Educator Newsletter - February 9, 2009


	CHCCS honored for communication projects

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools received six Blue Ribbon Awards from the North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA). The awards were presented January 30 at a brunch held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Durham.

The district's parent calendar, which is published in both English and Spanish, was honored for the third consecutive year. The parent calendar is coordinated by Publications Assistant Robin Nucilli.

The Learning Links are curriculum guides for K-8 that are published in English and Spanish. This publication also has been recognized by NCSPRA for three consecutive years. Last year, it was honored by the National School Public Relations Association with an Award of Excellence. Staff members in the Instructional Services Division contribute the content. These staff members include: Denise Bowling, Theresa Grywalski, Kathi Breweur, Karyn Gloden and Carol Horne. The guides are designed by Durham graphic artist Vicki Johnson. The project is coordinated by Publications Assistant Robin Nucilli and edited by Assistant to the Superintendent for Community Relations Stephanie Knott.

The Professional Development Matrix is a new publication for CHCCS. Its purpose is to identify competencies for teachers to attain through training and to provide a district instructional focus for professional development in each of the five years covered by the matrix. The project was created by Elementary and Professional Development Director Sam Oertwig with input from Instructional Services Division staff members Margaret Blackwell, Denise Bowling, Kathi Breweur, Karyn Gloden, Carol Horne, Sherri Martin, Jose Nambo, Jean Parrish, Darlene Ryan, Carla Smith and Rodney Trice. It was designed by Durham graphic artist Vicki Johnson and Coordinated by Publications Assistant Robin Nucilli.

A number of projects created for the district's Centennial celebration were awarded. The Centennial website, CHCCS @ 100, earned Web Architect Scott Latimore his first Blue Ribbon Award.

The District History Video produced for the Back-to-School Convocation also was honored. The video was produced by a team that includes: Board Member Mia Burroughs, historical research; Chapel Hill High School Senior Will Anderson, video editing; Chief Technology Officer Ray Reitz, production coordination; and Assistant to the Superintendent for Community Relations Stephanie Knott, script writing. The video may be viewed directly at: www.chccsdistrict.blogspot.com.

The overall marketing campaign conducted by the district for the Centennial celebration was the final recipient. The marketing campaign included the CHCCS @ 100 website and the District History Video mentioned above, along with invitations, programs and backpack flyers related to the Centennial events. These products were designed by Publications Assistant Robin Nucilli. Assistant to the Superintendent for Community Relations Stephanie Knott has served as the chair of the Centennial Committee.

All of these award-winning projects, with the exception of the parent calendar, can be accessed through the Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools website, www2.chccs.k12.nc.us.


	ArtsCenter to host teacher workshops

The ArtsCenter will host a series of free classroom teacher workshops February 24, March 24 and April 21 from 3:30-5:00 at the ArtsCenter.

Come and learn new strategies for teaching curriculum through the arts that you can use the next day, next week and next year in your classroom. Master Teaching Artist Faye Stanley will guide you through activities that will enable you to integrate the arts into the curriculum in a fun and exciting way without adding more stress on you. All of the workshops are interactive and will have you up and moving.

The workshops are free, and refreshments will be provided since we know you will have had a full day at school by then. You can choose to come to one, two or all three of the workshops. If you come to call three, you will receive a special prize.

Tuesday, February 24: Creative Differentiation--This workshop will provide creativity-based mechanisms to add to your differentiation toolbox, allowing for students with a wider range of learning styles to successfully understand and express their understandings in your classroom.

Tuesday, March 24: Writing and Reading with Rhythm--In this workshop, we will move literacy goals into the realms of sound and rhythm, making them accessible to many struggling learners. Building on rhythmic fluency can support fluency in reading, poetry and writing and build a bridge to more traditional forms of expression for these students.

Tuesday, April 21: Integrating the Arts into Math--This workshop will focus on games, chants, music and rhythm as avenues for exploring mathematical concepts. No prior experience or training in music is needed, as the focus will be interdisciplinary work in the general classroom. This approach will use whole-body, movement-based strategies to invigorate teaching and student learning and will also include appropriate authentic assessments of the work undertaken.

To register, send your name, school, grade level, phone number, e-mail and name/date of the workshop you will be attending to The ArtsCenter, Attn: Tracy Thomas, or e-mail the information to artsineducation@artscenterlive.org . Please register at least one week prior to the start of the workshop because we have a limited number of spaces. You may be eligible for CEU credit.

For more information or questions, please contact Tracy Thomas at 929-2787, ext. 400.