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Director's Notes
On behalf of North Country Education Services, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you back for the opening of a new school year. Here at NCES, we are excited about the prospects for public education in the coming years and look forward to assisting North Country Districts and Staff to rise to the challenges set for them by State and Federal mandates and by the technological and learning revolution that has impacted us all. Toward that end, NCES is committed to providing our member Districts the very best in programs and services. I would also like to express my appreciation and thanks to the many dedicated, hard working and talented individuals who serve K-12 students of the North Country. Without question you positively impact the lives of students’ and their families.
To underscore this point, I am reminded of Barack Obama’s first commencement speech as President of the United States at Arizona State University. In his remarks the President noted that we need a fundamental change in perspective and attitude, one that values substance over appearance and character over celebrity. He made mention of the body of work of each person and how it is not done because you have a degree, or get a promotion or are given a title, even one that says President of the United States. That such a “body of work” or carbon print you leave, consists of daily labor, the many kind and unselfish acts that often go unnoticed, and the choices made both large and small that add up over a lifetime to a lasting legacy. He challenged the graduates to make their mark on the world through service to others. When we serve others, he said it not only improves your community and makes you an integral part of that community, it also inevitably makes you a better person.
In the brief time I have been here, I am convinced that it is you, the Educators and support staff, who epitomize the President’s call for service to others. It is you who best embody the spirit and belief that says the way to serve oneself is to serve others. This gift of giving that quietly tells us that the only way to be truly fulfilled, pleased and happy is to give instead of trying to get. It’s a gift you bring each and every school day to your students and community and in doing so, enriches the lives of all of us.
I wish you all a most enjoyable, productive and rewarding school year.
Ray Healey
Executive Director
rhealey@ncedservices.org
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North Country Middle School Film Festival
North Country Education Services is sponsoring the First Annual North Country Middle School Film Festival. Student teams in grades 5*, 6, 7 and/or 8 from SAUs 3, 7, 9, 20, 23, 35, 36, 58, 68, 77 & 84 are eligible to enter a video into this film competition.
On Tuesday, October 26, 2010 filmmaker, Films by Huey will work with student teams at NCES. This will include examples of award winning student video, tips on camera angles, shot composition, storyboarding and more.
The deadline for submission of a two-minute video related to a health topic will be Wednesday, November 24, 2010. The screening and awards festival for parents, families and students will take place in December.
Stipends** are available to adult team supervisor (must be a staff person in the school representing the team). Funds may be available for equipment or software dependent on the total number of teams.
This film festival is made possible through a grant from the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund of the NH Charitable Fund North Country Region.
* 5th graders are allowed for schools that only go to grade 6.
** There are stipends available to 20 adult team supervisors and priority will be given to teams in Coos County based on first-come, first-serve registration until Sept 30. After that date, any remaining stipends will be available to leaders in eligible districts noted above. See festival webpage for full details.
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North Country Professional Development Day
The annual conference will take place on Friday, October 8, 2010 at White Mountains Regional High School. The program booklet will be available for download on September 10th. The registration window will be from September 13 through September 29th. The main themes of this year's conference are Response to Intervention and technology integration.
The program and online registration will be available at www.ncedservices.org.
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Differentiated Instruction
The NHDOE is coordinating with LESCN to bring a Differentiated Instruction series to each regional professional development center. There will be 5 full day workshops offered throughout the 2010-11 school year.
Session 1—Fundamentals
Session 2—Assessment
Session 3—Strategies
Session 4—Routines/Unit Planning
Session 5—Training Toolbox
At the end of the series, you will understand how Differentiated Instruction interfaces with Response to Intervention and be able to:
- identify learning/teaching styles to inform teaching
- demonstrate and coach the use of assessment to drive instruction
- teach how to plan and create a DI lesson
- apply research based instructional practices
Dates: October 1, October 22, November 18 and two other dates TBD
Time: 9:00 to 3:00
Presenter: Saundra Kent
Cost: $150/person for the series
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
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Language Arts Consultation
Assessing Beginning-of-the Year Student Writing
Schools working to improve daily writing, reduce interventions and raise test scores, should consider contracting with Jean Mann. Jean can work with individual teachers to examine and assess students’ beginning-of-the-year writing samples in order to determine specific weaknesses in the varied elements or traits of the content. She will help to bring an understanding as to why these weaknesses occur and how to improve them and the quality of a whole piece.
Curriculum Development to Match the New NH Common Core ELA Standards
Here's an opportunity to assess the current literacy in your school for gaps and weak areas, along with areas of low test scores. It may be time to revise, update your curriculum and align it with the new NH Common Core ELA Standards (K-12) for the purpose of establishing strong, consistent grade-level teaching objectives.
Contact Lori Langlois, lori@ncedservices.org, for more information on consulting with Jean Mann.
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Neurodevelopmental Approach to Differentiated Instruction
This interactive course will help participants gain increased confidence in ways to better address the learning needs of all students in the classroom. The course will provide teachers with information on how to observe for typical breakdowns in reading, writing and math using a neurodevelopmental approach. The course will also offer tools to help identify and select effective strengths-based instructional strategies. The information in this course complements Differentiated Instruction and RtI principles.
Objectives:
- Understand the learning functions of the brain (attention, language, higher order thinking, memory, neuromotor skills, social skills, spatial and sequential ordering) and their impact on learning
- Identify the most common breakdowns for students in the areas of reading, writing and math by analyzing student work
- Begin to link practical strategies to specific underlying breakdowns in reading, writing, math and study skills, leveraging the students' strengths and areas of interest
Dates: November 3 & 4, 2010
Time: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Location: North Country Education Services, Gorham, NH
Cost: $250 - Checks made payable to NCES
Graduate Credit (optional): One (1) Plymouth State University graduate credit available, $191/in-state; $209/out-of-state +$25 registration fee. Checks made payable to PSU.
