bct-l: Fwd: Monday Memo - August 20, 2007

["Teresa Jones" <TJones@mde.k12.ms.us>]

This message has been posted to the Business and Computer Technology Teachers Discussion List.


Teresa P. Jones, Program Coordinator
Business and Computer Technology
Mississippi Department of Education 
Office of Vocational Education and Workforce Development
P.O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205
Phone: 601-359-3940
Fax: 601-359-6619
Email: tjones@mde.k12.ms.us

>>> Dr. Hank Bounds 08/20/07 12:35 PM >>>
Monday Memo 
August 20, 2007
 
Good Morning, 
 
As many of you are aware, hurricane season has begun. We will continue to work with MEMA to monitor and track any hurricanes that may pose a threat to our area. A copy of the Emergency Evacuation Plan has been posted on our Web site. Please download copies to review with your staff and to keep readily available. If you have any questions about the plan, please contact Robert Campbell, director of MDE's Office of Safe and Orderly Schools, at 601-359-1028 or RCampbell@mde.k12.ms.us. 
 
Due to the extreme heat across the state, I have granted a temporary waiver of the Competitive Foods policy. The State Board Policy 2002 currently restricts the sale of vended items during the serving times for breakfast and lunch and also restricts the items that can be sold during the breakfast and lunch meals. The waiver will allow food service programs to sell water to students during meal service times without requiring a meal purchase. Granted through October 31, 2007, the waiver will allow students to be able to purchase water during the entire day. Please ensure all students are adequately hydrated for all activities during this period of excessive heat. If you have any questions, please contact Gary May, Office of Child Nutrition, at 601-354-7015.
 
The Legislative Task Force, which met last week to discuss at-risk programs and other issues, will hold its third meeting this Friday, August 24, from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in Room 216 of the Capitol. Early childhood and mentoring will be addressed. Leading the discussion will be Dr. Cathy Grace, director of the Early Childhood Institute at Mississippi State University. On September 7, 10 a.m. - Noon, Dr. Richard Cooper, learning specialist and founder/director of the Center for Alternative Learning in Pennsylvania, will address dyslexia and other learning challenges. Please take particular note of the last meeting of the Task Force, September 14 at the Capitol from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., that will include a public hearing and conclusions. If you are interested in making a presentation, you must register as a presenter at the hearing. Individuals must respond by 12:00 noon on Friday, September 7 via email to taskforce@mde.k12.ms.us or write to Joy Milam, Mississippi Department of Education, P.O. Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771 or call her at (601) 359-3519. Any one who needs special accommodations to attend the meeting should advise the Department by calling the Office of Information and Legislative Services at (601) 359-3519. Anyone who wishes to make remarks, must register prior to the hearing, limit/summarize their remarks to five minutes, and submit their written statement at the meeting as part of the hearing's record. Written statements can exceed a five-minute presentation.
 
If you would like to read a copy of my weekly column go to http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/extrel/news/2007/07weekly/weekly.html . 
 
Have a good week, 
 
Hank Bounds 
State Superintendent of Education 
 
 
 
NEW NOTIFICATIONS
 
The Mississippi Department of Education through the Office of Leadership and Professional Development will be offering Mississippi Virtual Public School (MVPS) fall online courses for students beginning Tuesday, September 4, 2007. We are pleased to announce that we will be offering sixteen AP level courses, ten half-credit courses and twenty-seven full-credit standard courses. Open registration has started and will conclude August 31, 2007. Students may choose term ranges from half-credit one semester courses to one-credit block or one-credit two semester selections. Fall semester begins Tuesday, September 4, 2007 and ends Wednesday, December 13, 2007 for all half-credit and block courses. All two-semester one-credit courses will break and return for their second semester coursework after the winter school break. For more information, please contact the Mississippi Virtual Public School team via email at mvpssupport@mde.k12.ms.us or by phone at (601) 359-3667 or visit the MVPS website at www.mvps.mde.k12.ms.us. 
 
A national expert on learning problems and disabilities, Dr. Richard Cooper, will speak at the Mississippi Department of Education in the auditorium in the Central High School Building at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 6 on Understanding Dyslexia and Other Learning Difficulties. This session will provide the participants with information about dyslexia and samples of techniques that can be used to enable children who cope with this cognitive disability. The participants will experience what it is like to have dyslexia through a short exercise. This will be followed with examples of remediations, adaptations and accommodations that educators can use to help dyslexic children to develop basic skills for reading, writing, spelling and math. Handouts will be provided. For information contact Jackie Mockbee in the Office of Reading, Early Childhood, and Language Arts at jmockbee@mde.k12.ms.us or 601.359.3778. 
 
