We are going to award four $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors attending college next year.
If you would please help me distribute these to the proper high school contacts, I would appreciate it.
Thank you.
Charlie Smithson
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Scholarship Opportunity
The attached document is a scholarship application process from the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Iowa (a branch of Freemasonry).
Iowa Governor's Conference on LGBTQ Youth
The 11th Annual Iowa Governors Conference on LGBTQ Youth will take place on April 25th, 2016 at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Des Moines and we are expecting another sell out crowd!
This annual event is an important opportunity for school counselors, educators, LGBTQ/allied youth, and anyone else who cares to learn more about issues impacting this population including bullying, homelessness, and suicide prevention.
Registration is open for this important event and you can save money by registering under the Early Bird discount by February 29th! There are also scholarships available for student attendees.
Register today for the 11th Annual Iowa Governors Conference on LGBTQ Youth!
We have an incredible line up of speakers including actress Lea DeLaria who is better known as Big Boo from the hit Netflix show Orange is the New Black. Lea is a terrific advocate for LGBTQ youth and inspires so many of us to be ourselves.
The most exciting announcement we have is our theme for this year - We Will Be Citizens. LGBTQ individuals continue to be persecuted against and this Governor's Conference has been targeted by the far-right in our state with some pretty outlandish accusations. This event is not going away and we are going to keep our focus on supporting LGBTQ youth in this state. We will be citizens.
Register today!
Our goal with this Conference is to ensure that every LGBTQ student, educator, counselor, administrator, and really anyone who sometimes feels left out - can spend a full day knowing they are not alone and are a part of a larger community that cares. I hope you can join us.
If you have questions feel free to email conference@iowasafeschools.org or call 515-471-8024.
This annual event is an important opportunity for school counselors, educators, LGBTQ/allied youth, and anyone else who cares to learn more about issues impacting this population including bullying, homelessness, and suicide prevention.
Registration is open for this important event and you can save money by registering under the Early Bird discount by February 29th! There are also scholarships available for student attendees.
Register today for the 11th Annual Iowa Governors Conference on LGBTQ Youth!
We have an incredible line up of speakers including actress Lea DeLaria who is better known as Big Boo from the hit Netflix show Orange is the New Black. Lea is a terrific advocate for LGBTQ youth and inspires so many of us to be ourselves. The most exciting announcement we have is our theme for this year - We Will Be Citizens. LGBTQ individuals continue to be persecuted against and this Governor's Conference has been targeted by the far-right in our state with some pretty outlandish accusations. This event is not going away and we are going to keep our focus on supporting LGBTQ youth in this state. We will be citizens.
Register today!
Our goal with this Conference is to ensure that every LGBTQ student, educator, counselor, administrator, and really anyone who sometimes feels left out - can spend a full day knowing they are not alone and are a part of a larger community that cares. I hope you can join us.
If you have questions feel free to email conference@iowasafeschools.org or call 515-471-8024.
ART Training Opportunity
Please see attached information about an ART training opportunity. Training is May 18 and May 19 in Ames. Registration is $240. Please see flyer if you are interested.
College Changes Everything
Counselors - Please disregard the Save the Date I sent out earlier. Iowa College Aid no longer has the
capacity to plan and sponsor the College Changes Everything conference
in June.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
College Changes Everything Conference!!!
As you know, College and Career Readiness seems to be the buzzword lately!! Iowa College Student Aid Commission has received a grant to put on a fantastic conference in June and the save the date is attached. Great speakers and applicable knowledge for school counselors, teachers and administrators! Please share the attached flyer with anyone interested!!! College Changes Everything Conference
Destination Graduation Summit
Please Join Us: Business, Economic Development, Nonprofit, Education and Government Leaders
Please join the Greater Des Moines Partnership and United Way of Central Iowa, in collaboration with GradNation, for the Excellence in Education: Destination Graduation Summit to explore ways business, education, community leaders, legislators, nonprofits and others can support our students by providing a strong career pathway for future success.
The purpose of the day will be to engage in conversations and develop partnerships about how we all play a role in providing students with the skills needed to be successful in their lives beyond the K-12 setting.
Central Iowa has been successful in increasing our community's high school graduation rate, but there are still significant segments of our population in which critical disparities exist.
At the Summit we will:
Your leadership and vision can help us to define what we as a community can do to help our students and their families make graduation their destination and increase our talent pipeline by developing the right talent to meet workforce needs.
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Wednesday, April 6
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Airport Holiday Inn Conference Center 6111 Fleur Drive, Des Moines
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FLOTUS Needs Your Help!
62 million girls around the world are not in school. They’re not getting any formal education -- no math, reading, writing -- none of the skills they need to realize their potential and provide for themselves and their families.
