News for Superintendents and Board Members: December 19, 2006
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
During the week of December 6, 2006, a Japanese film crew from the Japanese version of "The Today Show" visited Laurel Highlands Middle School. Laurel Highlands Middle School is one of two pilot schools implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) funded through a Safe Schools Initiative grant awarded to Intermediate Unit 1. OBPP is recognized as a blueprint model program by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence. It is a research-based school-wide program designed to prevent and reduce bullying in elementary and middle schools. In adopting the program, school staff and students restructure the environment to reduce opportunities for bullying to occur. The intended effect is to improve peer relations and make the school a safe and positive learning environment. Kudos go to Dr. Sheba, Ms. Macar, the staff and students at Laurel Highlands Middle School as well as, Ms. Patricia Hazen and Ms. Donna Whoric, the IU1 facilitator and trainer, respectively.
PDE Inclusion Grant
IU1 has been awarded its second inclusion mini-grant within the past two years. The purpose of the grant is to provide a smooth transition for young children with autism and ADHD as they move from their IU1 preschool early intervention program to kindergarten. The grant funds a variety of activities including the creation of videotapes and digital pictures providing children with repeated exposure to their future kindergarten settings. For students who use assistive technology, the Early Intervention staff collaborate with receiving schools to identify strategies to accommodate students' instructional and assistive technology needs as well as, provide training, technical assistance, and materials to the elementary school staff. In addition, the IU1 Early Intervention Consultant creates resource boxes containing books, videos and information relating to the need of students with autism/sensory motor, and other disabilities to be given to receiving schools. Sensory boxes will be created with a varying amount of sensory items so that teachers have the needed resources to help the students engage in appropriate and positive expressions of their needs. The grant activities are being carried out by the IU1 staff and staff at Canon-McMillan and Bentworth School Districts. Congratulations to IU1 staff Renae Kotchman and Debby Sestili for leading these efforts.
Keystone Achievement Awards
On Tuesday December 19, 2006 IU1 hosted a celebration of academic achievement. We joined with the 23 school districts in IU1 having at least one school that received a Keystone Achievement award. The students in the 78 schools in IU1 who received the award have made adequate yearly progress for the last two years. Of the 78 schools, nine received their first award, 30 received their second award and 39 received their third award. Joining the superintendents, principals and school staffs on Tuesday, was Lee Burket, Bureau Chief for the Bureau of Career and Technical Education. Also, the Secretary of Education, Dr. Gerald Zahorchek called in to congratulate the school district staff.
RWAN Cyber Services
As part of our commitment in the e-Fund grant, we are exploring the viability of cyber services to facilitate online learning for students in K-12. A committee of IU1 staff has been exploring the logistics of offering K-12 course work online. The committee has sketched out a model for the cyber services based on its research, but wants to engage district personnel for an in-depth discussion of the needs and desire of schools for such services. To that end, we are planning to form a focus group comprised of superintendents, curriculum coordinators, and technology coordinators. The focus group will meet on January 11, 2007 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
