Dateline Masthead
Contra Costa County Office of EducationNovember  2014
In this issue
Summit to Support LGBTQ Youth
Big Idea Fest 2014
Empowering Students and Teachers Through Technology
20th Annual Distinguished Speaker Series
Leading Edge Certification for the Administrator
Leading Edge Certification for Online and Blended Teacher
5th Annual San Francisco Bay Area STEAM Colloquium
Exploratorium
American Education Week
13th Annual Shelter-in-Place Day
4th Annual Bay Area Science Festival
The Captain Planet Foundation
Chevron Fuel Your School
2014 CalAgPlate Grant Program
The 2015 Youth Garden Grants
River of Words Art and Poetry Contest
The Aquarium of the Bay
The Intel-Affiliated Contra Costa County Science and Engineering Fair
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Welcome to Dateline!
 
Greetings!

 

Welcome to the November 2014 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 in joining our mailing list (click here, or the link button at the left column). 

Professional Development / Opportunities

Welcoming Schools and Communities Summit 
Summit to Support LGBTQ Youth

Too many youth are being bullied, teased, and rejected based on gender and sexual orientation. Let's come together to create change! 

The Summit is a space for youth to voice their needs; and for all participants to learn strategies to build more welcoming spaces and participate in dialogue about what we can all do to promote acceptance. 
Open to youth age 12 and up, families/caregivers, service providers, community members, faith leaders, school administrators and teachers.

Date and location: November 8, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Mt. Diablo High School, Concord

For info: Visit the event's Web page

Fee: Free, but please register

Big Idea Fest 2014

The Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education is hosting the 5th annual Big Ideas Fest. This three-day gathering of the nation's most creative makers and doers in education brings together champions across K-12, higher education, and informal learning, to participate in a truly unique interactive experience. You'll hear from inspiring speakers and take part in action collaboratives designed to incubate solutions that address education's most pressing challenges.

Date and location: December 7-10; Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

For info: Visit their website

Fee: $735 covers registration and meals (only)

Empowering Students and Teachers Through Technology

Alan November is partnering with the Contra Costa County Office of Education and ACSA Region VI to engage teams of educators in a three-day series over six months to learn about and design motivating, rigorous and creative ways to integrate technology. Alan will provide examples of successful technology integration designs across grade levels and subjects.  Many are directly aligned to the Common Core Standards. A special emphasis will be placed on empowering students through the application of knowledge, and teaching students to learn to learn. The goal of the series is to help teams implement pioneering work in their schools with planning strategies for building a culture of sharing best practices. Members of a team can include: key district leaders, principals, teachers, librarians, technology support, academic coaches, and students. 

Dates and locationDel Valle Education Center, Walnut Creek; November 18, February 23, and May 18, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

For info: Contact Laura Griffin at (925) 942-5358 or visit this Web page

Fee:$280

The 20th Annual Distinguished Speaker Series

 - The Best Practices in Teaching Leadership

The Best Practices in Teaching Leadership Saturday seminar series provides a broad range of opportunities for professional educators to learn research-based techniques and strategies from local and national professionals. Keynote and breakout sessions cover a variety of topics and grade levels, and provide practical and purposeful tools for both general and special educators to improve teaching practice. Networking opportunities with educators from other schools and districts are another key benefit. The program meets BTSA Induction professional development requirement. Graduate academic credit or continuing education units may also be earned. 

Dates and location: November 15, January 31, February 28, March 21, and May 2, all seminars are held 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; 

Saint Mary's College, Moraga

For info: Contact Jeannie Harberson at 925-631-4836, or visit their

website

Fee: $65 for individual sessions (academic credit available)

Leading Edge Certification for the Administrator


Do you want to enhance your digital leadership skills? Are you interested in supporting students and staff in developing 21st Century college and career readiness? Are you ready to be a transformative leader? Leading Edge Certification for the Administrator focuses on site, district, and regional leaders and is based upon the National Education Technology Standards for Administrators (NETS). Participants will learn how to effectively unitize technology tools, resources, and innovative solutions to advance student achievement, foster educator productivity, and extend learning opportunities for all. Upon successful completion, the certification will give schools, districts, and other prospective employers assurance that Leading Edge Certified administrators have the skills to effectively lead schools through the 21st Century and provide visionary leadership among all stakeholders of their organization. 

Dates: Two 8 week cohorts will be offered beginning October 6 and February 23 (Includes one synchronous meeting on the first day and 45-60 hours online training)

For info: Contact Eileen C. Walters at (925) 942-3435, or visit the program's website

Fee: $750, includes course, as well as portfolio review and certification

Leading Edge Certification for Online and Blended Teacher

Are you interested in teaching online, but unsure where to start, or are you already teaching online and want to enhance your skills? The Leading Edge Alliance and a group of county offices of education, nonprofits, universities, and governmental bodies have developed a certification program for K-12 teachers. The certification is a national program to prepare instructional leaders for online learning. Content includes building community, moderating discussions, supporting diverse learners, and implementing frequent formative assessments.

