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Contra Costa County Office of EducationNovember 2010
Scheduled Events
Contra Costa Regional Area Energy Workshop
BioForum
CAHSEE Writing Preparation for English Learners and Struggling Students
CATESOL Northern Regional Conference
The Big Ideas Fest 2010
River of Words Art and Poetry Contest...
The Captain Planet Foundation
Environmental Excellence Awards
The Healthy Schools Program...
Meet the Titanic's Discoverer
American Education Week
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
2011 Mock Trial Program
High School Mock Trials (Law Professional volunteers needed)
Academic Decathlon (volunteers needed)
The Weather Channel Kids!...
Bay Area Environmental Education Resource Fair
Mangini Agricultural Museum and Garden
Quick Links

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Greetings!

Welcome to the November 2010 issue of Dateline.  This informative newsletter is for all those in Contra Costa County who work in education.  Please tell your fellow teachers and administrators, as well as your friends who would be interested to join our mailing list (see link button at the left column).

Professional Development / Opportunities 

Contra Costa Regional Area Energy Workshop
ConocoPhillips and the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project have partnered for the third year to provide teachers in 26 U.S. cities with an exciting and engaging curriculum to teach the topic of energy to students in today's classrooms.  The one-day energy classroom workshop will feature plenty of lesson plans, curriculum materials, and a set of Energy Infobooks for student research.  Along with meals, parking, and materials, all attendees' substitute reimbursements will be covered.
Date and location: Nov. 9, 8:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.; Courtyard by Marriott, Richmond
For info: Contact W. Moss (800) 875-5029 or visit the program's website
Fee: Free
BioForum
Experience California Academy of Sciences' BioForum, an event focused on current science topics relevant to teachers and their students.  This upcoming presentation is titled Human Evolution: Investigating Our Origins.  Science is always evolving.  New discoveries shape our current understanding of human evolutionary milestones such as bipedalism, the use of tools, dietary adaptation, changing body shapes and sizes, and life history.  The program will look at the roots of humanity, and explore key early hominin adaptations and their evolution through time.
Date and location: Nov. 6, 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.; California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr., San Francisco
For info: Contact the California Academy 800-794-7576, or visit their
website 
Fee: $30 ($25 for Cal Academy members)
CAHSEE Writing Preparation for English Learners and Struggling Students

This two-day program is designed for teachers of all subject areas, grades 8-12, to better assist their English Learners and struggling students in passing the CAHSEE writing test.

Dates and location: Jan. 25-26, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; CCCOE Pleasant Hill

For info: Contact Elvia Teixeira at (925) 942-3357, you can register online

Fee: $325

CATESOL Northern Regional Conference

The Monterey Institute of International Studies and the California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL) will be hosting a one-day teacher training conference titled Changing Tides: Transformative Teaching and Learning, featuring keynote speaker is Dr. Diane Larsen-Freeman of the University of Michigan.

Date and location: Nov. 13, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; The Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey

For info: Contact CATESOL or visit the conference's website

Fee: $45 CATESOL members, $55 non-members

The Big Ideas Fest 2010

The Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education is hosting the 2nd annual Big Ideas Fest.  An estimated 175 education experts and creative thinkers will gather for three days to inspire and design tangible ways to increase education's relevancy to learning in the 21st Century. Big Ideas Fest participants include: teachers, professors, board members, administrators, and students, as well as entrepreneurs, policy-makers, corporate leaders, foundation executives, and technology pioneers.

Date and location: Dec. 5-8; Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

For info: Contact via e-mail or visit their website

Fee: $650 (early bird), covers registration and meals

Resources / Contests

River of Words Art and Poetry Contest

Produced by the River of Words organization, entry forms are now available for their annual competition.  The contest, on the theme of watersheds, is open to any child from 5-19 years of age who have not completed high school.

Deadline: Dec. 1

For info: Contact (510) 548-7636 or visit their website

Grants / Scholarships

The Captain Planet Foundation

The Captain Planet Foundation funds grants to promote understanding of environmental issues for school-age children.  Grant amounts range from $250-$2500, with applications reviewed quarterly.

Deadline: Dec. 31

For info: Contact Taryn Murphy or visit their website

Environmental Excellence Awards

Excellence Awards will recognize the outstanding programs created and implemented by students and teachers across the country who are working at the grass-roots level to protect and preserve the environment.  Awards between $5,000 and $10,000 will be presented.

Deadline: Dec. 1

For info: Contact (877) 792-4332 or visit their website

The Healthy Schools Program

The Healthy Schools Program (HSP) was launched with the goal to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015.  This grant seeks to support schools with seed funds to implement and sustain a healthier school environment.  Schools will be eligible to earn grant awards of up to $4000.

