dec. 7. A completed application includes: a complete survey application, emailed pictures of current garden or potential garden space, and a letter of support from your principal. Selected schools will be notified the first week of January. Find the program application, further details about the program and eligibility here. Contact 2012 program coordinator Katie Cooper if you have any questions. EC Newsletter Inclusive Practices Week is celebrated annually the first of December, by families, schools and organizations around the world. See this weeks EC Newsletter for more information. Inclusive Practices Week is celebrated annually the first week in December, by families, schools and organizations around the world. During the month of December, CMS plans to highlight and celebrate the progress our district has made towards implementing inclusive practices to ensure a quality education for our increasingly diverse population. This years theme, Awareness to Action: Moving Forward, provides an opportunity and context for educators, students, and parents to discuss how our district has advanced thus far.

GRANTS
Get information on available grants Click here for the latest Grant Alerts December 2011. Your school's grant contact also receives this publication. Ten questions to ask yourself before you write a grant

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Professional development in CMS Did you know CMS is working hard to align the professional development being offered in the district to the NC Professional Teaching Standards so teachers have the support they need? Teams of CMS employees worked to prioritize the most needed professional development in the district based on the NC Teacher Evaluation Rubric and the NC Professional Teaching Standards. Check out the alignment document that can be found on the Professional Development Intranet page. You can now search MyPD according to the NC Professional Teaching Standards to find all courses (including content specific courses) aligned with a particular standard. Teacher PD welcomes your thoughts. If there is professional development that would benefit preK-12 staff and is needed based on the NC Professional Teaching Standards, email it to teacherpd@cms.k12.nc.us. Get in the spotlight on Atomic Learning Instructional Technology is focused on 21st century skills to improve teaching and learning. Atomic Learning has on-demand resources for CMS staff in the form of short web-based tutorials. Their newest addition is an area

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titled Spotlights. Spotlights allow teachers the opportunity to quickly build understanding of a topic, practice through projects, and integrate concepts and practices in the classroom, and reflect on how the concept impacts student achievement. Check out the Engaging Students with Interactive Whiteboards Spotlight on Atomic Learning. For more information visit the Atomic Learning wiki.

CMS SHINES
CMS shines thanks to stars like Terry Gates. Gates, the head custodian at Crestdale Middle, was working at Butler High when he saw EC teacher Lana Tannenbaum choking. Click here for the rest of Gates' heroic story

Worms, straws and more: The science of teaching Sally Edwards has been a CMS teacher for 32 years, Becky Worlds a CMS teacher for 23 years. Now theyre on a missionto strengthen the teaching of science. Stepping into 21st century learning EnergyUnited representatives made a surprise visit to Hornets Nest Elementary on November 23 where they presented a check to Jolandra White, the schools media specialist, for her project, Stepping into 21st Century Learning. Her students clapped and cheered when she said she would use the funds to purchase iPads. A bird's eye view into the world of school psychologists Life for a kid can be tough. They meet new challenges day in and day out. Sometimes they struggle with their emotions. More often they deal with the pressures of living in a fast-paced society. CMS psychologists understand.

AWARDS
U.S. Dept. of State: Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching The Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching program sends highly accomplished primary and secondary teachers from the U.S. abroad and brings international teachers to the U.S for a three to six month long program. Participating countries in 2012-2013 are: Argentina, Finland, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Maximum award: Program costs such as tuition, room and board, and transportation are covered by the grant; participants will receive a maintenance allowance designed to assist with the costs of food and lodging during the program. Distinguished Teachers will also have the opportunity to apply for professional development funds to support development and research, or cover the expenses of attending a conference or workshop related to their fields of teaching expertise. Eligibility (for U.S. applicants): U.S. citizens who are employed full-time at an accredited school in the U.S. or its territories, hold a Master's degree (or be enrolled in a Master's program at the time the grant begins), and are in at least the fifth year of full-time teaching. Deadline: Dec. 15. 2012 College Board Inspiration Awards The College Board Inspiration Awards celebrate the extraordinary commitment of educators and communities to their students' futures. Despite sometimes overwhelming odds, these outstanding schools are taking remarkable steps to give their students the bright futures they deserve. The College Board is looking for three secondary schools that have shown the most improvement in spite of facing economic, social and cultural barriers. The winning schools will receive a $25,000 grant at the Annual College Board Forum next October in Miami. Five schools

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will also receive $1,000 honorable mention awards. Deadline: 5 p.m. on Dec. 9. Apply for the NEH 2012 Summer Institute for School Teachers Toshiba/NSTA: ExploraVision Awards All inventions and innovations result from creative thinking and problem solving. The Toshiba/National Science Teachers Association ExploraVision Awards Program encourages kids to create and explore a vision of future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science. Maximum award: $10,000. Eligibility: students K-12. Deadline: Feb. 1.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | P.O. Box 30035, Charlotte, NC 28230 Reach further. Global competitiveness starts here.

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