January 2009 Key Messages

Message from the Commissioner

Last month has seen numerous school closures. Some schools may have lost as many as ten days of instructional time. Consequently, many inquiries have come in regarding waivers of the 180-day calendar. However, superintendents have stayed focused on their greatest priority, ensuring the safety and well-being of children, their families, and school staff. I am very proud of the way NH schools have responded to this emergency situation.

Making decisions in the best interests of our children has always been our first priority. Once operations have returned to normal, each school district will assess its individual situation to determine how best to accomplish educational requirements for the remainder of the year.

State law allows school boards to request a waiver of the 180-day requirement when weather or other emergencies result in a significant amount of lost school time. My expectation is that superintendents will review academic programs to determine what needs to be accomplished between now and the end of the school year and to establish a schedule to accomplish those critical educational tasks. In the Minimum Standards for School Approval, another alternative involves offering a minimum number of instructional hours (990 hours for middle schools and high schools, and 945 hours for elementary). After a superintendent and the school board consider available alternatives, as Commissioner, I will be very willing to consider requests for a waiver.

While balancing the educational opportunities for students with the need to respond responsibly to this current emergency, we intend to be sensitive and flexible with requests from our school leaders. However, all of that is for future consideration and should not influence the closings or openings of school; tending to the needs of each student's physical, personal, social, and academic well-being must always be front-and-center.

Accountability, Assessment, Curriculum, and School Improvement

A. Fall NECAP Results for Reading, Mathematics, and Writing

Fall NECAP Results for Reading, Mathematics, and Writing tentatively will be released on January 20 and 21. Confidential student level data is scheduled to be posted to a secure password protected Web site January 20 at 7:00 a.m. Schools and districts will receive letters from Measured Progress with accounts and passwords for the secure Web site. Public data is scheduled to be available at 10:00 a.m. on January 21 at reporting.measuredprogress.org/nhprofile/ and www.education.nh.gov. Workshops to discuss the results are being planned.

Contact: Tim Kurtz, (603) 271-3846 tkurtz@ed.state.nh.us

B. English Language Proficiency Test

NH DOE has chosen ACCESS for ELLs® as the state English Language Proficiency test for all students with limited English proficiency (also known as English Language Learners). Under federal education law (Title I and Title III), ALL students who are identified as Limited English Proficient (LEP) are required to be assessed each year with this approved assessment. This year's testing window is January 12 to February 27, 2009. Teachers who administer the ACCESS must be certified to give the test by taking an online training course and passing the certification tests.

"LEP students" are defined as currently enrolled students who have not already reached threshold proficiency scores on the ACCESS test.

Please note: The test must also be given to any LEP identified student who is currently eligible but who is not receiving services for ANY reason. There are some very limited exceptions to this participation requirement.

Contact: Susan Morgan,(603) 271-3719, smorgan@ed.state.nh.us

C. Mathematics Certification Standards

Committees have been working for the past year on mathematics certification standards for teaching credentials relating to middle school and secondary mathematics. The committee is looking for input regarding their work. An online forum has been set up to gather public input on the documents. Deadline for input is January 9, 2009.

Contact: Christine Downing, (603) 271-3844, Christine.L.Downing@ed.state.nh.us

D. Recruitment for Statewide Assessment Committees

The Department is recruiting for several statewide assessment committees. Details on the committees can be found at the Web site listed below. To apply to serve on a statewide assessment committee you must complete a formal committee application form. (Informal e-mails will not be accepted in lieu of a completed form.) Committee application forms are available online at: www.education.nh.gov under "Test Item Review and Bias Committees." Members are needed for the Test Item Review Committees scheduled to meet March 23-25, 2009 for NECAP mathematics and reading in grades 3-8 and 11.

Contact: Gail Taylor, (603) 271-8266, Gail.J.Taylor@ed.state.nh.us

Data Issues

A. Arts Education Survey

The New Hampshire Arts Education Survey is gearing up for statewide rollout in 2009. This school-by-school survey of arts education programs will provide individual districts with a quantitative review of their arts programming and the State with a never before analysis of New Hampshire's overall arts landscape. Now is the time to connect with principals and arts staff so that they can begin reviewing survey questions in preparation for the spring online data entry time period.

A PDF version of the survey instrument plus supporting documentation will be available at www.education.nh.gov the beginning of February and the online system will be activated for 6 weeks from mid-March to the end of April.

Contact: Marcia McCaffrey, (603) 271-3193, mmccaffrey@ed.state.nh.us

B. i4see
EOY 2007-2008 (End of Year) Final Report

Please ensure that the EOY is certified and that the Determination Report from the EOY (End of Year) data from the i4see workbench has been sent to the Bureau of Data Management.

