Good
afternoon! Welcome to the 12th edition of GaDOE Updates, a newsletter from the
Georgia Department of Education. This is a space for news, information, and
spotlights on K-12 public education in Georgia.
In
between newsletters, keep up with GaDOE on Facebook
and Twitter. And send your tips,
ideas, and events for GaDOE Updates to Meghan Frick at mfrick@doe.k12.ga.us, and Matt Cardoza
at mcardoza@doe.k12.ga.us.
Teacher
Spotlight: Melissa Niemi, Arnold Magnet Academy
In
this edition of Teacher Spotlights, meet Melissa Niemi. She’s an eighth-grade
physical science teacher at Arnold Magnet Academy in Muscogee County, and was
one of seven U.S. teachers selected to participate in NASA’s Long-Term
Engagement in Authentic Research program. We talked with her about NASA,
project-based learning, and bringing science to life for students.
Here’s
a sampling of that conversation: “It is vital for Georgia to promote STEM
subjects and careers so our state can grow economically and compete in national
and world markets. STEM is all about doing…STEM is hands-on. By allowing
students to do and to touch and to experience, you give them a kind of
knowledge that lasts a lifetime.”
Continue
reading here.
How
Georgia students learn from heroes
The
videos all open with one man in the frame. The details are different – faces,
ages. But each man wears the same medal clipped around his neck, blue fabric
and gold metal, an Eagle perched atop a sharp-pointed star – the Medal of
Honor. As the videos continue, each man tells his story: How he came to the
service, where he served, who he was with. They explain how they came to win
the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest honor awarded for valor in
combat.
The
videos are part of the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, through
which students in participating Georgia schools learn from the oral histories
of Medal of Honor recipients. The living-history curriculum zeroes in on six
core values: courage, commitment, sacrifice, integrity, citizenship and
patriotism.
Continue
reading here.
Around
DOE lately
-The
percentage of students meeting or exceeding the standard on the Georgia High
School Writing Test (GHSWT) rose to 96
percent this year: http://bit.ly/1xYbBCu
-Georgia’s
high school graduation rate is also up, rising from 71.8 percent in 2013 to
72.5 percent in 2014: http://bit.ly/1zjuznn
-The
State Board of Education has proposed revisions to the CCGPS standards in ELA
and math. Those proposed revisions are open for a 60-day public comment period,
which began Nov. 12. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/1v4YONm
-The
Department awarded STEM School certification to Dunwoody Elementary School in a
ceremony Nov. 7: http://bit.ly/1pg6SJp
-Carrie
Madden, a full-time Georgia Virtual
School instructor, is the National Blended and Online Learning Teacher of
the Year: http://bit.ly/1pg6XfY
Around
the districts
-Here’s
a great photo from Sherwood Acres Elementary School, in Dougherty County. Kindergarten
students celebrated learning their letters and sounds by holding an “alphabet
parade” for students, staff and family members.
-Schools
and systems across the state joined in GaDOE’s I
CAN Play a Role Campaign for Parent Engagement Month. Here’s a photo from
Bibb County:
And
here’s one from Whitfield County:
Georgia’s
public schools in the news
Georgia
School for the Deaf, other teachers awarded grants by Georgia Power | Rome
News-Tribune: http://bit.ly/1FkFYlA
Norcross
business hires Atlanta Area School for the Deaf students | 11 Alive: http://on.11alive.com/1uv33iF
Medal
of Honor winners basis for lesson in Georgia classrooms | AJC: http://on-ajc.com/1xNY7YO
Juggling
offers unique physical education lesson | The Brunswick News: http://bit.ly/1r3IDiQ
State
Superintendent hails Cumming Elementary as family-friendly | Forsyth County
News: http://bit.ly/1tfarvB
Save
the date
Dec.
3: Deadline for submissions to the State Botanical Garden’s statewide art
competition. Drop submissions off in the lower level of the Callaway Building
at the Botanical Garden or mail to Connie Cottingham, 2450 South Milledge
Avenue, Athens, GA, 30605. Guidelines: http://bit.ly/1wADAHw
Entry form: http://bit.ly/1uFNkgn More
info: http://bit.ly/1qZpx9D
Dec.
10: Georgia Day of Code, information/registration here
View
previous newsletters
October
9, September
17, September
3, August
22, August
1, June
13, May
30, May
14, May
1, April
11, March
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