And while these girls may live halfway around the world from us, there is so much we can do right here at home to help them get the education they deserve -- so we need to take action right now, today.
Small steps in your community or on your college campus have the power to make a big difference.
You can organize a fun run, a battle of the bands, a trivia contest, a cocktail party -- anything you can dream up to raise awareness about these girls and help them go to school.
I'm passionate about this issue because I truly see myself in these girls -- in their hunger and their determination to rise above their circumstances and reach for something more. I know that many of you do too.
These girls are our girls, and we have a responsibility to do everything we can to give them the same kind of opportunities we had to get an education and fulfill our promise.
With millions of girls out of school, this won’t be easy. But when millions of us come together on their behalf, we can get this done -- one village, one school, one girl at a time.
Thank you,
First Lady Michelle Obama
P.S. A group of amazing artists (including Zendaya, Missy Elliot, Kelly Clarkson, Janelle Monáe and others) came together to record a song written by Diane Warren called "This is for my Girls," and the proceeds will go to support global girls’ education. It just had its world radio premiere on iHeartRadio and it’s making its debut on iTunes -- be sure to check it out!
This email was sent to sschirmer@heartlandaea.org.
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National News and Info for School Counselors
| New & Noteworthy |
| National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week: National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week (NIPAW) is an annual, community level program that takes place March 20-26, 2016 to highlight understanding and education around inhalant abuse prevention and poison prevention. Learn more about this week. NSHSS Conference Grant Offering: NSHSS, in collaboration with ASCA, is pleased to offer three $1,000 grants to enable ASCA members to attend the 2016 annual conference in New Orleans, July 9-12. The funds may be used to defray the costs of conference registration, travel and accommodations. Applications will be accepted through March 31, 2016. To apply, register as an educator online. Click the Grants link at the top of your dashboard after you log in. If you are already registered as an educator with NSHSS, log in to your dashboard to apply for the grant. Grant recipients will be announced in April. FAFSA Completion Challenge: NCAN is delighted to announce the FAFSA Completion Challenge, an opportunity for 20 U.S. cities to receive grants of $55,000 to lead a cross-sector FAFSA completion strategy and raise FAFSA completion rates for the high school senior class of 2017. The grant application deadline is April 15. For full details, click here. Office of Minority Health Grant Opportunities: The Office of Minority Health (OMH) administers grant programs to support projects that implement innovative models to improve minority health and reduce health disparities. OMH currently has two funding opportunity announcements for which applications are being accepted. Communities Addressing Childhood Trauma (ACT) Program and Re-Entry Community Linkages (RE-LINK) program. Learn more. Global Youth Service Day: Established in 1988, Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is April 15-17, 2016, and celebrates and mobilizes the millions of young people who improve their communities through service. GYSD is the largest service event in the world and the only one dedicated to the contributions that children and youth make 365 days of the year. Learn how you can get involved. College Signing Day: Two years ago, First Lady Michelle Obama announced her Reach Higher Initiative to encourage students to complete their education beyond high school. On April 26, 2016, she will celebrate Reach Higher’s anniversary and wants you to wear your college gear all day to support National College Signing Day. Share pictures of you, your office, your schools and your friends representing your alma maters with the hashtags #ReachHigher and #BetterMakeRoom. Click here to learn how you can host your own signing day event. Dermatology Scholarship Opportunity: Valeant Dermatology Scholarship Program will award scholarships of up to $10,000 each to nine individual students who will be attending an undergraduate or graduate education program during the 2016-2017 school year. Learn more or apply. Free Tools to Keep Students Healthy: ACE is helping kick germs out of the classroom with free resources like an animated video, teacher-created lessons and more to help keep students healthy.Watch the full video, lesson plans, workshops, and get more information. Connecting Kids to Coverage Campaign: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Connecting Kids to Coverage Campaign is a national initiative to reach and enroll families with eligible children and teens in free or low-cost health coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The campaign provides resources to raise awareness of these programs such as customizable print materials, outreach videos, webinars and social media communications tools you can use to to help you organize and conduct successful outreach activities in your community. Learn more or get involved. Bring Computer Science into your K-12 Classroom with Code.org: Your students are already glued to computers, games, and apps. If you want the skills to teach how tech works and how to take part in building it, you can introduce computer science to your classroom with Code.org curriculum and professional learning for educators of all backgrounds. Access curriculum and learn more about in-person workshops. Tips for Student-Athletes and Their Families: From registering with eligibility centers to signing a letter of intent, the college application process is different for student-athletes. The "Get in the Game" brochure breaks down the process into 10 steps to help student-athletes identify a college where they can pursue both their athletic and academic interests. Read it here. 11 Million Hispanic Children in Need: Meeting the needs of the growing Hispanic population requires an understanding of the lives of the 11.1 million U.S. Latino