C. BOY 2008-2009 (Beginning of Year)

The Fall Enrollment Sign-off, along with the Dropout Report and the Completers Report, are now due. Please certify the BOY (Beginning of Year) File and send all reports to the Bureau of Data Management.

D. Other data issues

• Real Time Entry and Withdrawal for High School Students is now in progress.
• Bureau of Data Management fax number is (603) 271-3875.

Contact: Sandy Hyslop, (603) 271-2831, shyslop@ed.state.nh.us

Funding Issues

A. School Building Aid

a Please submit Form A24F and any other missing documentation as soon as construction projects are complete. We cannot make the final payment on any project with missing documentation.

b. House Bill 1446 makes changes to the procedures for prorating new projects when they cause a shortfall in the School Building Aid budget. Districts considering Capital Appreciation Bonds or other types of financing with early principal payments should discuss this with the School Approval Office. Early payments incurred after the passage of the most recent state budget may not receive the fully entitled reimbursement until the next state budget is established.

Contact: Marjorie Schoonmaker, (603) 271-3620, mschoonmaker@ed.state.nh.us

Grants and Requests for Proposals
ALL RFPs Can be Found on the Department Web site at www.education.nh.gov

A. 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Program

NH's 21st CCLC Program announces its 2009 competition for an anticipated $2 million. The program's purpose is to raise student academic achievement through the creation and expansion of community learning centers during out of school time hours that provide students with academic enrichment opportunities as well as additional activities designed to complement their regular academic program. All schools with a minimum of 30% of the student population identified as recipients of the free/reduced lunch program by October 2008 are eligible to apply. Middle and high schools are eligible if the majority of the feeder elementary schools meet the eligibility criteria. Priority points will be awarded to Schools and/or Districts in Need of Improvement.

Applicants for 21st CCLC funds must demonstrate collaboration between a local educational agency (LEA) and one or more community-based organizations (CBOs), faith based organizations (FBOs) or other public or private entities and must primarily serve students who attend schools with a high concentration of economically disadvantaged students. The lead agency may be the school, district, CBO, FBO or other organization but must always partner with an eligible school. A timeline is included below. The RFP will be posted to the Department's Web site after the Bidders Conference.

2009 21st Century Community Learning Center Program Competition Timeline

Month, Year	Task
January 9, 2009	Bidders Conference: NH Department of Education, Room 15 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. New Grantees Applying 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Current Grantees Reapplying 2009 RFP posted on NH Department of Education Web site
January 23, 2009	Fax Intent to Apply
March 2, 2009	Application Deadline
March-April 2009	Application Reviews
May 1, 2009	21st Century Community Learning Center Grant Award Notification
July 1, 2009	Awards Commence

Contact: Suzanne Birdsall, 520-6263, sbirdsall@ed.state.nh.us or
Christina Durkee, (603) 271-7306, cdurkee@ed.state.nh.us

B. Educational Surrogate Parent Program: Regional Master Surrogate Parent

The New Hampshire State Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education is seeking proposals for up to five (5) Regional Master Educational Surrogate Parents who will be responsible for providing management, telephone support, and e-mail support for educational surrogate parents in their region. The five (5) regional groups are: North Country; Lakes Region; Southwest; South Central; and Southeast. Deadline for receipt of proposals: Friday, January 16, 2009.

Contact: McKenzie Harrington, (603) 271-3739, mharrington@ed.state.nh.us

C. Technical Assistance to Local School Districts

The New Hampshire State Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education is seeking Proposals for up to three (3) individuals to provide technical assistance to school districts regarding State priorities: State Performance Plan (SPP); Annual Performance Report (APR); State assigned tasks; and school districts corrective action plans from Monitoring, Program Approval, Complaints, Due Process, and District Determinations. Deadline for receipt of proposals: Friday, January 16, 2009.

Contact: McKenzie Harrington, (603) 271-3739, mharrington@ed.state.nh.us

D. Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program Services

The New Hampshire Department of Education is currently seeking proposals from all interested applicants (community-based organizations, school districts, postsecondary institutions, faith-based organizations, agency collaboratives, etc.) to provide WIA program services to at-risk youth between the ages of fourteen (14) and twenty-one (21) years of age who meet economically disadvantaged eligibility requirements established by the Workforce Investment Act, Title I. A completed application is due on or before 4:00 pm on February 4, 2009.

Contact: Bonnie St. Jean, (603) 271-3805, bst.jean@ed.state.nh.us

Initiatives

A. Heads Together '09 Conference

This very important conference is for educators, business leaders, higher education officials, policy makers, and community-based organization staff and volunteers. Heads Together will be held February 5, from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Grappone Conference Center.