The 4th Annual Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Symposium: What You Don't Know About FASD Can Hurt Our Children will be held on Friday, September 7, at the Marriott Hotel Downtown in Jackson. The primary goal of the 4th Annual FASD Symposium is to increase mental health and health professional's knowledge about FASD through sessions that address the biological science. The secondary goal is to provide mental health and health professionals with tools to assess alcohol use among pregnant women and to discuss coordinated strategies for intervention and treatment that can be integrated into practice. To download a copy of the registration brochure go to http://www.dmh.state.ms.us. For more information about the conferecne, contact Trisha Hinson at trisha.hinson@dmh.state.ms.us. 
 
National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) is looking for candidates for the NCSS First Timer Conference Registration Scholarship. The intent of the scholarship is to enable teachers from diverse ethnic groups and/or who teach in high-poverty schools who have never before attended an NCSS conference to attend the conference in San Diego from Nov. 29- Dec. 2. The link to the scholarship application is found on the NCSS website at http://www.ncss.org/conference/registration/scholarships. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is September 15. Teachers are urged to apply early and get their school administrator's support to attend the conference.
 
National Constitution Day is September 17 as declared in December by Congress. As a result, a federal law was passed requiring all schools that receive federal funding to offer a constitution-related education program on Constitution Day. Teaching materials, educational resources, and interactive features for students and teachers may be found at www.justicelearning.org or http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/Constitution Day/default.htm. Any other appropriate material may be used to plan instruction. Two great places to start are the Library of Congress (www.loc.gov) and the National Archives (www.archives.gov). For additional questions, please contact Chauncey Spears, Social Studies Specialist, by phone at 601-359-2586 or via e-mail at crspears@mde.k12.ms.us. 
 
The Mississippi Department of Education Office of Innovative Support would like to invite superintendents, principals, federal programs coordinators and Supplemental Educational Service Providers to participate in a School Improvement Symposium to be held September 24-25 at the Jackson Marriott Hotel, 200 East Amite Street in Jackson. This year's theme is “Rethinking School Improvement: Rising to the Challenge.” Symposium participants may register on-line by visiting the MDE web page at www.mde.k12.ms.us (Register for MDE Hosted Events – Innovative Support). Symposium participation is limited to four participants per district, with priority given to superintendents, principals of schools in improvement, and federal programs coordinators. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and School Executive Management Institute Credits (SEMIs) will be awarded for attendance during this symposium. SEMI credits will be awarded at no cost; however, the cost for CEU credits will be $10.00. For more information, please contact Cathy Travis at 601-359-3499 or cctravis@mde.k12.ms.us. 
 
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and the MetLife Foundation are issuing a call for entries in the search for the nation's top "breakthrough schools." Applicants should be high-achieving middle and high schools, or schools that are making dramatic improvements in student achievement, whose best practices and outstanding results can inform other schools as they further their own improvement efforts. Selected schools must have 40 percent or more
students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. For more information, including application instructions, go to http://www.principals.org/s_nassp/sec.asp?CID=66&DID=66 to view the website for the MetLife-NASSP Breakthrough Schools Project. The deadline for submitting materials for consideration is September 28. 
 
Manships Unearthed on October 3-5, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., provides students with the opportunity to observe archaeologists from the Department of Archives and History conducting an excavation on the grounds of the Manship House Museum in an attempt to learn more about this unique family's history. This is free of charge, but reservations are required. Call 601-961-4724 for more information. This is a great hands-on learning event to bring history to life for the students and to teach them about the importance of archaeology! 
 
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Exemplary Middle Level and High School Science Teaching Awards recognize teachers who have demonstrated exemplary science teaching in one or more of the following areas: creativity using science teaching materials; design and use of innovative teaching plans and ideas; and development and implementation of department, school, or school-community programs that improve science instruction and/or stimulate interest in science and the learning of science. Full-time classroom teachers are eligible to receive a maximum award amount of $2,000. The deadline to submit applications is October 15. For more information visit http://www3.nsta.org/cibateacher. 
 