children living in, or near, poverty. A new brief from the National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families examines the number and household circumstances of these children, noting the proportion who are served by some of the social service programs intended for them. An infographic highlights these findings. Restorative Justice Practices and Bullying Prevention: States and districts are increasingly in support of policies and practices that shift school discipline away from zero tolerance, such as suspension and expulsion, to discipline that is focused on teaching and engagement. To this effort, districts and states are rethinking discipline and adopting both restorative justice practices (RJP) and bullying prevention (BP) as schoolwide efforts to provide school staff with a set of preventative and responsive strategies to supporting positive student behaviors. Click here to read more. School Safety: Highly publicized incidents of school-related violence capture our attention, but the bigger picture is decidedly more complex. The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice released their 17th annual report on school crime and safety. In general, school environments are becoming safer for children. Read more. 2016 National Children's Mental Health Awareness Week: As national events continue to illuminate the critical need for mental health care reform in this country, it becomes more important to increase efforts to educate the nation about the importance of prevention and early identification of mental health challenges. Please join the national dialogue and complete the event submission form with information about the events and activities you will be holding in your community for Children's Mental Health Awareness Week (May 1- May 7, 2016). Your event details will be posted on the website and social media outlets to share with thousands of families and mental health advocates across the nation. Submit your event here. |
Abdelkader Education Scholarship and News!
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FREE Webinar - Mental Health
ISCA/ICAN Webinar Series: Simple Steps for Students' Mental Health
March 31, 2016 at 11:00 am
Register Today: https://attendee.gotowebinar.
This webinar will discuss mental health from the perspective of students’ developing brain. It will provide an overview of how the brain evolves and how counselors and teachers can use this understanding to promote student’s mental health. It will offer simple activities that can be used to improve communication, diffuse conflict, and reduce anxiety.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Register Today: https://attendee.gotowebinar.
This webinar will discuss mental health from the perspective of students’ developing brain. It will provide an overview of how the brain evolves and how counselors and teachers can use this understanding to promote student’s mental health. It will offer simple activities that can be used to improve communication, diffuse conflict, and reduce anxiety.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Scholarship - Males going to UNI
My name is Benjamin Hirdler and I am the Balanced Man Scholarship Chairman for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at the University of Northern Iowa. Every year, we give out a scholarship to graduating males coming to the University of Northern Iowa.
I ask for your help in spreading the news of this scholarship to graduating senior males, who are going to or are interested in attending the University of Northern Iowa.
For more information about it can be found at www.unisigep.org/
We would also be very willing and excited to send a representative to talk more about the scholarship and what Sigma Phi Epsilon does at UNI if a group of students or counselors have any questions.
Thank you so much and have a wonderful day.
--
Best regards,
Benjamin Hirdler
Sigma Phi Epsilon | BMS Chairman
English Teaching and Philosophy Double Major
University of Northern Iowa
Executive Head Guard – Sportsplex
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Adolescent Health Summit and Resources
Whether you decide to attend or not - there are some great resources from this group here.
The Adolescent/Teen Community Collaborative (ATCC) Teen Summit is an opportunity to introduce Think Act Grow (TAG) to teachers, counselors, mentors and other community members who are influential in the lives and development of the adolescent population. The summit will introduce the TAG playbook and have sessions for each of the 5 pillars. The afternoon sessions will then be smaller groups to allow brainstorming, networking, etc. of how to implement and integrate these concepts into the participant’s programs.
Together we can improve the future of our children. This FREE event will be held April 28 at the Kansas City Health Department Beiry Auditorium. You can register here http://tagatccsummit.
Corstella Henley, MPH, CHES
Regional Minority Health Consultant, Region VII (MO, IA, NE, and KS)
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Email: corstella.henley@hhs.gov | Direct: 816.426.3458
Regional Listserv: https://list.nih.gov/archives/
Website: www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Host your own College Signing Day Celebration!
On April 26th, we want YOU to celebrate the students in your local community with your very own College Signing Day Celebration.
In May of 2014, the First Lady launched Reach Higher at the Destination College’s 4th Annual College Signing Day held at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Standing before thousands of students, the First Lady first shared her personal success story and then charged the audience saying, “We need everyone reaching higher for our young people.” Last year, the First Lady celebrated College Signing Day in Detroit, MI, with hundreds of other events happening simultaneously around the country.
Whether you are a mayor, a principal, a high school faculty member, community organizer, a celebrity, or someone who wants to see students succeed, we want you to get involved. We have created a Signing Day Toolkit filled with resources and examples of how you can answer the First Lady’s call to action. Keep in mind that this toolkit is not exhaustive so feel free to get creative and implement your own ideas. So get engaged:.
