Information Exchange Vol. 47 No. 35

INFORMATION EXCHANGE

Newsletter of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
September 20, 2019

Last call! REAP Weather Education Program now accepting applications

Are you an educator looking for a new, interesting way to engage your students in STEM? Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) is excited to be soliciting applications for its Weather Education Program. Recipients will be loaned one Davis Vantage Pro2 Weather Station for use in developing a place-based, student-led and multi-year project that addresses a local energy issue in their community. Eligible applicants include K-12 teachers from all disciplines, as well as informal educators that engage with students on a regular basis. Applications must be submitted no later than September 27.

Last call! School Policies as Cancer Prevention: Healthy Eating & Physical Activity

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is hosting a Policy Forum & Luncheon Wednesday, September 25, 2019, 10:00 am—1:00 pm in Anchorage. The goal of this forum is to learn about local successes and identify what we can do next as Alaskans to reduce the effects of chronic disease on our economy and health care system. The format will be an expert panel discussion followed by a luncheon celebrating our policy successes and the partners who made them possible. This forum is open to the public, but an RSVP is required for seating and meal count. For more information, contact Heather.Aronno@cancer.org or RSVP at www.fightcancer.org/alaskaforum. 

Last call! 14^th Annual School Health and Wellness Institute Scholarships Available  

There are three scholarship opportunities available this year:​

1. School Health & Wellness Scholarship
2. School Health Success Story Scholarship
3. Fourth R Healthy Relationships Curriculum Training Scholarship

Registration is free and travel scholarships pay transportation and hotel! Each scholarship opportunity has their own application and requirements. September 25 application deadline.

NEW! Save the Date: September 25 Twitter Chat with 2019 National Teacher of the Year

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) invites you to join a Twitter chat hosted by the 2019 National Teacher of the Year Rodney Robinson focused on creating a positive school culture on Wednesday, September 25 at 7 p.m. ET. During this time, Rodney will generate a conversation to share advice, best practices, and resources to encourage teachers and teacher leaders to create classroom environments where students feel motivated and empowered to achieve success throughout the school year. Join the conversation by following #ChatwithNTOY19 on Twitter.

NEW! Nunalleq: Stories from the Village of Our Ancestors 

Nunalleq: Stories from the Village of Our Ancestors is a free interactive educational resource for Mac and PC, which invites children to explore the story of the archaeological excavations of the Nunalleq sod house. This multi-vocal resource was co-designed by the Nunalleq Archaeology Project and local Quinhagak community. It brings together narratives from archaeologists, Elders, Alaska Native artists and young people within the village.

Reminder: Registration Open: 2019 Alaska IDA Conference: Raising Reading Rates for All

This 13-hour conference includes 2 tracks: an educator track ($100 + optional UAA credit $104) and a parent track ($50). The educator track is for all educators teaching (or responsible for) reading instruction K-6. Focus will be on foundational knowledge in the science of reading, reading profiles, identification of struggling readers, dyslexia, and an introduction to teaching Tier 1 phonological awareness in the general classroom. The parent track will cover foundational knowledge, identification, support, and advocacy for struggling readers of all ages. Dates: Friday, November 1 (4pm-8pm) and Saturday, November 2 (8:30am-5:30pm, lunch included) at APU campus in Anchorage. 

Reminder: Facilitation trainings offered in Anchorage

Conversation is as natural as walking. It doesn’t feel like something we need to learn how to do. But just as a great running coach can teach you to run faster and more efficiently, a great conversation coach can teach you to design conversations and ask questions that more effectively strengthen relationships and build community. The Alaska Humanities Forum offers two types of facilitation training - both are personal and professional development opportunities for educators, coaches, supervisors, facilitators, and anyone looking to improve the quality of their relationships: 1) The Art of Powerful Questions, September 27, 2019, 2) Leading Conversations that Build Community, October 3-4, 2019

Reminder: National Archives Holding Youth Art Competition

The National Archives is holding a youth art competition for students in grades 4, 5, and 6 in conjunction with their Rightfully Hers exhibit commemorating the 100^th anniversary of women’s suffrage and the 19^th Amendment.  Winners will receive free gifts from the National Archives Store and the Grand Prize is a free trip, including travel, to the National Archives Sleepover in the spring. Submissions close November 5, 2019 and winners will be chosen in December. Want to learn how contestants will be judged? Check out the full rubric for more info.