The Mississippi Association of School Administrators (MASA) will complete 75 years of service in Mississippi this Fall. The Annual Fall Leadership Conference begins on Wednesday, October 17, designed for superintendents, assistant superintendents, district-level administrators, principals, assistant principals, and future school administrators. The conference is scheduled to provide relevant and timely information with updates from the Mississippi Department of Education and the Office of the Governor. Also the sequel to High Schools That Work will be presented showing the research for the Making Middle Schools Work. Dr. Steve Broome, Director State Development for High Schools and Middle Schools for the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), will be the guest speaker on Friday. Thursday afternoon concurrent sessions will feature presentations that support the work of administrators and teachers by providing professional development aligned to the school's improvement plans and will be repeated. For more information about the conference or registration, go to MASA's Web site at http://www.msasa.org/ or call the MASA office at 228-760-0241. 
 
Hidden Valley's Love Your Veggies Nationwide School Lunch Campaign will provide grants to elementary schools nationwide to support programs that increase student access to, and consumption of, fresh vegetables and fruits during school meals. In 2008, the initiative will award $10,000 grants to 51 elementary schools nationwide-one in each state and one in the company's hometown of Oakland, CA. Grant awards will support elementary schools in developing programs offering fresh vegetables and fruits beginning in March 2008 and lasting through the 2008-2009 school year. A portion of each grant will be allocated to foodservice personnel training, conducted by the School Nutrition Association, on topics such as nutrition, food safety, and preparing fresh produce. The application deadline is November 30. Visit the website for online application information at http://www.loveyourveggiesgrants.com/. 
 
An interim report of Project CLEAR Voice survey results has just been released. Visit http://teachingquality.org/twc/whatweknow.htm or http://www.projectclearvoice.com/ for an in-depth analysis on the following findings: MS Teachers Believe Their Schools are Good Places to Work and Learn; School Leadership is Critical to Retaining Teachers; Teachers and Administrators View Working Conditions Differently; MS Educators Appear More Involved in Classroom-level Decisions, but Not in School-level Ones; and Teachers in High Poverty Schools are Less Likely to Report that Key Working Conditions are in Place in Their School. A final report, analyzing the results relative to student learning and teacher retention, will be available in December.
 
The Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) and MDE are working together to improve sportsmanship by utilizing an online sportsmanship education program that includes an emphasis on anti-bullying and the hazards of performance-enhancing substances. Mississippi's athletes, parents, and coaches will be piloting the “STAR Sportsmanship™” program, and about 50,000 students in fifteen of MHSAA's districts, third through twelfth grade, will participate in the program. STAR Sportsmanship is a role-playing program designed to help students, coaches, and parents make good decisions on and off the playing field. It also educates participants about the dangers of steroid abuse. STAR is being utilized across the country and was a major factor in Alabama's reduction of high school football ejections by 41 percent in 2006. STAR includes specialized programs that are designed for elementary, middle, junior, and high school students, as well as for coaches. STAR Sportsmanship is published by Learning Through Sports (LTS), an educational publisher of interactive sports video games. For more information on LTS, call ( 866) 552-9192 or visit www.learningthroughsports.com . For more information on the Mississippi High School Activities Association, please visit http://www.misshsaa.com. 
 
 
WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK 

Teachers can attend no cost training programs to learn how to use the Stock Market Game and receive .5 continuing education units along with the curriculum. The first training program is scheduled for August 23 in Jackson. Additional training programs are scheduled as follows: August 28-Gulfport, September 13-Jackson, September 14-Starkville, and September 21-Cleveland. Registration is available on-line at www.mscee.org; click on the Stock Market Game logo. For additional information about the training, please contact Dr. Pamela P. Smith at 601-974-1325. 
 
The Mississippi Educational and Technology Leaders Association (METLA) meeting will be held Thursday, August 23 at the Eagle Ridge Conference Center, Raymond MS. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the General Meeting starting at 9 a.m. Sessions following the General Meeting will be: 1) Document Retention (Civil Litigation)- Adams & Reese; 2) Document Retention (Criminal Litigation) - Miss. Attorney General's Office; 3) Forming a Document Retention Policy - Pascagoula, JPS; 4) Microsoft Licensing - ASAP/ITS; 5) MPLS Issues and introductions - AT&T; and 6) MIS Update - Derrick Lindsay & MDE / MIS. You may register for the meeting by visiting this website: http://registration.metla.org. For more information, please contact Marvin Adams, Executive Director: mmadams@columbiaschools.org. 
 