Governor John H. Lynch joins the state's top educational and workforce leaders to kick off the fourth Heads Together '09 Conference. Workforce Opportunity Council Chair Dick Anagnost and Lyonel Tracy, Commissioner of Education will offer opening remarks on New Hampshire's exciting new efforts to blend education with job skills preparation. From raising the dropout age to Follow The Child, and a new $35 million Job Corps Academy, there's plenty going on to help New Hampshire compete in the global workplace.

Do educators and employers understand each other? Are schools teaching what employers need from our emerging workforce? Do our employers need to participate more in curriculum development? Heads Together 2009 will explore these questions and many others as we share, discuss and debate the issue of graduation rates and dropouts.

Deadline for registration is January 30. More information can be found at www.education.nh.gov.

Contact: Bonnie St. Jean, (603) 271-3805, bst.john@ed.state.nh.us

B. NH RESPONDS High School Demonstration Sites

The New Hampshire Department of Education recently selected the two high school Demonstration sites of the NH RESPONDS Grant: Professional Development for Excellence in Education. The two awarded high schools are Kennett High School, Conway and Somersworth High School, Somersworth.

These two high schools will receive, over the next four years of the grant period (2008-2012) training, technical assistance, and support to their high school for the implementation with fidelity of a school-wide three tiered system of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) inclusive of data collection and analysis and an individualized, school-to-career service model called RENEW (Rehabilitation, Empowerment, Natural supports, Education and Work) to help the most at risk high school student earn credit toward graduation through appropriate alternative means.

Contact Amy Jenks, (603) 271-3842, ajenks@ed.state.nh.us

C. Web site Redesign Survey

The Department of Education is in the process of redesigning the DOE Web site. In an effort to determine our constituents needs we have created a survey. If you would like to complete this survey please log on to www.education.nh.gov. A link to the survey is at the top of the page.

Contact: Lori Temple, (603) 271-6646, ltemple@ed.state.nh.us

NH High School Redesign

A. New England Secondary School Consortium

New Hampshire and three other New England states announced a regional partnership aimed at transforming high schools for the 21st century. This consortium will ensure that the academic performance and educational attainment of every student in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont will be competitive with their peers worldwide. The Consortium has set five ambitious and specific goals, including: increasing the graduation rate to 90 percent; decreasing the drop-out rate to less than one percent; increasing the percentage of students who enroll in a two- or four-year college to 80 percent; reducing the need for college developmental/remedial courses to 5 percent; and ensuring that more students who enter college graduate from college. These goals are aligned with existing NH initiatives such as the implementation of the "Tough Choices or Tough Times" reform framework; New Hampshire High School Redesign strategies; and the Follow The Child Initiative. The charge of Follow The Child is to educate the whole child by addressing the physical, social, personal, and academic components and reporting tangible evidence of growth in each area. It is a personalized education that helps New Hampshire students learn today, graduate tomorrow, and prepare them for the future. More information about the New England Secondary School Consortium can be found online at www.newenglandssc.org.

Contact: Paul Leather, (603) 271-3801, pleather@ed.state.nh.us

Special Education

A. Educational Surrogate Parent Program - Enrich a Child's Future

Would you like to make a difference in the education of a child with special needs? The Educational Surrogate Parent Program is looking for caring individuals who are committed to children and understand the importance of education.

Training Schedule:

• Saturday, January 17, 2009 at Rye Public Library, Rye, NH (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
• Saturday, February 28, 2009 at Granite State College, Conway, NH (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
• Saturday, March 21, 2009, Newbury, NH (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
• Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Pease Public Library, Plymouth, NH (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
• Saturday, May 23, 2009 at NH Department of Education, Concord, NH (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
• Saturday, June 6, 2009 at Rye Public Library, Rye, NH (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
• Saturday, July 25, 2009 at Granite State College, Conway, NH (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

Contact: McKenzie Harrington, (603) 271-3739, mharrington@ed.state.nh.us

B. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Facilitator Training

Become a certified NH DOE facilitator and enhance your ability to lead meetings, strengthen communication, and build team capacity. The IEP Facilitation Program, coordinated by the New Hampshire Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education, trains and certifies volunteers to act as NH DOE Special Education team facilitators. Facilitators, at the request of a district or parent(s) and with both in agreement, attend an IEP meeting on school grounds and facilitate the meeting for all parties involved.

Training Schedule

• Saturday, January 24, 2009, Center Barnstead, NH (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
• Saturday, February 21, 2009 at Pease Public Library, Plymouth, NH (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
• Saturday, March 14, 2009 at NH Department of Education, Concord, NH (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

Contact: McKenzie Harrington, (603) 271-3739, mharrington@ed.state.nh.us

C. New Hampshire Rules for the Education of Children with Disabilities

A complete copy of the NH Rules can be found on the New Hampshire Department of Education Web site: www.education.nh.gov. Copies will be available, upon request, and in alternate formats.