Reminder: Alaska State Museum Call for Entry: Alaska Positive and Solo Artists Exhibitions

Alaska Positive: A juried biennial photo exhibit, a series meant to encourage photography as an art form in the state. Alaska Positive will open at the Alaska State Museum on December 6, 2019 and run through February 15, 2020. A statewide tour will follow. Alaska State Museum Solo Artists Exhibitions Series: All visual artists who live in Alaska, and who have not had a solo exhibit at the Alaska State Museum in the past 6 years, are welcome to apply. Artists may use existing work in their application but are strongly encouraged to develop new work for this opportunity. Both of these calls will close on October 12, 2019.

Reminder: Alaska Close Up Early Bird Registration by Nov. 15

Alaska Close Up, a program of SERRC - Alaska's Educational Resource Center, has opened registration for 2020 dates. The sessions will take place Feb. 9-14, 2020, and Feb. 23-28, 2020, in Juneau. Alaska Close Up brings 7th-12th grade students and chaperones into Juneau to instill a sense of civic duty and to inspire them to participate effectively as informed, responsible citizens of our state. The program teaches participants about state government through hands-on activities and arranged field trips that include meeting with legislators, visiting various government sites, and holding their own mock committee and legislative simulations.

Reminder: Career Connections Early Bird Registration by Nov. 15

Career Connections, a program of SERRC - Alaska's Educational Resource Center, has opened registration for 2020 dates. The sessions will take place Mar. 29-Apr. 3, 2020, and Apr. 19-24, 2020, in Juneau. Career Connections is a week-long, hands-on career exploration program held in Juneau, open to all 9-12th graders. Students who attend will:

• Visit exciting job sites in diverse career fields
• Visit and explore a university campus and post-secondary training sites
• Use AKCIS to explore future careers
• Develop a realistic, workable plan to obtain a job they are passionate about
• Practice employability skills

Reminder: WCFH Seeking Parents for Family Engagement Training Opportunity

Are you a parent of a young child and want to make a difference in your home, school, and community? Parent Engagement Training housed at the Section of Women, Children, and Family Health (WCFH) is developing 20 short, 15 minute, self-paced online learning modules based upon proven advocacy trainings, to promote parent engagement and expand parent confidence in advocating for their children. See attached flyer for details. Please contact John Cartwright at john.cartwright@alaska.gov or at 907-334-2420 if you or someone you know is interested and available to participate.

Reminder: Back to School Town Hall: Bullying in Schools; Kids with Disabilities Tell Their Stories

The Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education will be hosting their community fall forum on September 30 at 4:00pm at the Atwood Building in Anchorage. Participation is also available by Zoom. The forum will include an opportunity for public testimony. See attached flyer for details.

Reminder: Save the Date: Alaska Book Week October 6-12, 2019

Alaska Book Week is a statewide event that annually celebrates the many ways that we all appreciate books, from readings, to panels, lectures, discussions, exhibits and youth activities. This year it will be held from about October 6 to October 12. Participants may include schools, libraries, universities, publishers, authors, bookstores, individuals, and organizations that want to join this educating, entertaining, and event-filled week.

Reminder: October 10 Economic Impact Summit: No Small Matter

thread invites you to join the business community, government officials, industry experts, and thought leaders from across the state on October 10 in Anchorage for a meaningful conversation about the economic impact of early care and learning in Alaska. For more information on this event contact thread at marketing@threadalaska.org or call 907-265-3100.

Reminder: Free Book Bundles for Communities without access to Imagination Library

Best Beginnings currently has a grant to support a statewide Book Bundle project. This project allows them to send a year's worth of Imagination Library books to children (birth to age 5) in communities that do not have an Imagination Library program. This is a free program that mails books to Alaskan children who do not have access to Imagination Library. The project is funded through the end of January 2020.

