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January 2012

Our World, Our Fate - Register by January 6th!

 
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North Country Education Services is sponsoring the Second 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 and Vermont SUs 19 & 21 are eligible to enter a video into this film competition. Multiple teams from one school are allowed.
 
The conference theme is:
Our World, Our Fate:
A true idea doesn't end thought, it activates it!
 
The deadline for submission of a two-minute video related to an environmental topic will be Thursday, February 16, 2012. Interested team supervisors should register by Friday, January 6th or as soon as possible. The screening and awards festival for parents, families and students will take place in March. Prizes valued up to $1,000 to be awarded.
 
 

Using iPads to Achieve Educational Success for Students with Disabilities

ipadThe use of the iPad to improve educational success continues to grow.  This hands-on interactive workshop will explore how to successfully use the iPad for students with disabilities.  Apps that will be explored include:  apps for reading and writing; communication apps, memory, prompting and organizational apps, app for hearing or visual impairments, apps for early learning, apps for math and science, and apps for conducting assessments.  In addition, this workshop will discuss and demonstrate various iPad accessories, switches, keyboards, and mounting solutions to accommodate students who experience physical impairments.
 
  
About the presenter:
Dr. Therese Willkomm is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy and the Director of New Hampshire’s State Assistive Technology Program with the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. She holds a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Technology from the University of Pittsburgh and has over 25 years experience in providing/managing assistive technology services. She is known nationally and internationally as “The McGyver” of Assistive Technology".   Dr. Willkomm has presented in 38 states, five foreign counties, and three U.S. Territories and authored 22 publications including her most recent book titled “Make A Difference Today – Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes”.
 
Date: Monday, January 23, 2012 (not Tuesday, January 24th as first announced) 
Time: 9:00 to 3:30 
Cost: Full member staff $100, associate members $125, others $140 
Register: Online or by calling NCES, 603-466-5437 or 800-268-5437 
Location: NCES, 300 Gorham Hill Road, Gorham, NH 
Download the brochure

Inquiry Science Series for Elementary Educators

Inquiry science engages students in doing what scientists do. Come and learn how you can help students identify measurable and researchable questions, and design and conduct a scientific inquiry. Join us for this three-evening series.
 
 
Electricity
Date: February 15, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00 (Snow date if KSC is closed: Wednesday 3/7)
Use background knowledge of electricity to create a working switch.
 
Simple Machines
Date: April 4, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00
 
Ecology
Date: May 9, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00
Biological sampling techniques, mapping and related mathematical skills.
 
Series Presenters: Winchester Elementary Teachers Heather Pelkey - 4th grade, Valerie Wilber - 4th grade, Linda Balk - kindergarten & coach, Deborah Black.
 
Cost: $60 for series (priority to SAHE partnering schools)
 
Locations:
  • Video conferenced to North Country Education Services, 300 Gorham Hill Road, Gorham, NH
  • Keene State College ~ Southwest NH Educational Support Center 
Registration:
This series is made possible through the Rural School Educator Effectiveness Collaborative.

Making Friends with Fractions!

This is a two- part series intended for K-8 teachers.
 
Developing ConceptualUnderstanding via Multiple Representations
Date: March 1, 2012 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
During this workshop participants will discuss and try out different ways of representing fractions using words, pictures, and manipulatives. Classroom-ready models and activities will be provided.
 
Four Arithmetic Operations With and Without Traditional Algorithms
Date: April 12, 2012 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Using meanings of operations and the models developed during the first workshop, participants will discover the “whys” behind the traditional algorithms for operations with fractions. Classroom-ready models and activities will be provided.
 
Locations:
  • Plymouth State University, Highland Building
  • North Country Education Services (Gorham) - video conference with onsite facilitator
  • Southwest NH Education Support Center (at Keene State College) - video conference with onsite facilitator
 
Instructor: Dr. Natayla Vinogradova, Director of the NH Impact Center
 
Cost: $20 for series. Priority to staff from SAHE partner schools.
 
Registration for NCES & PSU sites: https://www.123signup.com/event?id=cphss
Registration for Keene site: http://www.keene.edu/conted/swnhesc/
 
This series is made possible through the Rural School Educator Effectiveness Collaborative.