The Bureau of Special Education will be providing technical assistance for understanding the changes to the NH Rules for the Education of Children with Disabilities.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009	1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.	NHDoE - Room 15
Wednesday, February 18, 2009	1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.	NHDoE - Room 15
Wednesday, March 18, 2009	1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.	NHDoE - Room 15
Wednesday, April 8, 2009	1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.	NHDoE - Room 15
Wednesday, May 13, 2009	1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.	NHDoE - Room 15
Wednesday, June 10, 2009	1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.	NHDoE - Room 15

Contact: Santina Thibedeau, (603) 271-6693, sthibedeau@ed.state.nh.us

D. New Hampshire Special Education Information System (NHSEIS)

The New Hampshire Department of Education and PCG will continue to hold weekly forums via conference call on the New Hampshire Special Education Information System (NHSEIS).

Conference line number: 1-888-742-8686
Conference ID: 1745834

• Thursday, January 8, 2009 - 10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m.
• Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 3:00p.m. - 4:00p.m.
• Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m.
• Thursday, January 29, 2009 - 3:00p.m. - 4:00p.m.
• Thursday, February 5, 2009 - 10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m.
• Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 3:00p.m. - 4:00p.m.
• Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m.
• Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 3:00p.m. - 4:00p.m.
• Thursday, March 5, 2009 - 10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m.
• Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 3:00p.m. - 4:00p.m.
• Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m.
• Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 3:00p.m. - 4:00p.m.

Contact: Terry Hersh, (603) 271-3775, terry.hersh@ed.state.nh.us

School Approval Standards
This section applies to both public and nonpublic schools

School Approval

a. Please provide fire and health reports, including re-inspection reports, as they become available.

b. A number of schools were designated as conditionally approved by the State Board last June. Conditional approval is granted for one year at a time. Schools may be conditionally approved for up to three consecutive years. Schools designated as conditionally approved should make corrective actions as soon as possible and forward the appropriate documentation to the school approval office. Status will be changed to approved as soon as all standards are met.

c. Minimum Standard Reminder - Ed 306.22 states that school districts may elect to offer distance education courses. If a district chooses to offer distance education, there are certain requirements, including policies that must be established. The school board must establish policies relative to awarding of credit, supervision of students, and compliance with federal and state laws pertaining to privacy and broadcasting of information.

Contact: Marie Morgan, (603) 271-4125, mmorgan@ed.state.nh.us
Leslie Higgins, (603) 271-3759, lhiggins@ed.state.nh.us

Professional Development

A. Data-Driven Decision-Making (For administrators in schools with Reading Recovery)

On February 2, 2009, from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at PSU, 2 Pillsbury Street, Concord, there will be a workshop on using your school's Reading Recovery data to get the most power from Reading Recovery. Sessions includes lasting effects (as measured by NECAP scores), among other topics.

Contact: Helen Schotanus, (603) 271-3841, hschotanus@ed.state.nh.us

B. Educating the 21st Century Student: Web 2.0 Safe and Savvy

The Local Education Support Center Network (LESCN) will host a conference on "Educating the 21st Century Student " on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at Church Landing at Mills Falls, Meredith, NH. Peter Reynolds of Fablevision is scheduled to deliver the keynote. Scott Spradling, formerly of WMUR, will moderate a panel discussion. A variety of breakout sessions will feature NH professionals with expertise on internet use and the students in our schools. Registration will be available through www.lescn.org.

Contact: Jen Middaugh, 775-8693, jmiddaugh@sau16.org

C. E-Learning for Educators Online Professional Development Courses (Opportunities for Districts and Winter Registration)

OPEN NH (New Hampshire e-Learning for Educators) offers online professional development opportunities for districts. Districts can register 5 teachers in any regularly scheduled course offered during a regular OPEN NH session or 5 teachers in a combination of courses offered during a regularly scheduled session of OPEN NH courses for the price of 4 ($400). Districts can also schedule any single OPEN NH course for personal delivery to 8-25 educators for only $1900. A course can be delivered at a requested time for 8-25 teachers or a course not already offered during a regularly scheduled session can be offered.

To request a special course, a designated team leader should complete a Special Course Delivery Registration form available online and send it to the OPEN NH Project Coordinator for processing. Graduate credits are available through Plymouth State University at additional cost. Complete list of courses can be found on the Web site www.opennh.org.

The OPEN NH Winter session for 2009 will run from February 3rd through March 24th. The list of courses offered during the Winter Session can be found on the Web site at: nheon.org/opennh/courses/CurrentCourseSchedule.html.

Contact: Stan Freeda, (603) 271-5132, sfreeda@ed.state.nh.us

D. New Hampshire Teachers of Mathematics (NHTM) Conference

The annual NHTM conference will be held on March 17, 2009, at Keene State College. The theme of the conference is Mathematical Literacy. NHTM has been experiencing some difficulties with its Web site. So for now please use www.nhmathteachers.org to access NHTM information and updates.

