BI-COUNTY BRIEF - MAY 2009

   Volume 6, Issue No. 10                                                                               May 2009

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY SUMMER
My ROE staff and I wish administrators, teachers and support staff a rejuvenating and productive summer.  Thank you for your dedicatiopn to the young people of Monroe and Randolph counties.  We are happy to be serving such a competent and hard-working people and want to remind you, our doors are always open, even in the summer months, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

NEW SUMMER CERTIFICATION TESTING DATE IS JULY 11, 2009
Register now for the summer supplemental Illinois Certification Testing System Test at www.icts.nesinc.com until 5:00 p.m. July 1, 2009.  All of the ICTS multiple-choice-only content-area tests will be offered at the morning session - 7:15 a.m. to approximately 1:00 p.m. - on July 11, 2009, and candidates may take up to two tests during the session.  Edwardsville and Carbondale are the closest test sites, but 6 others are available.  Test fees will be the same, and the score report date will be August 7, 2009.

FESTIVAL OF THE BLUFFS: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
Illinois' stretch of the Ozarks is one of the most unique natural landscapes in the Midwest, offering stunning vistas, dazzling wildflowers, and over a dozen rare, threatened and endangered plant and animal species.  At the heart of this beautiful area lies Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve, the largest swath of remaining hill prairie in Illinois and one of only 600 National Natural Landmarks.
Don't miss the opportunity to visit this picturesque site at the Festival of the Bluffs Saturday, May 16^th in the Village of Fults from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Co-hosted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Clifftop, a nonprofit conservation organization of local landowners, the Festival will feature interpretive hikes; presentations on land stewardship; wildlife demonstrations; arts, crafts and plant sales; food; music and more.
Teachers get CPDUs—one CPDU for each hour they attend—by signing in and out at the welcome tent and completing an evaluation.  Visit www.clifftopalliance.org for more information.

MONROE-RANDOLPH TRANSIT DISTRICT LOGO CONTEST
MRT needs a logo . . . and your help designing one!  Grade and high school artists are asked to incorporate in their entries the MRT mission statement to provide affordable, efficient, accessible transportation for all residents of Monroe and Randolph counties.  "We provide rides to all ages, at all stages, to all places!"
Teachers, encourage your students to enter the MRT logo contest and be as creative as they can be to win the $100 grand prize.  The contest is open to anyone in school.  Entries are due no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 22 and should be e-mailed to jesi79@hotmail.com in jpeg or gif format or hand delivered or mailed to MRT Logo Contest, 128 W. Main Street, Sparta IL  62286.  Include your full name, telephone number, address, age and school name.  Direct questions to Jesica Pirtle 443-4433 ext. 100.

YOUNG AT HEART ENJOY "YOUNG AT ART"
Over two hundred excited and talented fifth- through eighth-grade artists participated in the five categories of the 2009 Regional Art Contest—illustrated drawing, cartooning, figure drawing, sculpture and still life.  In an hour, these students produced a work of art that was judged by volunteer judges while they and their parents waited another hour.  All received certificates and ribbons and a morning of creative expression.
Thanks to Tammy Fulte, chairperson, and her Art Contest Committee; Columbia Middle School and Principal Roger Chamberlain; all judges and volunteers; Gilster-Mary Lee for brownies and Columbia Music Boosters for their concession stand. 

STUDENTS SPELL AT ST. MARY'S
Fifty-four talented students from fourteen schools participated in the 2009 Spelling Bee at St. Mary's Catholic School in Chester on April 21^st.  With words like raccoon, environment and congratulations and anxious parents, grandparents and friends in the audience, these middle and jr. high schoolers spelled their way to the top: fifth grade—1^st Mickinney Zhang-St. Mark's Lutheran, 2^nd Corey Steibel-St. John's Lutheran, 3^rd Kara Puntriano-Red Bud Elem.; sixth grade—1^st Rachel White-Red Bud Elem., 2^nd Nathan DeRousse-St. John's Lutheran, 3^rd Pearl Zhang-St. Mark's Lutheran; seventh grade—1^st Caleb Grohmann-St. John the Baptist, 2^nd Sara Potter-St. Mark's Lutheran, 3^rd Ashley Butz-Chester Grade and eighth grade—1^st Allison Petrowske-Chester Grade, 2^nd Kaitlyn Meyer-Immaculate Conception, 3^rd Brittany Argus-Evansville Attendance Center.

