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National Coalition of Girls' Schools Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE
Fall Session Added for "Single-Gender Education: An Orientation for New Faculty" Course
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
SciGirls CONNECT Issues RFP for Partnership Program
CalWest Hiring Practices Survey
Highlights from the NCGS "Listening & Learning Tour"

NCGS MISSION

The National Coalition of Girls' Schools (NCGS) is a leading advocate for girls' education with a distinct commitment to the transformative power of all-girls schools. The Coalition acts at the forefront of educational thought, collaborating and connecting globally with individuals, schools, and organizations dedicated to empowering girls to be influential contributors to the world.
NCGS QUICK LINKS
IN THE NEWS
Research:

Center for the Advancement of Girls, The Agnes Irwin School

 

Girls in IT: The Facts

National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)
 
Articles:
Why Do Women Fail? 

CNN Opinion  

 

Kickstarter Closes the "Funding Gap" for Women 

The Wall Street Journal

 

Forbes

 

"Lean In" for Toddlers 

The New Yorker

 

New Evidence Highlights What Works to Empower Girls and Young Women 

The World Bank  

 

STEM/STEAM Articles:

Fields Medal Mathematics Prize Won by Woman for First Time in its History 

The Guardian

 

The Case for Making Computer Science a High School Requirement

The Week  

 

Coding Camp Graduates are Snagging Jobs and Higher Salaries, Says New Survey

Tech Republic


Why We Need Women in STEM
Inc.com

Educator Wants Tech Firms to Hire More Women

The Star Phoenix

 

Why It's Time to Change How and When We Bring STEM Into the Classroom 

Fast Company     

 

Girls Outscore Boys on State Math Tests 

DNAinfo New York 

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THE COALITION CONNECTION
August 22, 2014
Dear NCGS Community,

   

Welcome back to school!

 

Just like each of you prepare your lesson plans, classrooms, and campuses for the start of a new school year, the NCGS team works to prepare a year of content-rich programming and resources for our member schools. The 2014-2015 school year will be no exception, and we invite you to take full advantage of your NCGS membership in the following four key areas:

 

1. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Attend and present at the 2015 NCGS Conference, From STEM to STEAM: Girls' Schools Leading the Way (June 22-24 at St. Catherine's School in Richmond, VA). Bring a team of 8-10 faculty/administrators from your school for a discounted group rate!
  • Advance your skills by enrolling in one of the two online courses co-offered by NCGS and the Online Schools for Girls. Registration is currently open for a fall session of Single Gender Education: An Orientation for New Faculty (see details below), and information will be announced later in the school year about the return of our Advanced Professional Certificate in Girls' Education.

2. RESEARCH

  • Participate in national research studies about the effectiveness of girls' schools. NCGS is currently partnering with the High School Survey of Student Engagement (HSSSE), which provides data that can be used to optimize teaching and learning, and the Independent School Health Check (ISHC), which provides comprehensive information about your students' health and wellness.
  • Make data-driven, strategic decisions by using the NCGS Annual Enrollment Surveys. This set of three online questionnaires for prospective, non-enrolling, and enrolling families are offered to admissions offices every spring.

3. NETWORKING

  • Connect with our vast network of educators and experts as well as your alumnae at NCGS Networking events. Hosted by NCGS at various national conferences, these receptions serve a dual purpose: an opportunity for our member school representatives to mix and mingle combined with a ready-made, cost-effective regional alumnae event. Look for an announcement in the coming weeks about two such opportunities during 2015!
  • Be informed about professional development and program opportunities, research findings, and news related to the education and development of girls by subscribing to The Coalition Connection and following NCGS on Facebook and Twitter.

4. ADVOCACY

  • Share NCGS publications and the "By the Numbers" slideshow with prospective families, donors, and trustees to make the persuasive case in support of girls' education.
  • Partner with NCGS to publish Op-Eds about the benefits of an all-girls education using our research-based talking points and statistics.

These are just a few of the highlights from the robust programming and offerings NCGS makes available to our schools. Click here for a comprehensive look at the current NCGS member benefits.  

 

Best wishes,

Megan 

 

Megan Murphy  

Executive Director

Fall Session Added for "Single-Gender Education: An Orientation for New Faculty" Course

Given the popularity of the summer sessions, NCGS and Online School for Girls (OSG) have added a fall session for the course Single-Gender Education: An Orientation for New Faculty, which will be offered October 14 - November 10, 2014. This four-week long online course allows teachers to connect and collaborate with each other while exploring approaches to teaching and learning that are most effective for girls. The course is ideal for teachers new to working in the unique environment of all-girls school and who are looking to build connections within the NCGS network.  