Contact: Christine Downing, (603) 271-3844, Christine.L.Downing@ed.state.nh.us

E. 2009-2010 Reading Recovery Teacher Training

Applications for next year's training will be on the Department Web site in January at www.education.nh.gov. It is high quality professional development in the teaching of early literacy. An interested person may observe a class. A session behind-the-glass at Plymouth State University in Concord at 2 Pillsbury Street, shows what the course is like. There is no charge to a district or teacher for the course and the six graduate credits awarded.

Contact: Helen Schotanus, (603) 271-3841, hschotanus@ed.state.nh.us

F. Reducing Energy Costs Workshop

There will be a workshop on reducing energy costs for business administrators and facility directors on January 22nd at Plymouth State University from 8:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m. To register go to www.neep.org/HPSE/index.php.

The Manchester energy workshop that was canceled due to the ice storm will be rescheduled at a later date.

Contact: Ed Murdough, (603) 271-2037, emurdough@ed.state.nh.us

G. Response to Intervention (RTI) for Behavior or Literacy: Universal Prevention and Intervention.

This NH RESPONDS Grant training opportunity is available to NH school teams on February 6 & March 13, 2009 at Southeastern Regional Education Service Center (SERESC), Bedford, NH from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. This two-day training series is open to any NH public or charter school considering or beginning implementation of Response to Intervention (RTI) for behavior support or literacy. School teams (minimum of 3 people) will need to choose an RTI Literacy or an RTI Behavior Support strand and must commit to attend both days of this two-part event on February 6th and March 13th. The primary focus of both strands will be on understanding and perfecting the universal, or primary, level of RTI. Dr. Steve Goodman, Co-Director for Michigan's Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative will be the keynote speaker on February 6th. Deadline for team registrations is January 27, 2009. For a copy of the brochure, click on the link below and scroll down to Upcoming Workshops: www.education.nh.gov.

Contact: Amy Jenks, (603) 271-3842, ajenks@ed.state.nh.us

H. Science Professional Development

There will be several science professional development opportunities during the upcoming year. These will be held in Room 15 at the NH Department of Education from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. There is no cost but some sessions have limits due to materials. The next session, Informal Science Data Work, will be held on January 15, 2009, to discuss "May Is Outside Learning Month" as well as to review their data sets and samples from their October 17th meeting. For a complete listing of workshops, or to register, go to the Department's Web site at www.education.nh.gov, and click on "Upcoming Events."

Contact: Jan McLaughlin, (603) 271-3856, jmclaughlin@ed.state.nh.us
Gail Taylor, (603) 271-8266, Gail.J.Taylor@ed.state.nh.us or
Jiffi Rainie, (603) 271-7450, Jennifer.rainie@ed.state.nh.us

I. Greater Manchester Professional Development Center (GMPDC)

Upcoming workshops at the GMPDC include a LoTi Leadership Symposium (Levels of Teaching Innovation) and Classroom Walkthroughs with H.E.A.T. These programs will provide opportunities to improve instruction through high quality professional development with a focus on improving student performance. For a complete listing of workshops log on to www.gmpdc.org/workshops or contact Lori Collins, GMPDC Director at 628-6144 or lcollins@mansd.org.

Department Staff Updates

Dr. Robert McLaughlin has joined the Bureau of Credentialing. Bob will be working closely with the Institutes of Higher Education (IHE) as well as with other parties on teacher preparation and program approval. He can be reached at (603) 271-2634 or robert.mclaughlin@ed.state.nh.us.

Cheri Sullivan has joined the Bureau of Special Education as an Educational Consultant. Cheri will be working with the Team on the State Performance Plan (SPP), Annual Performance Report (APR), as well as other Bureau initiatives. She can be reached at (603) 271-3776 or cheri.sullivan@ed.state.nh.us.

Resources

A. Adoption Basics for Educators:
How Adoption Impacts Children & How Educators Can Help

As educators enter the schools of the 21st century, they are encountering an increasingly diverse population of students. Students are not only coming from different ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds, but also from varied family situations, including adoptive families. Adoptive families can exhibit considerable diversity, including infant, international, older child, sibling group, kinship and special needs. Regardless of the type of adoption, most adopted children deal with emotional issues surrounding adoption. Unless educators have a personal connection with adoption, they may not understand how these issues impact their students and affect students' school performances. This booklet was developed to provide educators with basic information about adoption-related issues and the effect these issues might have on students, as well as suggestions on how educators can assist and advocate for students who were adopted.

This booklet was originally developed by the Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association and edited by the New Hampshire Adoption Advisory Council (NHAAC), a committee whose purpose is to be a voice for adoption in NH. The NHAAC is a group of social workers, adoptive parents, school and agency personnel working to promote understanding of adoption issues. A complete copy of the booklet can be found at www.education.nh.gov. If there are questions or comments about the booklet, please e-mail Angela.D.Keef@dhhs.state.nh.us.

