| December Education Themes |
Holidays Around the World
Since it's the holiday season, students from various backgrounds will all be celebrating with their families. Try incorporating lessons on the various holidays that are celebrated around the world such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Diwali, Rohatsu, Ramadan, Boxing Day, and Winter Solstice. It's important for students to have an understanding about various cultures and what they celebrate!
Read a New Book Month
Reading is an essential part of our everyday lives. Encourage students to open up their minds and let their imaginations wander this December for National Read a New Book month. You can incorporate classroom activities that coincide with this theme by assigning students to read a new book and share their experiences with each other. You can also encourage parents to join in on this activity by asking them to read together as a family. Why not turn the TV off for an hour and read for a change! Reading is not only beneficial to your imagination, but it will help build stronger vocabularies and communication skills in your students!
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Since the holidays are right around this time of year, you can be sure that students will be excited about all of the new toys they may receive. Keep in mind that there are over 140,000 toy-related emergency room visits a year, so why not inform parents and students alike about the need for age appropriate toys.
National Hand Washing Awareness Month
With winter rapidly approaching that also means it's time for flu season. One of the easiest ways to avoid the spread of germs and to keep from catching a cold is to regularly wash your hands. Remind students of the importance of keeping their hands clean and try placing antibacterial hand wipes or gels around the classroom to discourage the spread of germs.
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| CISPA Featured in The Patriot News |
In the Opinion section of the November 22nd Edition of the Sunday Patriot News, an article written by President and State Director, Nathan Mains, was published. The article addresses the Pennsylvania dropout epidemic and what Communities In Schools and residents throughout the Commonwealth can do to stop it. Read the article at www.cis-pa.org! |
| Communities In Schools National Founder, Bill Milliken was the Keynote Speaker of Graduate Pittsburgh Summit November 12, 2009 |
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Communities In Schools (CIS) National Founder Bill Milliken was the afternoon Keynote Speaker at the Graduate Pittsburgh Summit hosted by Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstah Thursday, November 12, 2009 at the downtown Pittsburgh YWCA. Bill Milliken was selected as the keynote because he is one of the most knowledgeable, successful and respected youth advocates in the United States, a champion of the drop out prevention movement to connect underprivileged youth with the resources and guidance they need to stay in school and prepare for success in life, and he is a Pittsburgh area native.
The day-long summit featured dropout data presentations from the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, Youth and Multi-Sector Panel discussions, and a Resource Expo featuring organizations, like Communities In Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County that offer services to educationally-at-risk students, their teachers and families.
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| Bill Milliken met with Educationally-At-Risk Students at CIS Academy-South Hills November 13, 2009 |
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School Administrators, Funders and Media were also invited to join our CIS Founder, Bill Milliken, as he visited our CIS Academy - South Hills Friday, November 13, 2009. We were thrilled that his schedule allowed for his visit to our facility which included a tour of the facility and meeting all of our students. Of special note, a group of our aspiring scientists presented to Bill and our other visitors a brief presentation about their environmental responsibility academic service-learning initiative - including a full explanation of the water quality testing on the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers (and the related sewage overflow issue that initiated the project).
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| Representatives Metcalfe and Rock Introduce Strike-Free Education Pact |
At a press conference yesterday Representatives Darryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) and Todd Rock (R-Franklin) introduced their Strike-Free Education Pact which would work to enact legislation prohibiting teacher unions from striking or being locked out. Rep. Metcalfe introduced HB 2092, the Strike-Free Education Amendment, which would constitutionally ban teacher strikes and lockouts. Rep. Rock introduced HB 1369, the Strike-Free Education Act, outlawing teacher strikes and lockouts and including a $5,000 fine. According to Rep. Metcalfe, the Pennsylvania Constitution states that the General Assembly provide for a "thorough and efficient" education system in Pennsylvania. Teacher strikes are "disruptive to our communities and to the lives of our children," said Rep. Metcalfe. "The ultimate objective of every striking teacher is to take away even more income from the taxpayers that they were hired to serve," stated Rep. Metcalfe.
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| Goodsearch |
Communities In Schools of Pennsylvania is now one of 85,000 non-profits and schools participating in a new search and shopping website program. GoodSearch.com is a search engine that is powered by Yahoo! that makes a donation to your cause every time you search. GoodShop.com is an online marketplace that that is the same as going to retailer's websites, but they donate a percentage of your purchase to your cause. | |
800 North Third Street, Suite 204
Harrisburg, PA 17102
P: 717.233.4330
F: 717.233.4331
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| Dates to Remember |
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December 7
State Board Meeting and PLC Grand Opening
December 8-10
National TQS Coordinator Meeting |
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