BI-COUNTY BRIEF - APRIL 2009

Volume 6, Issue No. 9                                                                                                      April 2009  

STATE SUPERINTENDENT VISITS THE AREA
State Superintendent of Schools, Chris Koch, recently spent the day in Monroe and Randolph counties.  Among the highlights of the visit was a press conference at Chester Grade School to roll out their new SMART Table, a walk- through of the nearly complete Waterloo High School, and a dinner at Red Bud Elementary School.
On the morning of March 28th Dr. Koch participated in a press conference in Chester, where the SMART Corporation introduced a new piece of technology called the SMART Table.  Four Chester elementary students and teacher Alisa Herrell demonstrated the features of the table, which is designed for early elementary students.  The computerized table fosters collaborative learning in almost any discipline.  Television stations KFVS from Cape Girardeau and WSIL from Marion were on hand to cover the event, along with reporters from local newspapers and radio stations.  Because of the Chester School District's emphasis on technology and school improvement, it was chosen by the SMART Corporation for the rollout of the table.  Only eight of the tables exist in the nation.
The Platinum Chef Team Challenge is sponsored by the Monroe-Randolph Regional Office of Education, the Okaw Regional Vocational System, and Southwestern Illinois College.  The following teams and students were recognized for their achievements at the Challenge:  1^st place – Red Bud (Teacher Joyce Carnahan), 2^nd place – Chester (Teacher Tina Thornberry), 3^rd place – Valmeyer (Teacher Sandra Livengood),  Best Teamwork – Coulterville, Most Impressive Showmanship – Steeleville, Most Organized – Valmeyer, Most Innovative – Chester,  Best Score on Written Test – New Athens, Best Dishwashing Team – Columbia, Best Appetizer Plate – Chester, Best Entrée Plate – Waterloo, Best Plated Dessert – Columbia.

CERTIFICATION AND RENEWAL WORKSHOP
Any educator who has a certificate expiring at the end of this fiscal year (June 30, 2009) may begin the renewal process immediately.  The new Educator Certification System (ECS) allows standard and administrative certificate holders to renew as early as September of the fiscal year in which the certificate expires.  Initial certificate holders may renew their certificate at the same time, but are required to apply for a standard certificate as soon as 4 years of teaching have been completed.  If this is the fourth year of teaching on an initial certificate, the application process for a standard certificate may be completed as of April 1^st.
The ROE will be conducting a hands-on TRAINING ON CERTIFICATION AND RENEWAL on April 29^th at the SWIC Red Bud Campus in the Computer Lab Room 150 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  This meeting will cover the renewal requirements and process for Initial and Standard certificate holders.  There will be a brief discussion of general certification topics such as applying for endorsements.  If you are renewing your certificate this year, you should have received in the mail your renewal notification and registration form for the event. You may, also, RSVP by calling 939-5650 or emailing ahicks@roe45.org so we may prepare an appropriate number of handouts.  Bring some of your professional development documents as we will be entering them into ECS. You do not have to be renewing this year to participate.

PLATINUM CHEF TEAM CHALLENGE
The Red Bud High School gymnasium was the setting for the 3^rd annual Platinum Chef Team Challenge.  Culinary teams from 10 of our area high schools competed for the coveted Platinum Chef trophy.  It was a fabulous day of creative competition for the teams, each made up of 5 student chefs and their support staff (dishwashers).
A fine panel of judges, comprised of local chefs, food editors, and culinary arts students, evaluated the students.  Students from the Culinary Arts program at Southwestern Illinois College spent the morning observing and promoting effective sanitation techniques. 
The Platinum Chef Team Challenge is sponsored by the Monroe-Randolph Regional Office of Education, the Okaw Regional Vocational System, and Southwestern Illinois College.  The following teams and students were recognized for their achievements at the Challenge:  1^st place – Red Bud (Teacher Joyce Carnahan), 2^nd place – Chester (Teacher Tina Thornberry), 3^rd place – Valmeyer (Teacher Sandra Livengood),  Best Teamwork – Coulterville, Most Impressive Showmanship – Steeleville, Most Organized – Valmeyer, Most Innovative – Chester,  Best Score on Written Test – New Athens, Best Dishwashing Team – Columbia, Best Appetizer Plate – Chester, Best Entrée Plate – Waterloo, Best Plated Dessert – Columbia.

YOUNG AURHORS' CONFERENCE
The Fourteenth Annual Young Authors' Conference, Write A-Way, was held on March 28, 2009 at Chester Grade School.  The Chester American Legion Honor Guard presented the colors while the National Anthem was sung by the Chester High School Swing Choir.  Children's author and poet, Byron von Rosenberg of Byrnes Mill, Missouri, was our guest author.  His presentation was humorous, informative and enjoyed by our 168 young authors as well as their parents, grandparents, and everyone in attendance.  Our special thanks to Conference Chairperson Tammy Cowan and Chester Grade School for hosting this enjoyable day.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

April 6, 7, 8, 2009	Mentoring (Individual Evaluations)	SWIC - Room 150	4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
April 7, 2009	Homless Liaison	SWIC - Perf. Arts	9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
April 17, 2009	Instructional Practices Inventory - Dr. Jerry Valentine	Waterloo Annex	8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
April 21, 2009	Best Reading - LiteracyEnvironment & Diff. Inst.	SWIC - Red Bud	8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
April 21, 2009	Spelling Contest	St. Mary's, Chester	6:00 p.m.
April 23, 2009	Project Citizen Hearings	SWIC - Red Bud	9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
April 24, 2009	Project Citizen Hearings	SIU - Carbondale	9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
April 25, 2009	Art Contest	Columbia Middle	9:00 a.m.
April 29, 2009	Teacher Certification Renewal	SWIC - Red Bud	4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
RETIRED TEACHERS MEETING
April 14, 2009	Randolph County meeting 5635 State Rt. 4, Steeleville	Dizzie's Fan-Tastic Sports Bar	Noon
April 20, 2009	Monroe County meeting 901 Illinois Avenue., Waterloo	Monroe County Annex	11:00 a.m.