myFutureNC will host the State of Educational Attainment in North Carolina virtually on Monday, February 6, from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m.  All sectors (education, business, government, philanthropy, non-profit) and North Carolina citizens are invited to join us as we share the top findings from North Carolina's State of Educational Attainment Report and proposed solutions to address the state of emergency around workforce talent and the education pipeline in NC. We will highlight success stories among our K12 and higher education partners and forecast needs and clear solutions to help us achieve the state's educational attainment goal of 2 million degrees or industry-valued credentials by 2030 among North Carolinians ages 25-44.

To ensure North Carolina remains economically competitive now and into the future, it is critical that all citizens are aware of the state’s educational attainment goal – to have 2 million North Carolinians ages 25-44 hold an industry-valued credential or postsecondary degree by 2030.

CTE Month is Coming!

Did you know that February is CTE Month? CTE Month is a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value and achievements of CTE programs across the country. 

Career and technical education, or CTE, is education that directly prepares students for high-wage, high-demand careers. CTE covers many different fields, including health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing, hospitality and management, and many more. CTE encompasses many different types of education, from classroom learning to certification programs to work-based learning opportunities outside the classroom.

Be on the lookout for exciting news and activities that will take place in our middle schools and high schools during the month of February to highlight CTE Month!

UNC World View Global Education Updates

Winter/Spring 2023 Programs

CEU or Contact Hours Offered at All Programs!

Bridging Cultures Through Dance

January 19 | 4:00PM - 5:00PM ET | Via Zoom| Free

This webinar with Carolina Performing Arts will explore the arts and culture of Hong Kong, China with a special focus on dance.

Click here to register for the January 19, 2023 program.

Preparing Students for Work in a Global Economy

February 3 | 10:00AM - 12:00PM ET | Via Zoom | Free

This program will provide an overview of how to start integrating global content into what is already being taught in courses.

Click here to register for the February 3, 2023 program.

Global Education 101

February 16 | 4:00PM - 5:30PM ET | Via Zoom | Free

Global education experts will offer K-8 educators an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of global competencies.

Click here to register for the February 16, 2023 program.

Understanding China's Role in Climate Change and Climate Solutions

February 24 | 11:00AM -12:00PM ET | Via Zoom | Free

This program will explore how the world’s most populous country approaches questions of climate change. 

Click here to register for the February 24, 2023 program.

REGISTER HERE FOR WINTER/SPRING 2023 PROGRAMS TODAY!

Middle School Writing Contest

The Middle School Writing Contest (formerly the High School Writing Contest) application is now open!

The North Carolina Azalea Festival introduced a new contest in 2017, the High School Writing Contest, in an effort to reach out to more youth in the greater Wilmington area.  In 2022, the Festival decided to move the 2023 contest to the Middle School level in hopes to engage younger minds in participation and see what creative works come to life in this age group! 

Middle School students are invited to submit either a descriptive essay or poem.  Many thoughtful, interesting, and creative entries are received and judged by a local team of writers. Winners and finalists are selected from each category and receive various prizes from the Azalea Festival and outside the community.

The CCS Art teachers would like to thank the Twin Rivers Artist Association and the Craven Arts Council and Gallery, Inc. for sponsoring their Valentine fundraiser.  These community groups provide the card materials, feature the card displays, sponsor a reception for the artists, and manage the card sales.  Their efforts to support art in our schools are much appreciated.

Professional Learning Opportunities: NCDPI Math Content Series

NCDPI Mathematics team will be kicking off an Elementary and Middle School Mathematics Content Series in January 2023. This is one of a series of virtual PD sessions open to teachers, teacher leaders, coaches, district staff, and administrators. Participants will earn 2 contact hours per session. Each session meets for 90 minutes with a 30-minute asynchronous reflection time. Sessions will be focused on elementary and middle school mathematics content and will highlight practitioners in the field.

• Elementary Math Content Series
• Middle School Math Content Series

NC Check-Ins 2.0 Webinar January 18th, 3:30-4:30

Please let educators in your PSU know that NCDPI will provide an overview of the NCPAT pilot, availability and transition timeline for the NC Check-Ins 2.0, and the role of pilot volunteers. Greene County Schools staff will share how they support teachers using data from NC Check-Ins 2.0 and its impact on teaching and learning. Register here. If you have any questions about the upcoming webinar, please contact amanda.hobbs@dpi.nc.gov.

Technology Updates:

We are going to attempt the ClassLink and Microsoft/Window account sync once again, within the next couple of weeks. If it is successful, this means that students and staff will login to their Microsoft Accounts and a Windows device using their email address and their ClassLink Password. We’ll keep reminding you in these newsletters - share the news with your colleagues. Thanks for your patience!

Finance News:

Your 2022 W-2 is available online at  https://eportal.cravenk12.org

If you have not previously set up an account with ePortal, instructions to register are attached below.  All User Names and Passwords are case and space sensitive.  Please utilize the "Forgot Password?" link to reset your password if needed.  If you receive a message that your account has been locked, please email one of the following Site Administrators:  Renise.Spellman@cravenk12.org; josephine.espinoza@cravenk12.org; Ellen.Corey@cravenk12.org; or karri.rogers@cravenk12.org for assistance.   