Dates: Three eight-week cohorts will be offered beginning September 22, January 26, and April 20, (One synchronous meeting on the first day and 45-60 hours online training)

For info: Contact Eileen C. Walters at (925) 942-3435, or visit the program's website

Fee: $450, includes course, as well as portfolio review and certification

5th Annual San Francisco Bay Area STEAM Colloquium 

CALENDAR IT NOW! 

Presented by the CCCOE, the STEAM Colloquium is a forum to discuss and share best practices in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) education. This event brings together numerous K-12 educators, administrators, legislative policy makers, college and university educators, community organizations, and businesses to present and discuss how to advance STEAM education into our classrooms.

Date and location: January 30, 2015,  San Ramon Marriott, San Ramon 

For info: Stay tuned to the STEAM Colloquium Web page, registration will open up on November 1, watch updates on Twitter: #STEAMCOLLOQ

Upcoming Events / Field Trips

Exploratorium - Free Visit for Teachers

California Teachers are invited to the San Francisco Exploratorium, at no charge. This is an outstanding opportunity for teachers to check out this excellent field-trip destination that will certainly inspire all students.

For info: Visit their website

American Education Week

American Education Week presents all Americans with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education. Use the online toolkit for activity ideas, templates, and downloadable materials. The week-long celebration features a special observance each day of the week. They include:

13th Annual Shelter-in-Place Day

Put this date on your calendar today! Community Awareness Emergency Response (CAER) invites all schools to practice and improve their site emergency procedures for shelter-in-place by taking part in this 13th annual county-wide exercise. Guidelines for this program will be sent out to all districts and school principals. Schools can use the time for training, running brief drills, or conducting more detailed emergency exercises.

Date: November 5, 11:00 a.m.

For info: Contact Lori McDonald at (925) 313-9296 or visit the CAER website 

4th Annual Bay Area Science Festival
The 10-day Bay Area Science Festival will provide a wide range of science and technology activities: lectures, debates, exhibitions, concerts, plays, workshops, etc., held at a variety of locations throughout the Bay Area.

Dates and locations: October 23-November 1, calendar of eventsheld at numerous sites throughout the Bay Area

For info: Visit their website

Fee: Check specific events for admission fees, but many are free 

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 three times a year.

For info: Visit their website 

Next Deadline: January 31

Chevron Fuel Your School

Fuel Your School is a local public school funding program in which Chevron will donate $1 for each 8 gallon or more fuel purchase, up to a maximum donation amount (as determined by Chevron) in each participating area, at participating Chevron and Texaco stations to help fund eligible classroom projects. Chevron is working with 

DonorsChoose.org to help K-12 teachers in Alameda and Contra Costa County public schools get the supplies they need for eligible classroom projects. And everyone can help! For the next few months, you can post your project on DonorsChoose.org

For info: Visit Chevron Fuel Your School 

Deadline: November 30

2014 CalAgPlate Grant Program

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is now accepting applications for the CalAgPlate grant program. The CalAgPlate program will support agricultural education and leadership activities for students at the K-12, post-secondary, and adult education levels. This program is funded by fees associated with the original purchase, annual renewal, and conversion of CalAgPlates from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. 

For more info: Visit their website

Deadline: November 21

The 2015 Youth Garden Grants

Since 1982, National Gardening Association has provided the Youth Garden Grant to over 5,000 schools, nonprofits, and youth programs across the United States. Youth Garden Grant has contributed over 2.8 million dollars in funding to youth gardening initiatives and serves as National Gardening Association's longest standing grant program. This year we will present awards to 20 schools or youth programs. Twenty programs will receive a $500 gift certificate to the Gardening with Kids online store. Winners will also receive a tool package, plant starts, a raised bed, and a generous seed donation. 

For info: Visit their website 

Deadline: December 5

Resources / Contests

River of Words Art and Poetry Contest


Produced by the St. Mary's College Center for Environmental Literacy, entry forms are now available for this annual art and poetry competition. The contest, on the theme of watersheds, is open to any child from 5-19 years of age who has not completed high school.

For info: Contact them via email or phone at (925) 631-4289, or visit their website

Deadline: Entries must be postmarked no later than December 1

The Aquarium of the Bay  

The San Francisco Aquarium of the Bay's education programs focus on inquiry-based learning and hands-on experiences. All of the Aquarium's education programs are taught by our staff of trained Naturalists, linked to California State Science Standards and include age-appropriate, STEM based activities.

For info: Visit their website

The Intel-Affiliated Contra Costa County Science and Engineering Fair

Contra Costa County businesses will once again join our county's educators to produce the 2015 Intel-Affiliated Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair, this coming spring. The program is for grades 7-12 students.

Dates and location: March (TBD very soon); Los Medanos College, Science Building

For info: Contact Sia Sauer at (925) 719-7507 or visit the Science & Engineering Fair's website

Deadlines: Pre-approval project deadline was October 31, (post-marked); Final project approval deadline is January 16, (postmarked) 

Fee: $20 per student 

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Published by the Contra Costa County Office of Education Communications Office
77 Santa Barbara Road, Pleasant Hill, California 94523
Follow us on Twitter: @cocoschools 
Joseph A. Ovick, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools
Editor: Terry Koehne; Writer/Layout: Jonathan Lance, (925) 942-3429;
Diane Morrell, Designer; June Stephens, 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