 
VACANCIES 
 
To keep you informed of vacancies in school districts we will provide a link each week to a list of school district openings. This list, which is updated monthly, is compiled by the Mississippi Teacher Center (MSTC) and includes job openings for administrators and teachers. The Mississippi Teacher Center posts the monthly vacancy listing from a survey that is sent to each district superintendent via e-mail and fax near the end of each month. This survey must be signed by the district superintendent and can include job openings for administrators and teachers for the entire school district. After the vacancy submission deadline, MSTC compiles the list to make it available to all prospective educators worldwide. To view the current monthly list, go to http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/mtc/vacancy.html. Superintendents, please encourage all schools within your district to submit their vacancies to your office to be included on the form that is sent to you each month for posting. It is our desire to post all vacancies for all school districts in our state through this monthly updated process. 
 
For information on employment in the MDE contact the Office of Human Resources at 601-359-3511 or visit the "Active Recruitment List" on the State Personnel Board web site at http://www.spb.state.ms.us/ for a list of openings in all state agencies.
 

REMINDERS 
 
Please refer to previous editions of Monday Memo for the full story on the following notifications or use the contact information listed for each event. 
 
To submit information for consideration in Monday Memo, email the information to Gail Gettis at ggettis@mde.k12.ms.us by noon on Thursdays. 
 
To provide curriculum, training and resources based on the MS Standards for Physical Education and to assist schools in complying with the MS Healthy Students Act (Section 37-13-134, Mississippi Code), the Office of Healthy Schools is soliciting competitive applications from Mississippi schools to receive a “Health is Academic” Committed to Move – Quality Physical Education Program Grant. Contingent upon the receipt of applications from school districts, it is MDE's intent to award one grant to each school district (152 total grants). This is a matching fund grant, with school districts providing 100% matching funds totaling up to $4,700. To learn more about the grant and to download an application, go to the Office of Healthy Schools website at http://www.healthyschoolsms.org/ohs_main/news.htm. For additional information contact Shane McNeill, Bureau Director, Office of Coordinated School Health at 601-359-1737 or at psmcneill@mde.k12.ms.us. 
 
The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), through the Office of Healthy Schools, is soliciting written proposals from potential service providers and vendors for supplemental resources in support of the MS Healthy Students Act (Section 37-13-134) passed by the legislature to require public schools to provide increased amounts of physical activity and education instruction for K-12 students. In an effort to assist school districts in complying with the Act, MDE is identifying eligible supplemental resource providers (SRP) for districts to ensure consistency and effectiveness within the state. School districts may select the ASRP from a list of providers approved by the state. Supplemental resources will include curriculum, assessment, and evaluation to provide physical activity to all children and to teach them the skills and knowledge needed to establish and sustain an active lifestyle. These resources must be of high quality, research-based and specifically designed to meet the state standards for physical education. To download the request for proposals for both Physical Education and Health Education go to http://www.healthyschoolsms.org/ohs_mail/news.htm or if you need additional information, contact Shane McNeill, Bureau Director, Office of Coordinated School Health at 601-359-1737 or psmcneill@mde.k12.ms.us. 
 
The Office of Healthy Schools and the Office of Child Nutrition have prepared a listing of food items, which meet the Snack Regulations as adopted by the State Board of Education. Approved Items can be found on the Office of Healthy School's web site, http://www.healthyschoolsms.org/nutrition_services/Vending.html, which also provides a listing of items submitted for evaluation that were Denied based on required standards. Please review both of these listings prior to submission of products for evaluation. All products submitted for evaluation must be signed by the superintendent or school principal. Anyone can evaluate a product utilizing an Excel form available on MDE's Web site; however, you must print the evaluation form and submit to the Office of Child Nutrition for confirmation and addition to the Approved/Denied listings. If you have any questions regarding items for vending, please contact the Office of Healthy Schools at 601-359-1737 or the Office of Child Nutrition at 601-354-7015. 
 
The eighth publishing season of Mississippi History Now begins this month with an article, “Good Roads,” that covers the building of U.S. Highway 90 along the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the early 20th century. Written by Charles L. Sullivan, professor emeritus and archivist of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, the article opens with Mississippi's first automobile appearing in Biloxi in 1900. The accompanying lesson plan is by Karla Smith, chairwoman, social studies department, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Read Mississippi History Now at http://mshistory.k12.ms.us. More than 100 articles, written by noted historians, are archived on the site where students and teachers can find over seven years of published material. 
 