B. Christa McAuliffe Planetarium

The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium has embarked on an exciting transformation to become the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, New England's air and space museum. On March 6, 2009, the first phase of this project will be complete, offering new interactive exhibits, engaging programs, an expanded gift shop, a café, special event areas, and the state-of-the-art Planetarium. Upon completion of the project, the Discovery Center will quadruple in size, offering 45,000 square feet of space for new interactive exhibits (permanent and traveling), simulation experiences, an observatory, and an expanded NASA Educator Resource Center. The Planetarium is pleased to provide a special offer for memberships and gift memberships purchased by January 31st. For more details on benefits and membership packages, visit www.starhop.com and click on "Membership" or call (603) 271-7831 for more information. In addition to this special offer, active teachers will receive 10% off membership purchases.

Other

Celebration of Education

The Department of Education working in conjunction with NH Business Education Association (NHBEA), Manchester Monarchs, and New Hampshire Fisher Cats, have organized educator appreciation events. The Monarchs "Celebration of Education" will take place on February 22 and the Fisher Cats event will be in April. Both events will have pre-game celebrations involving the outstanding educators and will have a special commemorative program listing all the participating educators. Additionally, there will be special raffles and door prizes available only to educators present. For both events, any teacher can receive a complimentary ticket and discount tickets for their friends and family to participate in the celebration. More information will be available soon.

As a build up for the events, the Department of Education is hoping to have a series of TV, radio, and newspaper spots. New Hampshire notables will describe in an interview how a teacher made a difference in their lives, as well as some educators answering the question on why they teach.

Please join us at these incredible events in "Celebration of Education" in New Hampshire.

Contact: Lori Temple, (603) 271-6646, ltemple@ed.state.nh.us

Granite State Scholars

Each year, the Commissioner of Education is required to designate Granite State Scholars. The designations are made from lists submitted to the Commissioner's Office by the high school principals within the state. The principals should send their lists in Excel or spreadsheet format to Mary Mayo at the New Hampshire Department of Education, 101 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301 or mmayo@ed.state.nh.us. The list should also include the student's home mailing address. This year, the Department is asking that the names of the qualified students be sent to the Department any time after October 31, 2008 and no later than February 27, 2009.

The qualifications for designation are:

1. Student must be a high school senior, under the age of 21
2. Student must be ranked in the top 10% of the senior class
3. Student must have scored at least 1200 on an SAT exam taken on or before January 31st of the student's senior year (or an equivalent score on ACT). The 1200 minimum SAT score - is the Reading and Math combined. The SAT test dates for 2008-09 are December 6, 2008 and January 24, 2009.

In addition, home-school students are to be considered for designation, as well as students in high schools that do not rank order its students. These last two elements will require some thought about how to identify these students.

Contact: Sarah Browning, (603) 271-3879, sbrowning@ed.state.nh.us

NH Teacher of the Year Nominations

Superintendents, principals, teachers, school staff members, teacher organizations, parents, and others interested in New Hampshire schools are encouraged to nominate an outstanding teacher by submitting their request to the New Hampshire Department of Education by February 17, 2009. A Teacher of the Year candidate should be an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled person from any state-approved or accredited school, pre-kindergarten through grade twelve, who intends to continue in the teaching profession. The purpose of the program is to select a teacher who is worthy of speaking for and energizing the teaching profession, and representing the positive contributions of all teachers statewide. Selecting a Teacher of the Year is an exceptional way to celebrate the many outstanding and dedicated people teaching in New Hampshire schools. Teacher of the Year nomination forms and applications can be downloaded from the Department of Education Web site at www.education.nh.gov. Nominees must submit their applications to the NH DOE by March 20, 2009. All nominees who submit the required information will be honored at a ceremony in April.

Contact: Lori Temple, (603) 271-6646, ltemple@ed.state.nh.us

NH School Nurse of the Year

Each year the New Hampshire School Nurses Association (NHSNA) gives school districts throughout the state the opportunity to nominate their school nurse for "NH School Nurse of the Year." This award recognizes an outstanding school nurse for her contributions to the school and community. To be eligible for this award your school nurse must meet the following criteria:

• is a registered professional nurse
• has been practicing school nursing for a minimum of three (3) years
• is a member of the New Hampshire School Nurse Association this year and the prior year
• show evidence of excellence in school nursing practice.

For information on the nomination process call Anne Marie Rich (432-6925), Laurie Fleming (432-1224) or Katherine Rannie ((603) 271-3891). Nomination forms can be accessed online at the NHSNA Web page, www.nhschoolnurses.org. Deadline for nominations is January 16, 2009.