Repeat Special Feature: Join the Alaska Education Network – Project ECHO

Project ECHO is a statewide initiative focused on uniting Alaska’s educational leaders with the intention of building a support network. They offer 75-minute sessions via Zoom every other week with three themes to choose from: Educational Leadership, Instructional Development, and Positive Behavior, Safety, & Well-Being. All educators at any level are encouraged to join! There is no cost to participate! Sessions start October 2 and run through April 29. 500 level credit offered through UAA Pace.

DEED Releases 2019 Statewide Assessment Results

Statewide, district, school, and subgroup level results from the Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s Schools (PEAKS) assessment and the Alaska Science Assessment are now available online. School districts have until September 25 to distribute student-level reports to parents and educators.

American Rocketry Challenge 2020 Registration Now Open

The contest provides students in 6^th -12^th grades the opportunity to design, build, and launch model rockets, gaining hands-on experience solving engineering problems. Now in its 18^th year, nearly 5,000 students from across the country participate annually. The 100 top-scoring teams are invited to the national finals in Washington, D.C. next May, where they'll compete for over $100,000 in cash prizes and the chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to represent the United States in the upcoming 2020 International Rocketry Challenge in London. *Financial Support Offered for Title I Schools*

AKRISE! Rural Educators Network Opportunity

The Alaska Rural Innovation & Student Engagement Network (AKRISE!) is having their first face-to-face gathering on October 24^th in Anchorage. They are recruiting 30-50 teachers from across rural Alaska to:

• Engage in joint work and collaborative learning about authentic questions that matter to teachers working in rural Alaska and their students
• Benefit from sustained collaboration with their job-alike peers through both in-person and virtual gatherings
• Build collective capacity through sharing expertise and the cross-pollination of ideas and effective practices
• Collaborate using strategies such as action research, lesson study, co-curricular projects and video reflection.

A flyer with more information is attached. Register by October 1.

Vietnam War Commemoration FREE Educational Resources Available to Schools, Museums, and Libraries

The United States of America's Vietnam War Commemoration is a Department of Defense office authorized by Congress in 2008 and launched by the president in May 2012 to honor the service and sacrifice of America's Vietnam War veterans and their families. The office’s History & Legacy Branch has developed a series of educational materials to aid teachers in helping their students understand the importance of the Vietnam War in our nation's history. Posters and teacher's toolkits may be requested by educational institutions to include libraries, museums, and schools by e-mailing whs.pentagon.wso.mbx.vnwar50th-edu@mail.mil, and are shipped via FED EX. Contact Debora Cox to learn more.

FIRST LEGO League & FIRST Tech Challenge Registration Now Open

FIRST LEGO League (grades 4-8) and FIRST Tech Challenge (grades 7-12) team registration closes on October 1. Coach training and support available for new coaches. Robotics "season" runs from September through December, with championship events in January and February. Virtual tournament options available to remote sites. In-person tournaments in Ketchikan, Juneau, Anchorage, Kenai, Bethel, and Fairbanks. Over $80 million in scholarships available to program participants. Contact firstak@jedc.org to learn more. 

ASTE 2020 Call for Proposals is OPEN!

The Alaska Society for Technology in Education will hold its 40^th conference February 22 - 25 at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage. ASTE invites you to submit a proposal for the annual conference. The submission deadline is October 14. Accepted presenters are eligible for ASTE conference fee discounts as stated in the Presenter Guidelines.

Nominations Sought for 2019 School Counselor and Advocate of the Year Awards

The Alaska School Counselor Association is seeking nominations and applications for the 2019 School Counselor of the Year and the 2019 Advocate of the Year. October 7 submission deadline.

Early Career Explorers – Free Downloadable Classroom Resources

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education offers Early Career Explorers –a series of free downloadable classroom resources for PK - 4^th grade students. Early Career Explorers classroom resources allow elementary teachers to incorporate career exploration alongside traditional subjects. By incorporating career exploration into standard elementary curriculum, students build a strong foundation to better understand the importance of academics, extracurricular activities, and healthy study habits as it relates to future career goals.

I Know I Can - 2^nd grade early college awareness reading program

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, in partnership with UA College Savings Plan, announces limited partnerships available for I Know I Can – a second grade program. Through this program volunteers engage 2^nd grade students in taking initial steps to identify a career goal and learning plan.