Register: Contact NCES at 603-466-5437 or 800-268-5437.
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Foundations in Neurodevelopmental Theory
The Center for School Success has received grant funding to offer Foundations in Neurodevelopmental Theory (ND5000) to North Country teachers at a reduced rate, $450 less than the regular cost. This online course is anticipated for December. The course is part of the CSS degree program through Plymouth State University.
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The Bully Box: Practical Strategies for Bullying Prevention
In this half-day interactive workshop, educators will participate in activities which help identify their unique School Climate needs, learn about the current requirements for School Policies as outlined in the new New Hampshire Bullying Law, and identify useful Practical Strategies. Participants will take home interactive and informative documents for parents, students, teachers, and school leaders!
Presenter: Molly Gosline, Ed.M., M.A. of School Climate Consulting
Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at NCES, Gorham, NH
Time: 9:00 to 12:00
Cost: $100 payable to NCES
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A few items shared by the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire
2010 "Widening the Circle" Conference
New England Consortium of Artist-Educator Professionals offer their 9th Annual Widening the Circle Conference in Brattleboro, VT, on Thursday, September 23. "Play is the Thing: The Serious Work of Play" features MacArthur "Genius Grant" recipient and juggler Michael Moschen; Sara Boettrich, Museum Educator, Strong National Museum of Play; and workshops with outstanding artist-educators from across New England. The critical importance of play in learning and human development is increasingly recognized, but we seem to have less and less space and time for it. This conference looks at the ways teaching artists and the educators they work with in schools can be leaders in supporting play -- and the creativity it inspires – with learners of all ages and in their own lives. $50 fee includes morning coffee and lunch. Professional development credits available. Details and registration information at http://artisteducators.org. The Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire is coordinating partner for this conference.
Adult Literacy Program Orientation, October 7: Join Terry Farish of the NH Humanities Council for a North Country orientation for anyone who would like to learn about the Council's facilitation training for Connections for New Readers and New Americans, an adult literacy program for prisoners, immigrant groups and those with low literacy skills. ESL teachers, other educators and community members interested in adult and family literacy are invited. The free session, presented by the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire will take place from 5 to 8pm at the Rocks Estate, Bethlehem. Preregistration is requested; call us at 323-7302 or email info@aannh.org.
Field of Vision: NH Statewide Arts in Education Partnership
October 22-24, AMC Highland Center, Crawford Notch
Register now for the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts' annual Statewide Arts in Education Partnership Conference, October 22-24 at the AMC Highland Center, Crawford Notch. The conference, presented in partnership with the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire, offers inspiring presentations, workshops, resources and networking opportunities for educators, artists and parent and community supporters of arts in education. Keynote speaker is researcher James Catterall, Professor of Education at the University of California, Los Angeles, and co-author of "Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Social and Academic Development." Visit www.aannh.org or www.nh.gov/nharts for details and to register.
Artist in Residency Block-Booking Opportunity:
Massachusetts singer, songwriter, artist and educator Bernice Lewis will be the regional artist-in-residence at the end of October, offering writing and songwriting workshops for students, educators, and community members as well asHistory Alive, a Holocaust education program that illuminates a dark chapter in world history through her own family's personal stories, photographs and mementos from World War II. Schools that are interested in hosting her should contact the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire, info@aannh.org or 323-7302.
Arts &Culture Program Opportunities: As always, the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire is available to help schools create customized arts learning experiences for students and staff, bringing outstanding professional performers and traditional, visual and literary artists to schools throughout the region. They can present school residencies, assemblies, classroom programs, community workshops, public concerts, and professional development sessions. Programs range from World Music to authors' visits to hands-on art making of all kinds. Interested? Call or email us at 323-7302 or info@aannh.org for more information.
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PSU Advising
Advising appointments for graduate students are available Thursday, September 16 with Cheryl Baker from 3:00 - 5:00 at NCES.
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Media Center Delivery & Pick-Up Schedule
On an "as needed" basis.
SAU# 7 ,58, Guildhall VT
Tuesday, Sept 7
Tuesday, Oct 1
Tuesday, Nov 2
Tuesday, Nov 30
Tuesday, Jan 4
Tuesday, Feb 1
Tuesday, Mar 15
Tuesday, Apr 12
Tuesday, May 17
Tuesday, June 4
SAU #36
Tuesday Sept 17
Tuesday, Oct 12
Tuesday, Nov 9
Tuesday, Dec 7
Tuesday, Jan 11
Tuesday, Feb 8
Tuesday, Mar 22
Tuesday, April 26
Tuesday, May 24
SAU#20 – Milan
Tuesday Sep 21
Tuesday Oct 19
Tuesday Nov 16
Tuesday Dec 14
Tuesday Jan 18
Tuesday Feb 15
Tuesday Mar 29
Tuesday May 3
Tuesday May 31
Please note:
- Pick up and deliveries will be made on these dates on an as needed basis
- Search our catalog online at ncedservices.org
- If you would like to renew library materials, please call or email before the pick up date
- Videos are due back after 5 classroom days. They are subject to $1.00 per day overdue fines. Please return in NCES mailing cases.
Questions can be directed to Raina Scarinze, raina@ncedservices.org.
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