For info: Contact Nicole Walker or visit their website 
Deadline: Nov. 17

Upcoming Events / Field Trips 

Meet the Titanic's Discoverer

National Geographic School Publishing is hosting a very special event, featuring speaker Dr. Bob Ballard, an internationally renowned oceanographer and famous for discovering the Titanic.  Dr. Ballard will update attendees about his efforts to introduce students around the world to his science through leading-edge technology. 

Date and location: Feb. 8, 4:00-6:00 p.m.; Oakland Museum, Oakland

For info: Contact Elaine Farge at (510) 749-8334

Fee: Free
American Education Week (AEW)
This year's theme, Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility, highlights the importance of bringing together educators, school staff, parents, students, and communities in a unified effort to build great public schools.  Use the online toolkit for activity ideas, templates, and downloadable materials:
-Nov. 15:  Open House Day
-Nov. 16:  Invite Parents to School Day
-Nov. 17:  Education Support Professionals Day
-Nov. 18:  Educator for a Day
-Nov. 19:  Substitute Educators Day
Dates: Nov. 14-20
For info: Visit their 
website
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
The 49th Annual Northern California Western Nevada Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium is an outstanding opportunity for interested students to hear world and nationally renowned scientists speak on their research, visit laboratories of practicing university and industrial scientists, talk informally with scientists about future career options, and converse with peers about shared interests in science, engineering, math, and technology.
Dates and location: March 17-19; University of California, Davis
Deadline: Pre-registration/indication of interest must be submitted by Nov. 14
For info: Contact Roger Martin at (510) 642-4155 or visit their website 
2011 Mock Trial Program
The Contra Costa County Mock Trial Program is sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF), and is coordinated by the CCCOE.  This year, CRF's case is a murder mock trial. 
Dates and location: Feb. 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, and March 1, 5:00-8:00 p.m.; Martinez courtrooms
For info: Contact Karen Rice, CCCOE, at (925) 942-3400 or the Mock Trial website
Deadline: Must register by Dec. 3
High School Mock Trials (Law Professional volunteers needed)

We are looking for additional members of the California Bar Association and second- and third-year law students to serve as scorers and judges at the upcoming 30th Annual Contra Costa County Mock Trial Program.  New volunteers will be joining more than 150 practicing and retired Bay Area lawyers, district attorneys, public defenders, and judges, as well as Bay Area college law students, who will be returning as Mock Trial scorers and judges.

Dates and location: Feb. 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, and March 1, 5:00-8:00 p.m.; Martinez courtrooms 

For info: Contact Jonathan Lance, CCCOE, at (925) 942-3429

Academic Decathlon (volunteers needed)
Come out and join the fun, while helping our students with this outstanding event.  The Academic Decathlon is held on three separate days, and we are looking for volunteers to judge Essay, Speech, and Interview sessions on two of those dates. 
Dates and locations: Jan. 29, morning and afternoon; CSU East Bay, Concord (Speech and Interview sessions) and Feb. 1, early evening; CCCOE, Pleasant Hill (Essay screenings)
For info: Contact Karen Rice, CCCOE, (925) 942-3400 or visit the Academic Decathlon website
The Weather Channel Kids!

Go to the Weather Channel's website, and click on "Teacher Guide."  You'll find lesson plans, forecasts, games, and other resources for your classroom.

Fee: Free

For info: Visit The Weather Channel Kids

Bay Area Environmental Education Resource Fair

For 34 years, educators, parents, and students concerned about the environment we share, have been coming to the Bay Area Environmental Education Resource (BAEER) Fair for the latest in classroom materials, environmental education programs, and information about field trip sites.  More than 70 exhibitioners will be on hand to provide a variety of events, demonstrations, interactive opportunities, and workshops.

Date and location: Jan. 22, 2011, 10: 00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Marin Civic Center Exhibit Hall, San Rafael

Fee: Sliding scale

For info: Visit the BAEER website

Mangini Agricultural Museum and Garden

This field trip program provides students an opportunity to discover the agricultural history of our county and to explore science concepts in a garden setting. 

Dates and location: Offered primarily on Thursday and Friday mornings in the fall and spring; Contra Costa Fairgrounds, 1201 W. 10th St., Antioch

Fee: $1 per student

For info: Contact Marisa Neelon at (925) 776-4295 or visit their website

CCCOE Logo

Published by the Contra Costa County Office of Education Communications Office
77 Santa Barbara Road, Pleasant Hill, California 94523
Joseph A. Ovick, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools
Editor: Peggy Marshburn; Writer/Layout: Jonathan Lance, (925) 942-3429;
Diane Morrell, Designer; Robin Wood, Web Developer

Dateline is distributed during the school year to all public schools in the county by the Communications Office. Information must be received by the first of the preceding month. Publication does not signify the Contra Costa County Office of Education endorses the event or program mentioned.

Sincerely,


Jonathan Lance
CCCOE