Kids2College – 5^th/6th grade early college awareness program

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, in partnership with UA College Savings Plan and Sallie Mae Fund, announces limited partnerships available for Kids2College – a 5^th/6^th grade program. Through this program students begin to identify their career interests and build personal learning and career plans; learn how to best prepare for college and career training; and learn about college entrance exams, admissions, and financial aid.

AKCIS Jr. – Free Online Tool & Curriculum for Personal Learning and Career Plans (PLCP’s)

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, offers AKCIS Jr. – a free online tool for 5^th - 8^th grade students and classrooms. AKCIS Jr. is a free online program with college/career planning activities and simple instructions; allowing students to develop a personal portfolio account to plan and track education and career plans.

Registration Open: Fall Healthy Futures Challenge 

The 3-month activity log challenge helps elementary-aged students learn to build the habit of daily physical activity. Kids receive incentives for each successful log and grand prizes are rewarded to students and schools for outstanding participation. Elementary schools (usually a PE teacher or interested teacher wanting to champion the cause) can register here. There is no cost and the program is designed to support and enhance existing curriculum. 

Registration Open: 2019 Alaska Association for Career and Technical Education Professional Development Conference

“Growing Stronger Together 2019”, the only statewide conference dedicated to professional development of Career Technical Education (CTE) professionals in Alaska will be held on October 13- 16, 2019 at the Hotel Captain Cook in downtown Anchorage. The keynote speaker this year will be Dr. Kevin Fleming, creator of the "Success in the New Economy" video and national author on career and technical education in the 21st Century. Other featured speakers will share latest research in student success, post secondary CTE trends, and the economic trends in Alaska.

Registration Open: 14^th Annual School Health and Wellness Institute

Registration is now open for the 14^th Annual School Health and Wellness Institute occurring Oct. 28-30, 2019, in Anchorage at the BP Energy Center. View the robust agenda! Multiple “4^th R=Relationships Curriculum” and general scholarship opportunities available! Contact Emily Fairbanks at emily.fairbanks@traveletm.com or 786-0132.

Alaska Student Delegates Sought for U.S. Senate Youth Program

The United States Senate Youth Program has begun its statewide selection process. In March 2020, two Alaska students will join 104 other delegates for Washington Week – an intensive educational program about the workings of the Senate and the federal government overall. Each delegate receives a $10,000 undergraduate scholarship and an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Alaska’s eligible students must be high school juniors or seniors, an elected student officer for the entire 2019-2020 academic year, and state residents. Students must be enrolled in a public or private school. Only one scholar per school may be nominated. Applications are due November 1, 2019. The Alaska contact is Bjorn Wolter at bjorn.wolter@alaska.gov.

GRAMMY Museum Seeking Nominations for Educator Award

The Jane Ortner Education Award honors a non-music educator who uses music in her or his classroom. The application is short and straightforward, with educators being asked to submit an original lesson plan that they have used in their classroom. The winning educator is able to attend the GRAMMY Awards telecast with a guest (paid for by the museum), gets a $3,000 personal honorarium, a $1,000 honorarium for their school, and is honored at a GRAMMY Museum event. Additionally, there are professional development opportunities both in-person and via webinar for those interested in learning how to use music in their classroom. December 4 application deadline.

Thinking about pursuing a masters in library science? Then be sure to consider an AkLA Scholarship!

Each year the Alaska Library Association awards General Graduate Library Studies scholarships in the amount of $4000.00 to students pursuing graduate studies leading to a Master in Library Science degree. The deadline to apply is January 15. 

Coming this Fall: Google Student Contest to Develop Open Source Software

Google Code-in is a contest to introduce pre-university students (aged 13–17) to open source software development. In the fall, Google chooses more than a dozen open source organizations to participate. The organizations create an extensive list of three- to five-hour tasks for students to work on. The tasks are categorized as Code, Documentation/Training, Outreach/Research, Quality Assurance, and Design. Competition begins in the fall; check the website for details.

To submit news items, please contact Erin Hardin at (907) 465-2803 or erin.hardin@alaska.gov. To be added or removed from distribution visit http://list.state.ak.us/mailman/listinfo/info_exchange. This newsletter is available weekly and in archived form at https://education.alaska.gov/news/infoexch.

This newsletter contains hyperlinks to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the reader’s convenience. DEED does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.