The Mississippi History on Loan program is ready to send you videotapes that will enhance your classroom instruction. Over 200 available titles are appropriate for use in history, English, art, and music classes. New titles are frequently added to the catalog. The videos are free except for return first-class postage. Teachers in the metro-Jackson area can return videos by hand if they wish to eliminate the postage charge. For more information or to request a free catalog, please call or write the Manship House Museum at: 420 E. Fortification Street, Jackson, MS 39202-2340, 601-961-4724. The email address is manship@mdah.state.ms.us. 
 
The Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (SESPRS) is sponsoring an essay contest where scholarships will be given to three Mississippi public school seniors at the annual conference in Boco Raton, Florida in June 2008. The deadline for submission of essays is March 1, 2008. The value of each scholarship is $500.00. The topic is "The Role of Plastic Surgery in America." Students are encouraged to contact their local area plastic surgeons for advice and also secure information from the Web site: http://www.sesprs.org. The purpose of this essay contest is for students to learn more about plastic surgery from practicing plastic surgeons instead of what is seen on television and in magazines. For more information, contact Dr. Suman K. Das, President of SESPRS, at 601-362-0611 or e-mail sushrata@aol.com. Each essay should be typewritten and double-spaced and a minimum of 500 words. 
 
For information on The American Red Cross Hurricane Recovery Program Community Resilience Request for Proposals (RFP) go to http://www.fndmidsouth.org/RedCross_RFP_round2.html. 
 
The Office of Leadership and Professional Development will begin offering training to entry and career level administrators in September. Training opportunities and registration instructions will be listed on our Web site at http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/olpd . Please pass this information on to your administrators in order for them to fulfill their SEMI credit or entry level requirements for recertification. For more information, about the Leadership Trainings email Leadershipts@mde.k12.ms.us. 
 
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has officially launched its new education initiative: "Olympians in Life" is an educational teaching program that promotes Olympic ideals and values. The program includes lesson plans available online through free registration. The "Olympians in Life" program precedes the development of "Olympic Week in America," a week-long educational program for students K-5 nationwide. For more information go to http://www.usoc.org/12683.htm. 
 
Bruce Larkin, the published author of over five-hundred early children's books, will donate sets of 50 free books at the pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade reading levels through the "Books From Bruce" program. The "Books From Bruce" program is now offering science and math book sets. Each set contains books that help to teach science or math principles. Educators only pay shipping and handling. For more information on the "Books from Bruce" program, please go to http://www.wilbooks.com. 
 
Applications are now available for educators interested in joining NASA Explorer Schools during the 2008-2009 school year. Teams composed of full-time teachers and a school administrator develop and implement a three-year action plan to address local challenges in science, technology and mathematics education for grades 4-9. Selected schools are 
eligible to receive funding to purchase technology tools. The project also provides educators and students with content-specific activities about science, technology, engineering, and math. Applications are due January 31, 2008 . For more information, visit http://explorerschools.nasa.gov/portal/site/nes/menuitem.3a9dc5f6e0302a448258f708c41a5ea0/. 
 
The Office of Healthy Schools has launched the “Health is Academic” initiative. MDE is soliciting competitive applications from Mississippi schools to receive a “Health is Academic” ***** (Five Star) Foods Grant to purchase a Sectionizer and Slicer (and/or other equipment to fulfill goal of grant). To download these instructions and the application for the “Health is Academic” ***** (Five Star) Foods Grant, please go to http://www.healthyschoolsms.org/ohs_main/news.htm . For more information contact Shane McNeill, Bureau Director for the Office of Coordinated School Health, at 601-359-1737 or at psmcneill@mde.k12.ms.us. 
 
The Office of Healthy Schools is soliciting competitive applications from Mississippi schools to receive a “Health is Academi” Nutrition Integrity Grant to purchase Combination Oven Steamers to replace fat fryers in school kitchens and improving the nutritional quality of school meals. To download these instructions and the application for the “Health is Academic” Nutrition Integrity Grant, please go to the Office of Healthy Schools' Web site at http://www.healthyschoolsms.org/ohs_main/news.htm . For additional information, contact Shane McNeill, Bureau Director for the Office of Coordinated School Health at 601-359-1737 or at psmcneill@mde.k12.ms.us. 
 
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program announced that sixty-four Mississippi high school seniors will receive a scholarship award of $1,500 annually for up to four years as part of the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program. The award recognizes and rewards students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and is not based on financial need. For a complete listing of the recipients and more information, go to http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/extrel/news/2007/07RobertCByrdHonors.htm. 
 