Attention Guidance Counselors

A discussion on Philosophical Perspectives in School Guidance
 
As counselors, we care deeply about the well being of our students and we work to encourage and support our students' aspirations.  Helping young people to find their special purpose in life is no small feat.  Numerous factors impact opportunities and outcomes for our students, including academic, social, economic, emotional, cultural, environmental, and physical factors.  How we think about our work determines how we operate.  We will each explore our personal philosophy as guidance counselors, considering the culture and experiences that influenced our way of thinking.  We will then discuss how this philosophy provides a foundation for our work. There will be time for sharing ideas, concerns, and resources with each other.  Finally, we will discuss ideas for a more comprehensive training in March that will include time for peer support, guidance curriculum ideas, and resources for guiding students toward higher education opportunities. 
 
This free 2-hour workshop is co-sponsored by North Country Education Services and the North Country Inventing the Future Project (based out of the Berlin School District). 
Facilitators: Donna M. San Antonio, Ed.D., Lesley University and Ann Logan-Dintino, Special Education Teacher and M.A. candidate at Lesley University
 
Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Time: 1:30 to 3:30
Cost: Free and open to all North Country guidance counselors, school-to-work coordinators, and SAPs. Certificate of attendance will be provided and light refreshments will be served.
 
Registration: Contact Lisa Blais at 466-5437 (between 8:00 - 4:00) or by email to lisa@ncedservices.org no later than 3:00 on Monday, January 9th.

Opportunity to attend NCTM conference in Philadelphia

Teaching Math Together is a professional development initiative developed by the New Hampshire Impact Center in alliance with the Rural School Educator Collaborative and supported by the Rural School Educator Effectiveness Collaborative funded by the SAHE grant (see list of participating school in bottom right frame). The main goal of this initiative is to foster a learning community that would encourage collaboration among mathematics teachers.
 
Applications to be part of this team will be accepted through January 30th. Obligations of team members will be to attend a pre-conference seminar on March 3rd at Plymouth State University, attend sessions from April 25 to 27 at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference (registration and expenses paid), and attend follow-up seminars at PSU on May 12 and August 6th. Download details and application form.
 
Any questions concerning this program can be emailed to Dr. Natalya Vinogradova (Director of the New Hampshire Impact Center) at nvinogradova@plymouth.edu.

Military Culture 101

Children face enormous challenges when a family member is deployed to active duty in a "combat zone."  Every day, they may have more  to do or fewer opportunities to play ball because the family member is away.  Every night, the news reminds them that their loved one may not come home.  And the family member staying at home may be under additional stress creating an environment that is quite different from what these children have had before.  Military 101 provides information to school personnel on what these children and their families face and how this can impact the life of the child and what it can mean to the child's education. 
 
Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Time: 8:30 to 12:30
Cost: Free
Register: Please call NCES at 800-268-5437 or 603-466-5437

Reintegration and Special Topics: NH National Guard Follow Up

For those individuals who have already participated in a "Military 101" training (including those who attended the morning session), this session is designed and focused on the return of the Brigade and how it impacts the children.
Special topics include (but are not limited to):
  • Reintegration
  • Dual deployments of both parents
  • The dynamics of being a "step" family
 
Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Time: 1:20 to 3:45
Cost: Free
Register: Please call NCES at 800-268-5437 or 603-466-5437

In This Issue

Our World, Our Fate - Register by January 6th!

Using iPads to Achieve Educational Success for Students with Disabilities

Inquiry Science Series for Elementary Educators

Making Friends with Fractions!

Attention Guidance Counselors

Opportunity to attend NCTM conference in Philadelphia

Military Culture 101

Reintegration and Special Topics: NH National Guard Follow Up

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Education in the 21st Century...and Beyond
The LESCN 4th annual spring conference at Church Landing, Meridith, NH. Featuring keynote speakers Tony Baldasarro and Patrick Larkin. Friday, April 6, 2012. Visit http://www.lescn.org/ fmi.
Learning Forward NH Spring Conference
Featuring Ruben Puentedura
May 9, 2012
SNHU, Manchester, NH
learningforwardnh.org
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Member Status
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SAHE Partnering Schools
Berlin Public Schools
Bethlehem
Colebrook Academy
Colebrook Elementary School
Fall Mountain School District
Gorham
Goshen-Lempster
Groveton Elementary School
Groveton High School (6-12)
Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District
Keene School District
Lafayette
Landaff
Lisbon
Nelson
Pittsburg School
Profile
Stark Village School
Stewartstown Community School
Stratford Public School
Winchester School District
Contact Info
For more information:
North Country Education Services
300 Gorham Hill Road
Gorham, NH 03581
nces@ncedservices.org
800-268-5437
603-466-5437
www.ncedservices.org
 
Directions to NCES
North Country Education Services • 300 Gorham Hill Road • Gorham • NH • 03581