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)

Nominations are now being accepted online for the 2009 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The PAEMST Online Application is now available at www.paemst.org. To apply, teachers must first be nominated for the award. Teachers may nominate themselves or someone else (e.g., principals, teachers, parents, or other members of the general public) may nominate them for this award. Once nominated, teachers will receive an e-mail with a login and password to access the online application. The application deadline for secondary school teachers (Grades 7-12) is May 1, 2009.

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th-grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Awardees are recognized for their contribution to teaching and learning and their ability to help students make progress in mathematics and science. In addition to honoring individual achievement, the goal of the award program is to exemplify the highest standards of mathematics and science teaching.

Contact: Jan McLaughlin, (603) 271-3856, jmclaughlin@ed.state.nh.us (for science)
Christine Downing, (603) 271-2844, Christine.L.Downing@edstate.nh.us (for mathematics)

Opportunities to Honor Fellow Mathematics Educators

The New Hampshire Teachers of Mathematics provides opportunities to recognize outstanding mathematics educators throughout the State of NH. The three distinct awards include:

• The Richard H. Balomenos Memorial Award - This award is presented annually to a NH mathematics educator who has shown outstanding or meritorious service or leadership to the mathematics education community on a statewide basis. Nominations for this award are due by January 15, 2009.
• The Fernand J. Prevost Mathematics Teaching Award - This award is given to a beginning teacher in his/her first, second, or third year who exemplifies the characteristics Dr. Prevost brought to his teaching. Nominations for this award are due by January 15, 2009.
• The Richard C. Evans Distinguished Mathematics Educator Award - The intent of this award is to highlight creativity and innovation in the teaching of mathematics to all students. The recipient of this award will have five or more years experience and represent Dr. Evans' philosophy, passion, and knowledge of mathematics education. Nominations for this award are due by January 15, 2009.

For more information or further details about any of these awards please visit www.nhmathteachers.org and click on the Awards & Scholarships Button.

Contact: Christine Downing, (603) 271-3844, Christine.L.Downing@ed.state.nh.us

Tomorrow25 Program

Bentley University, a leader in business education in the Boston area, is now accepting nominations for the fifth annual Tomorrow25 program. Tomorrow25 is an international competition to identify 25 high-achieving students who are already making things happen in their world. The Tomorrow25 Committee is seeking outstanding high school juniors who are leading change in their school and community. Previous winners of this prestigious award have demonstrated leadership through a variety of actions including philanthropy, social responsibility, cultural awareness and commitment to technology. Nominations are due by January 15, 2009 and are typically submitted by business and community leaders, teachers, school administrators and guidance counselors (nominations from family members cannot be accepted). For selection criteria and nomination forms, please visit www.bentley.edu/Tomorrow25.

Entrepreneurial Scholarships

The McKelvey Foundation is honored to award $40,000 scholarships to young entrepreneurs nationwide who have started their own businesses. Each scholar will be awarded up to $10,000 per year to attend any four-year college within the United States. Applicants will be required to meet scholarship criteria. Winners of the Entrepreneurial Scholarships will enjoy being part of a larger entrepreneurial networking community and will be given the opportunity to meet with other scholars during our summer e-Venture program. Applications are due by January 25, 2009. Scholarship applications and criteria can be found at mckelveyfoundation.org/entrepreneurial.

NH High School Short Film Festival Seeking Submissions

The New Hampshire Film and Television Office, an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources, is seeking submissions for the 2009 New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival, which will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord. Students from NH public and private high schools are encouraged to start planning and producing their projects, which do not have to be created as part of a class assignment. The submission period opens February 1, 2009 and closes on March 31, 2009. More details are available at www.nhstudentfilm.com. Media arts faculty interested in receiving updates about the Festival via e-mail should contact film@nh.gov.

Panasonic National School Change Awards

Annually, six schools across America are recognized for having "significantly changed" over the past 4-5 years. Nearly 650 schools, from 44 different states, have been nominated in the past nine years for recognition as schools that have significantly changed for the better. Responding to 16 specific criteria, each school provides data and documentation to support their quest for this prestigious national award. Schools measure themselves against 16 criteria within these four dimensions:

• How meaningful is the change? - Is it substantial rather than superficial?
• How deep and broad is the change? - Is it systemic rather than isolated?
• How is the change focused? - Is it student centered looking at teaching and learning?
• How is it measured? - Is it solution or outcome oriented?

For information and applications visit www.npli.org/nsca, all materials must be received by March 4, 2009.

