April, 2008

The powerpoint and supplemental materials for the 4-29-08 webinar are attached below:

PC Powerpoint
Agribusiness system career pathway sample
Early College Credit
School District Early College Credit
General Directions for Attending a PictureTalk Meeting
PictureTalk Navagation Slides

I've been in the principalship eight years now. I sent my first four years working in a very small district. In my last year there the board of education was clearly running the superintendent out. I made a choice to continue to work for the superintendent and not individual board members. That choice certainly did not endear me to the board. So, when the superintendent left I chose to leave also.

We have a student who, as a kindergartner, was hit by one of our school buses and killed.  2008 was her graduating date and we are honoring her during the ceremony.  We have an empty chair for her in the row and we are presenting the family with an honorary diploma.  Also, her picture will be part of our slide show before graduation begins.

What I am looking for is any protocal or procedures anyone has used for such presentations in the past.

It's the perfect time to go green.

This spring, Apple will recycle your school's old, unwanted Mac computers, PCs, and qualifying peripherals from any manufacturer - for free. There's no purchase required, and all accredited K-12 and higher education institutions with at least 25* pieces to be recycled are eligible to participate. Just register in time, follow the steps, and Apple will do the rest.

April 25, 2008

The National Science Board reports that jobs in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields are outpacing overall job growth three to one. Yet according to a recent Government Accountability Office report, the number of U.S. students pursuing degrees in STEM areas has declined.
Read more about STEM field needs and find out what the National Mathematics Advisory Panel says needs to happen to change U.S. math education:
Foundations for Success: The Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel

April 24, 2008

Holding back students who cannot read at grade level is out. But in its place is a proposal to require that all districts have programs in place to identify and help those students who are struggling with reading and that all teachers and administrators be trained in reading instruction.

The Senate Education Committee unveiled the new version of SB 842 and the newly-introduced SB 1275 on Thursday and committee Chair Sen. Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland) said he would like to have the issues resolved and report the bills in the next couple of weeks.

Michigan and other states would have to ensure that schools required to restructure under the federal No Child Left Behind Act are making meaningful changes and local districts would have to be more clear to parents what tutoring and choice options are available under new regulations unveiled Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, speaking to the Detroit Economic Club, also announced the creation of a National Technical Advisory Council to meet the requirements of the law.
And she said she was continuing to work with Congress to have the law renewed.

Thanks to Michelle Irwin, L’Anse Creuse Public Schools, for this information!

Please join the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, Horace Mann, and the Michigan Society of School Secretaries in congratulating the following Nominees for 2008 Secretary of the Year:

This page is under construction and will be updated soon!

Please visit the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals' Career Technology Education Showcase on Wednesday, April 23. The purpose of this event is to provide legislators and the public an opportunity to see first-hand the type of rigorous academic content CTE programs deliver and to promote the addition of a national workforce credential as an outcome of the Michigan Merit Exam.

It's election time again and the MASSP polls will be open Moday, April 21st, 2008 - Monday, May 12, 2008 at 5:00 PM. Voting will be done online through Vote.net technology.

Go to: https://vod.votenet.com/mymassp

Enter your username. (This is your email address as reported to MASSP.)

Enter your password, which is: election08

Cast your ballot.

You may view candidate information at the following pages:

A school district in Macomb County is adding an extra 15 minutes to the end of each school day to make up for six snow days of lost instruction. But some key lawmakers are not so sure a lot of learning will go on in those last 15 minutes.

"It doesn't accomplish the education we're looking for," said Sen. Mickey SWITALSKI (D-Roseville), who is the ranking Democrat on the K-12 School Aid budget.

➢ Statement: Why are you seeking this particular MASSP Office?

I am firm believer in being an active member of organizations that can help professionals improve. MASSP was an integral organization to me as a new teacher, student council advisor, and now as new administrator.

The following candidates are running uncontested for regional representatives in the 2008 election:

Region 2- Bill Grusecki

Region 4- Mike Vondette

Region 6- Mark Palmer

Region 8- Ron Reed

Region 10- Robert Watson

Region 12- Josh Wenning

Statement:

It's not too late to show your appreciation and provide your secretary with an invaluable learning experience! Register your secretary today for the School Secretaries' Seminar hosted by MASSP.

How many high schools require their students to take the state assessment, currently the ACT/MME, as a graduation requirement and has that it caused any problems?