 

Limited spaces available! Click here for more information, including fees and comments from past participants, and to register.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has an impressive legacy dating back to 1923. Over the years, the Awards have grown to become the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the U.S., and the nation's largest source of scholarships for creative young artists and writers. A noteworthy roster of past winners includes Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King, John Updike, and many more.

 

Students in grades 7 through 12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for the chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published. More than $250,000 is given annually through the Scholastic Awards program in awards and scholarships to top winners and their educators. In addition, more than $8 million is set aside each year by scholarship partners for recipients of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

 

Registration for the 2015 Awards opens September 15, 2014. Click here to learn more.

SciGirls CONNECT Issues RFP for Partnership Program


SciGirls CONNECT, a PBS Kids show, website, and outreach program with a goal to change how millions of girls think about STEM, has issued a RFP for its partnership program. Any school or organization with a commitment to gender-equitable STEM programming for girls ages 8-13 may apply. All candidates are encouraged to collaborate with at least one organization in their community (e.g. Girls Scouts, Girls Inc., Boys and Girls Clubs, 4-H, science centers, aquariums, or after school programs). Some of the benefits SciGirls CONNECT partners enjoy include:

  • A full day of training on inquiry-based science instruction 
  • Support via monthly webinars 
  • Access to the SciGirls CONNECT online community
  • Take home copies of SciGirls educational resources

  • A $200 stipend for materials

  • Quarterly newsletter

Organizations interested must submit an application by August 29, 2014. Click here to learn more about SciGirls CONNECT.

CalWest Hiring Practices Survey

Did you know 20% of school administrators use video technology to conduct initial interviews? Or that over 50% of school administrators are not satisfied with ethnic and racial diversity among applicants for a teaching position? Interested in learning more? Take the CalWest Hiring Practices Survey by clicking here.

  

All respondents who help broaden the data collected by taking the survey will receive a copy of the compiled results from CalWest later this fall. It only takes a few minutes to complete!

 

As thanks for completing the survey, CalWest will also send you an infographic with the preliminary results from the first 90 respondents along with a bonus Hiring Tips document.

 

NCGS supports our member school hiring practices by offering both complimentary job postings on our website and, in partnership with

Online School for Girls, an online course for faculty new to teaching at girls' schools (see details above).  

Highlights from the NCGS "Listening & Learning Tour"

During the summer months, NCGS staff visited several member schools and strategic partners. Here's what they said from the road:

 

"I headed to Colorado in August to visit our two member schools in the Rocky Mountain State. Founded more than a decade before Colorado became the 38th state, St. Mary's Academy (SMA) has held fast to its pioneering spirit and commitment to faith, community, justice, and respect. Celebrating its proud legacy, SMA will commemorate its 150th anniversary this academic year.

 

The innovative Girls Athletic Leadership School (GALS) is the first and only all-girls charter school in Colorado. Focusing on a movement-based approach to education, GALS empowers girls to succeed academically, lead confidently, live boldly, and thrive physically."  

 -- Megan Murphy, Executive Director

 

"In July, I attended the STEM Think Tank and Conference at Harpeth Hall. The event was a unique blend of informative presentations and engaging hands-on workshops (I learned how to make a "squishy circuit" using Play-Doh!). It was an excellent opportunity to connect and share with people from many different sectors -- K-12, higher education, and industry -- who are all dedicated to increasing the number of girls and young women interested in STEM. Kudos to Stacy Klein-Gardner, Director of the Center of STEM Education for Girls, for organizing such a great event!  

 

I visited The Madeira School in August and toured the huge renovations the school is undertaking on two of its dormitories. They have done a wonderful job updating their residential space while retaining many of the 1930s buildings' original features. I also met with Head of School Pilar Cabeza de Vaca who shared the innovative modular class schedule that will be implemented this academic year to encourage 'deep dives' into subject matter.

 

Most recently, I was in Connecticut to visit two more NCGS member schools. My first stop was Ethel Walker to attend EdCampCT, an 'unconference' that allows participants to create the day's agenda. It was an invigorating event where educators shared ideas about everything from Twitter to Maker spaces to project-based learning. Everyone left with something new to try in their classrooms. My last stop was Greenwich Academy to take a peek at their amazing Design & Engineering Lab and to learn more from Ann Decker, Director of the Duff Center for STEM Initiatives, about the work they are doing to integrate STEM into the curriculum. I also met with Head of School Molly King and Associate Head of School Mark Feiner to learn about some of the hot-button issues facing girls' schools today."  

-- Jen Shakeshaft, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Professional Development