1) Sign up at ReachHigher.gov, let us know about your event and request an Administration speaker.
3) Get the PDF version of this email to pass along to others who may be interested, or just forward this along!
Counselor-Principal Workshop
There's still time to attend the "Leveraging the Counselor-Principal relationship to Increase College and Career Readiness" workshop sponsored by SAI! This is the workshop originally scheduled for February 2, but rescheduled because of the weather. It will be held March 31 from 8:30-3:00 at Noah's Event Venue in West Des Moines. For more information, please click here. Spread the Word!!!!
Character - Climate Resources
Great resources!!!!!! |
February 2016 School Climate News Recap
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 The Great Character Debate: Does Character Education Belong in Our Schools?
The National Liberty Museum conducted a study that promotes character education in schools. In response to the ongoing discussion around the importance of fostering "grit," a strong presence of resilience among students, the NLM argues that a wide range of character traits should be taught, as well as developed in the school buildings.
A small scale study undertaken by a Boston University professor explored which character strengths educators should focus on and how to go about doing so. The strengths or traits are broken down under three broader categories of character: moral, civic, and performance. A key takeaway from the study was that perseverance and school-connectedness were among the most powerful indicators of a student's grade point average.
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Making Social Inclusion the Norm in Schools
According to an annual report issued in late 2015 by the U.S. Department of Education, the percentage ofstudents with disabilities spending time in a general education classroom alongside their peers is on the rise.
Students at Bismarck Century High School in North Dakota are participating in a peer-to-peer mentorshipprogram that aims to make the high school culture and climate inclusive of everyone. The peer-to-peer program includes a leadership course in which students with and without disabilities learn, bond, and grow their skill sets alongside each other.
A classroom full of 5 and 6 year olds included one of their peers in an incredibly thoughtful way. Upon learning that their 6 year old fellow classmate, Zejd, was deaf and didn't know sign language, his teacher and peers decided to do this to not only include him, but promote the importance of social inclusion in their school.
NSCC has long prioritized inclusion efforts as an essential part of effective school climate improvement, including the development of a Social Inclusion scale that maps onto our leading school climate survey, the CSCI. Through our work with Special Olympics Unified Strategy for the past three years, NSCC has been exploring the relationship between school climate and social inclusion in schools across the country, as well as unpacking what it takes to create truly inclusive school climates.
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The Role of Humility in School Transformation
In a recent article from Greater Good, a principal shared the key behind her school's transformation: humility. Amy, the school's principal, made the controversial decision to focus on staff's relationship building with students as opposed to hitting academic goals. The rationale behind this decision was to remind students that they were more than just a test score; their social-emotional well-being mattered to the adults that they interacted with on a daily basis. Find out which hallmark trait of humble leadership Amy attributed to her success here.
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 Happy Child, School Day Worthwhile:
An Incredible Turnaround School Story
McGlone Elementary School was ranked red (the lowest category in Denver, Colorado Public Schools' rating system) and among the worst-performing schools in the city. Additionally, 95% of the district's students live in poverty which creates a unique set of challenges for students and school staff alike.
After a complete turnaround beginning in 2010, the school is now ranked green and boasts a 90% teacher retention rate. The principal attributes the successful turnaround to an increased emphasis on fostering a positive school culture and most importantly, ensuring that all students are happy students that feel safe and supported. McGlone's "joyful philosophy" has resulted in not only great academic growth, but social-emotional growth among students as well. Students report feeling safe, loved, supported, and engaged while at school.
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Why Don't Students Report Bullying? : Exploring Their Perception of Staff'sResponses to Hurtful Incidents
A recent survey of U.S. secondary students revealed that a high level of ineffectiveness exists in terms of how staff react, as well as respond to bullying. Only32% of all students who experienced bullying or another hurtful exchange told a school staff member. Furthermore, of the 64% of students who were identified as "most vulnerable," 50% did not report the incident to a school staff member because they felt that the adult wouldn't do anything to help.
According to Nancy Willard, the results of the survey underscores the need to remedy not only the lack of empowerment of bullied students, but also the counterproductive emphasis on bullying as a violation of school rules rather than a lack of positively developed social skills.
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Exposing an Imagined Dichotomy between Play and Learning with Playful Learning
The Importance of Being Little by Erika Christakis tackles what educators and policymakers perceive as a mutually exclusive relationship between learning and play in the preschool classroom. In her new book Christakis argues that children aren't getting enough play and imaginative learning from adults and that they would greatly benefit from it. Read Christakis' interview with NPR here.
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