New Hampshire Envirothon

The New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts is seeking an individual to serve on a contract basis (approximately 10 hours per week) to manage the New Hampshire Envirothon, a high school academic competition conducted by the Association. NH Envirothon is an independent program for New Hampshire that also participates in an international level North American competition sponsored by Canon, where students on state and provincial teams compete for recognition and scholarships by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. In both the New Hampshire and the Canon Envirothon programs, teams of five high school students exercise their natural resources knowledge and problem-solving skills in competitions centered on four universal testing categories (soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, and wildlife), as well as an annual specific current environmental issue. Specific information on the programs may be found at www.nhacd.org and www.envirothon.org.

Autism Mini Sessions

The New Hampshire Resource Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Institute on Disability will present Autism Mini Sessions, a four-part, schedule-friendly workshop series that features informative and interactive topical discussions on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) designed to provide practical ideas to complement teaching and parenting strategies.

Sessions:

• Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - "Communication Supports for Students with ASD" with Rae Sonnenmeier, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
• Thursday, February 12, 2009 - "Creating Visual Supports for Learning the General Education Curriculum in the General Education Classroom: A Practical Work Session" with Cheryl M. Jorgensen, Ph.D.
• Monday, March 16, 2009 - "Rethinking the Role of Context" with Cathy Apfel, M.Ed.
• Tuesday, April 7, 2009 - "Literacy and Students with ASD" with Leigh Rohde, M.Ed.

Time: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: UNH Institute on Disability, 10 West Edge Drive, Suite 101, Durham, NH
Registration Fee: $30 per session, *Limited to 15 participants per session

For more information and to register: visit www.iod.unh.edu/events.html or call 228-2084. Questions about this or other workshops? Visit the IOD online at www.iod.unh.edu, call 228-2084, or e-mail contact.iod@unh.edu.

STEM Polar Connections Institute

The University Of Massachusetts is offering a Professional Development opportunity in polar studies to qualified teachers at the Amherst, MA campus in June 28-July 2. The program is funded by the National Science Foundation and provides stipends and travel expenses. STEM Polar Connections is designed to promote the teaching of science concepts and processes related to the Polar Regions and to emphasize connections to State and National Science Standards for the middle and high school. It includes a one-week summer institute and academic year online discussion forums, and features a variety of proven techniques for effective teaching, including inquiry-based teaching, cooperative learning, and methods for formative assessment of student learning. Participants will be expected to use selected materials in their classrooms and also to aid in the dissemination program. Applications are due April 1, 2009. For an application or more information go to www.umassk12.net/ipy.

NH Center for the Book Planning "NH Reads To Kill a Mockingbird"

The Center for the Book at the NHSL (www.nh.gov/nhsl/bookcenter) is in the process of preparing a grant application for an NEA Big Read Project (www.neabigread.org) focusing on Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Should the Center for the Book receive this grant, the Big Read Project will take place during March 2010. Participating sites will be expected to have events (book discussions, presentations on topics related to the book, etc.) during March 2010 and will receive copies of the book as well as teaching materials, a Readers Guide and audio guides to the novel. If you are interested in being part of this project contact Mary Russell (mary.russell@dcr.nh.gov) BEFORE January 15, 2009 so that your site can be included in the grant request.

National Green Week

Please sign up your school to participate in National Green Week, February 2-8, 2009. Participation is free and will provide your school with environmental curriculum for green assignments, activities and projects that can be seamlessly integrated into science, math, language arts, social studies, and creative arts curricula. The goal is to educate students on the importance of sustainability and the role they can play in environmental awareness. To learn more about how your school can participate go to nationalgreenweek.com.

The LeadershipSchool at Kieve

The Leadership School at Kieve is a five-day residential experience that combines rigorous and relevant group work, individual reflection, and a host of fun, interactive and adventure-based initiatives to address many of the issues youth face daily, both in and out of the school setting. It is the intention of The Leadership School at Kieve that all students will have access to character education regardless of socioeconomic status. For more information go to www.kieve.org and follow the links to The Leadership School.

National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest

Each year the U.S. Department of Justice sponsors a national poster contest and announces the winner at the annual National Missing Children's Day Ceremony in Washington, DC. All local schools have the opportunity to participate in this contest. Student involvement in the poster contest promotes peer education, while compelling students to explore the significance of the theme "Bring our Missing Children Home." A complete packet of information relating to the poster contest can be found at: ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/programs/postercontest.

Schools participating in the event will have the opportunity to submit their winning poster for judging to the NH Department of Education. Winning posters from each school should be sent to the NH Department of Education, Attention Lori Temple, no later than March 4, 2009. We look forward to receiving an entry from each school and hope that your school will join in this exciting and important national competition. Thank you in advance for your assistance and support.

The national judging will take place in April 2009, and one national poster contest winner will be selected. The national winner will travel to Washington, DC, accompanied by his/her teacher and parents to receive an award. This national winning poster will be used in 2010 as the pictorial theme for Missing Children's Day.

Contact: Lori Temple, (603) 271-6646, ltemple@ed.state.nh.us