December, 2007

To know the version of your browser, click the 'Help' menu on your browser, then select 'About'.

Internet Explorer 7.0 Users Click here for video

Gobles MS/HS is a combined 7-12 building, and we have always maintained that MS and HS students cannot date one another.

My question is about legal resources with regards to age of consent: what does the law say about different ages dating, and what are the different categories and considerations when it comes to different-age romances. 

Also, does anybody have an effective policy on separating MS from HS? 

One of our members sent this to me (I hope there is no copyright):

THE TEACHING APPLICANT

After being interviewed by the school administration, the teaching prospect said, "Let me see if I've got this right: You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning. You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases,

I am looking for anyone who can share some information with me regarding expectations or requirements you have at your district with students taking online classes. Do you do credit/no credit only or is there a grade involved? Does it count towards weekly eligibility for athletes? Is there a penalty beyond loss of credit or poor grade if they fail the class since it is an extra out of pocket expense for the district?

Colleagues,

The Office of Professional Preparation Services requests that you review the newest proposed changes to the Entry Level Standards for Michigan Teachers (ELSMT) available at this url:

http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-6530_5683_6368-33926--,00.html

You will find that the proposed changes to the ELSMT include a name change, and a Profile of Knowledge and Skills that begins with preparation of teachers and has descriptive language that can be used across the teacher's career. Please use the response form to provide your comments.

On December 5 and 6, 2007 the Board of Directors met in Mt. Pleasant.  Following are highlights of what took place.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has formed a bipartisan workgroup to help develop strategies for improving Michigan’s high school graduation rates. The governor reached out to the members of the workgroup, which met for the first time this week, in her continuing effort to double the number of college graduates in Michigan.

Are any schools using an automated call system for student absences?  If so, can you provide some feedback?

Eligible municipalities or school districts could create their own educational promise zones under legislation that cleared the House on a 71-34 vote Thursday before the chamber adjourned for Sine Die and the end of the year.

I'm looking for a presenter to speak to my staff on mastery learning. If anyone is aware of a contact, please email me at rireo@bdalecards.org. Thanks!

Our middle school is looking at creating an athletic eligibility policy.  Currently we do not have any policy in effect.  We would like to emphasize positive behavior and effort in the classroom.  I am looking for any examples that middle schools are currently using.  Thanks!

Elementary teachers would have a more limited choice of courses and would face a longer test to be certified under a proposal Tuesday to the State Board of Education.

The proposal would represent the first time the state had set standards for education programs for teachers, as opposed to leaving those programs to universities, officials said.

December 5, 2007

Dear Friends,

The Education YES! school report card system was implemented shortly after the passage of No Child Left Behind to fulfill two purposes – school accreditation and adequate yearly progress (AYP) report requirements. Our state assessment system has undergone many changes in the intervening years, our state statutes have imposed some new accreditation requirements, and our school report card has become increasingly complex. I am writing to ask for your help to review and redesign the Education YES! system.

I bring to your attention a back-page feature commentary "Toward the 'Highly Qualified' Principal", which appears in Ed Week, December 12, 2007.

How do other schools handle off-site bullying on myspace accounts? If a student makes harassing comments about one student on myspace pages from a home computer, does the school have any jurisdiction or role in addressing the matter?

Your building is invited to apply for participation in the Reaching and Teaching Struggling Learners initiative with a team of six (6) or more members. This project combines the best lessons learned in the initial statewide 2006-07 Reach and Teach for Learning project, with the excitement and enthusiasm generated by the 2007 Michigan Summit for Model Schools, and the networking and experience of the International Center for Leadership in Education.

Click here for the Full Post and a Downloadable PDF
http://mymassp.com/rt