The Southern Regional Education Board recently recognized Crystal Springs High School (Copiah County School District) and Northwest Rankin High School (Rankin County School District) for outstanding achievement during the 2007 High Schools That Work (HSTW) Summer Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Crystal Springs High School received the national HSTW Gold Improvement Award for significant gains in student achievement in all three content areas (reading, mathematics and science) of the HSTW assessment from 2004 to 2006. Northwest Rankin High School received the HSTW Pacesetter School Award, newly implemented this year, for the depth of its implementation of the HSTW model and for high student achievement. For more information about the HSTW Awards, contact the Office of Special Projects at 601-359-3085. 
 
Artists, residencies and professional development opportunities for the 2007-2008 school year are available free of charge from VSA MS. Although the programs are targeted to students with disabilities, VSA MS will also provide residencies with inclusion classes and hold workshops for inclusion teachers. Ten to twelve classrooms across the state will be chosen for the School Artist in Residence program. There is no cost to the school. VSA MS will pay for the Artist in Residence and supplies for the program. For more information contact V. A. Patterson, Executive Director, VSA arts of Mississippi at 601-713-3311 or jacvsa@bellsouth.net. 
 
To support and provide resources for Physical Education Programs, the Office of Healthy Schools and the United States Tennis Association are conducting tennis trainings, which offer .5 CEUs. Administrators and Curriculum Specialists are encouraged to attend the morning session at each site, and teachers who participate can receive FREE tennis equipment for their school programs. For details go to the MDE Office of Healthy Schools Web site or contact Christine Philley at 601-359-1828 or CPhilley@mde.k12.ms.us for more information. To register for trainings to be held across the state in September, go to http://register.mde.k12.ms.us. 
 
Riverside Publishing Company is seeking districts interested in participating in an important study being conducted through fall 2007 . The UNIT Group Abilities Test is undergoing National Standardization. Riverside needs individuals in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12 for this study and is offering cash incentives to participating schools/districts. The study can accommodate as little as one classroom in one school up to many schools within a district. If you would like to learn more about participating in this important and exciting study, please contact Tommie Royce at 800-767-8420, extension 7048. 
 
Attorney General Jim Hood has announced the partnership of the Office of the Attorney General with the N ational Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to help kids stay safer on the Internet. NetSmartz has designed a flyer for ideas on how to bring NetSmartz Internet safety resources to your community, which has been posted on our Web site at http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/MondayMemo/EducatorPlan.pdf . For more information and resources visit NetSmartz at http://www.netsmartz.org/ . 
 
The Live Monarch Foundation (501c3) Educator Outreach Program is providing funding for 4,600 teachers throughout the United States to enroll in the National Campaign to bring Monarch Butterflies into the classroom. Current funds will be allocated to the first 4,600 registrants; additional registrants will be added in order to the wait list for additional funds. All registrants will receive updates and a monthly newsletter. For more information, go to http://www.LMF-Educator-Award.com/index.html . 
 
Download a free copy of the School Employees Wellness: A Guide for Protecting the Assets of Our Nation's Schools, now available from the Directors of the Health Promotion and Education at http://www.schoolempwell.org/. The guide provides information, practical tools and resources for school employee wellness programs. In addition to the guide, the Web site also contains resources and more. For more information, contact MDE's Office of Healthy Schools at 601-359-1340. 
 
Blue Mountain College, through an approved program with the MDE, is offering a certification in Special Education and a certification in Library Media, which may be completed online. For more information, visit http://www.bmc.edu/online_instruction_info.asp or contact the MDE's Office of Educator Licensure at 601-359-3483. 
 
Pandemic Planning is a required part of the Emergency Response and Crisis Response Planning for federal, state and local governments, including local school districts. To assist districts with planning efforts, the MDE has provided resources and has updated the Model Occupational Safety and Crisis Response Plan to include these resources. This information is posted on the MDE Web site at http://www.healthyschoolsms.org/documents/Pandemic.doc. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Chelley Barnes at cbarnes@mde.k12.ms.us or 601-359-1028. 
 
The U. S. Department of Homeland Security has issued an advisory to be on the alert for foreign nationals in the possession of commercial driver's licenses as well as foreign nationals attempting to purchase surplus or new school buses. The following are ind

To unsubscribe to this list, send an email to majordomo@lists.msstate.edu with
no subject.  Place "unsubscribe bct-l" (without quotes) in the message text
area.  Delete signature files before sending messages.