This website is specific to all Craven County School employees and you will always have access to the account that you create even after resigning or retiring.  If you have elected to have your W2 mailed instead, those will all be mailed by January 31st. 

WATER SAFETY OPPORTUNITY-TO LEARN MORE CLICK HERE

Below is information regarding New Bern Civic Theatre’s musical production of Honk! JR in Spring 2023. With a return to live experiences post Covid-19 shutdowns, reviving school programming was a bit uncertain. However, NBCT is fully operational without mask restrictions and we hope to resume a long tradition of sharing theatre with our regional schools.

Dates and Times of school productions:

TU March 21 (9:15AM, 11:00AM, 12:45PM)

TH March 23 (9:15AM, 11:00AM, 12:45PM)

TU March 28 (9:15AM, 11:00AM, 12:45PM)

TH March 30 (9:15AM, 11:00AM, 12:45PM)

Tickets are $5.00 per student. To book and purchase group tickets please contact Kristofer Pierson, our Box Office Manager: kristofer@newberncivictheatre.org. Comped tickets for teachers and chaperones will be provided according to each school’s regulations on adult-to-student supervision ratios. Schools must provide their own transportation. Our recently renovated Athens Theatre seats 270 and we now have an ADA compliant restroom and two level platforms that can accommodate wheelchair seating with a companion. Additional wheelchair seating can be accommodated close to the stage if required.

ABOUT THE SHOW: Adapted for young performers, Honk! JR is a heartwarming musical about being different that is sure to delight audiences of all ages with its sparkling wit, unique charm and memorable musical score. It’s often funny, but also deeply moving.

Ugly is not the same as his duckling brothers and sisters. The other animals on the farm are quick to notice and point this out, despite his mother's protective flapping. Feeling rather foul about himself, the little fowl finds himself on an adventure of self-discovery, all the while unknowingly outwitting a very hungry Cat. Along the way, Ugly meets a whole flock of unique characters and discovers differences are a thing to be celebrated. Perfect for youth 6-16 years of age. The JR show is rated G and is 60-minutes in length to accommodate young audiences or first time theatre goers. 

*A classroom learning kit can be provided for teachers wanting to teach theatre etiquette and basic theatre concepts, as well as outlining characters in the story and plot structure.

Feel free to contact me if there are questions about programming details.

Sincerely,

Michael Tahaney

Executive Director | New Bern Civic Theatre

Business Cell: 252.285.4323

executivedirector@newberncivictheatre.org

Canvas Cross-Listing Sections

Cross-listing allows you to move section enrollments from individual courses and combine them into one course. This feature is helpful for instructors who teach several sections of the same course and only want to manage course data in one location. For example, English I and English I Honors.  Here are the directions!  Please reach out to your DITF if you have any questions.

Beginning and End-of-Course Checklists

Please use this CHECKLIST with best practices on how to wrap up your Canvas course for semester 1.  It also includes items to help you when creating your new courses for semester 2.  Let us know if you have any questions!

Literacy Instructional Standard Learning Series

for All Content Areas

The NCDPI Office of Academic Standards will begin offering a Literacy Instructional Standard Learning Series in November and span through spring of 2023. These state-wide, virtual professional learning opportunities will focus on integrating the Literacy Instruction Standards (LIS) into standards-aligned content area instruction. The sessions are open to all K-12 educators (all content areas, including exceptional children's staff) and would greatly benefit your literacy leadership teams in building strong, standardized research proven instructional standards in all content areas. The sessions will support your Adolescent Literacy Leadership teams with implementation of their improvement goals. 

As you are developing your implementation plans for NC SIP, district literacy instruction plans, evaluating and modifying literacy curriculum and instructional methods, please consider these sessions as a resource and professional development to support your adolescent literacy improvement goals and content area literacy instructional practices.

Content Area Literacy Instructional Standards Learning Series

The following sessions will be offered this school year: 

Literacy in Math: January 25, 2023

Literacy in Social Studies: April 27, 2023

Literacy in ELD: May 11, 2023

For more information and where to register, please see the LIS Learning Series Promo.

If you have not already joined the ELA listserv, please consider subscribing to get the most up to date information and very valuable resources to support adolescent literacy instructional practices aligned to standards. To subscribe to the listserv, click here and navigate to the ELA SCOOP section of the page. Also, please find the latest edition of The ELA SCOOP on this page, which is the NCDPI ELA Section's quarterly newsletter full of valuable resources for implementation support.

FAFSA is Open!

The 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) cycle is open!

Completing the application is a necessary step for prospective college students to receive financial aid. Not only does it make you eligible for federal aid, such as Pell Grants or work-study programs, but North Carolina’s colleges and universities also use the form to divvy up state aid.

The form is open until June 30, 2023. Many North Carolina schools give out aid on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s best to fill it out as soon as possible, even if you haven’t finalized your plans.

Free Clipboards

Anyone need clipboards?  If so, please reach out to Cindy Manning (cindy.manning@cravenk12.org) and she will get them to you.  First come, first get!