LESSONS FROM LITERATURE SERVES TWO PURPOSES
For English teachers in grades 8 through 12, the free, online Lessons from Literature program was designed to extend and enrich the core literature curriculum while raising student awareness of the serious topic of abuse.  Aligned with English Language Standards of reading comprehension, cultural understanding, critical thinking, written expression, research skills, language/literary technique and terms, and communication among others and supported by the Family Violence Prevention Fund, Curriculum Council and National Council of Teachers of English, Lessons from Literature gives teachers a framework to use the novels, poems, plays and stories they are already teaching to help their students build healthy, non-violent relationships.  Here is an opportunity to be an ambassador for change.  "With Lessons from Literature, teachers inspire youth to think and act differently about relationships and their lives."  For further information visit www.stateschoolnews.com.

SUMMER ACADEMY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Again this summer the Regional Office of Education will be sponsoring a variety of workshops for its area teachers.  The offerings include technology topics, reading and math workshops, assessment information and two levels of mentor training.  Most of the offerings occur in June or July. See calendar below for specific events and dates. Also watch for a special summer booklet describing our summer program that will be sent to each teacher within the next two weeks!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 6, 2009	*Induction & Mentoring Leadership Team	SWIC, Red Bud - Conf. Rm.	2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
May 14, 2009	Guidance Counselor Meeting	SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 152	9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
May 15, 2009	Superintedents Council	Perandoe Evansville Program	9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
May 22, 2009	Technology Recycling Day	SWIC, Red Bud Parking Lot	9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
June 8 & 9, 2009	*Mentoring 101	SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 123	8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
June 11, 2009	RtI Reading Strategies, Grades 5-8	SWIC, Red Bud, Rm. 152	8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
June 12, 2009	RtI Reading Strategies, Grades 9-12	SWIC, Red Bud - Rm 152	8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
June 15 & 16, 2009	*The Coaching Cycle	SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 123	8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
June 15 & 16, 2009	High School Challenge Conference	Bloomington, IL
June 22, 2009	*Formative Assessment	SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 123	8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
June 22, 2009	Using SMARTBoard - Beginning	Red Bud Elem., Computer Lab	8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
June 23, 2009	*Analysis of Student Work	SWIC, Red Bud - Rm, 123	8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
June 23, 2009	Using SMARTBoard - Advanced	Red Bud Elem., Computer Lab	8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
June 25, 2009	Homeless Administrator Academy	SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 152	8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
June 26,2009	Improving High School Math Scores	TBA	TBA
June 30, 2009	Effective Classroom Assessment	St. Patrick's Parish Center - Ruma	8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
July 1, 2009	Wonderful World of Wikis and Blogs	Red Bud Elem., Computer Lab	8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
July 8, 2009	*Enhancing Skills/Data Collection	SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 123	8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
July 13 & 14, 2009	*Mentoring 101	SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 123	8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
July 20 & 21, 2009	*The Coaching Cycle	SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 123	8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
July 28, 2009	*Formative Assessment	SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 123	8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
July 29, 2009	*Analysis of Student Work	SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 123	8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
July 29, 2009	Effective Classroom Assessment	St. Patrick's Parish Center - Ruma	8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

                              *INDUCTION & MENTORING PARTICIPANTS ONLY.  
                               SEE PRINCIPAL TO BECOME A MENTOR.

RETIRED TEACHERS MEETINGS

June 9, 2009	Randolph County Meeting	Lollie's - 1775 N. Market, Sparta	12:00 Noon
June 15, 2009	Monroe County Meeting	Monroe County Annex - 901 Illinois Ave., Waterloo	11:00 a.m.