Kentucky Teacher

Kentucky adults considering returning to college have a free resource to help them make decisions about higher education.

Adults Returning to School is published by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA), the state agency that administers Kentucky student financial aid programs and provides college planning materials.

The book provides information about entrance exams, financial aid programs and Kentucky colleges and universities. It also includes information about adult education programs and General Educational Development (GED) testing centers, as well as other state programs that can help adult students.

Adults Returning to School is available at adult education centers. Free copies are available through KHEAA by e-mailing publications@kheaa.com.

Since 1989, schools across the United States have taken part in National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) celebrations in an effort to increase awareness of the availability of the School Breakfast Program (SBP) to all children.

School breakfast is not only good for children’s physical well-being, but also for their cognitive abilities. Research has shown that kids who eat breakfast score better on tests, have fewer health issues and even behave better.

This year, National School Breakfast Week is March 5-9. The Kentucky Department of Education’s Division of School and Community Nutrition (SCN) invites schools to join the National School Breakfast Week advocacy by celebrating and participating in a “spirit” contest for all sponsors of the SBP.

Schools may plan festivities, then share what they’ve done to celebrate National School Breakfast Week. Winners will be recognized by Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday at a ceremony in Frankfort, set for April 19.

The deadline to enter is March 22. Full contest rules and entry instructions can be found here.

The Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest is the culmination of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Junior Duck Stamp educational program.

After studying waterfowl anatomy and habitat, students may demonstrate their knowledge by drawing, painting or sketching a picture of an eligible North American waterfowl species.

K-12 students attending public, private or home schools are eligible to enter. Students from around the U.S. submit drawings to their state, territory or district competitions. Winners from these competitions, called the “Best of Show,” are then submitted to the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest. One image from the 53 Best of Show entries will become the next Junior Duck Stamp. Entries for this year’s competition are due March 15.

Junior Duck Stamps are sold for $5 each by the U.S. Postal Service, Amplex Corporation and various National Wildlife Refuges. Proceeds from the sale of Junior Duck Stamps are returned to states for environmental and conservation education programs.

For rules and more information, go to www.fws.gov/juniorduck/ArtContest.htm.

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) and its partners have selected 41 high schools to receive grants to develop or improve the nutritional, physical activity or tobacco prevention policies at their schools.

The $500 grants are part of the Students Taking Charge program offered by Kentucky Action for Healthy Kids (KYAFHK).

Students Taking Charge provides students with the tools necessary to develop healthy policies and environments within their schools. Through the program, students learn to assess the current school environment, come up with an action plan to address needs and implement the plan to create long-lasting changes. Money for the grants comes from federal funding to support health promotion activities.

“If we are going to help our young people develop the skills and knowledge needed to lead long, healthy lives, we have to get them invested in the process,” said Steve Davis, acting commissioner for DPH. “That’s exactly what Students Taking Charge was designed to do. Through this program, students become a part of the process and their ideas about health and wellness are reflected in school policy and programming.” Continue Reading

Kentucky Crafted: The Market is going to be in Lexington March 3-4.

On these two days, participants will have the opportunity to participate in workshops led by teaching artists as well as other arts professionals.

Workshops are $5 with an online discounted admission to the market.

Follow this link to read more about the workshops: http://artscouncil.ky.gov/KentuckyArt/Market/Market_Workshops.pdf

For more information about the market and online registration, visit: http://artscouncil.ky.gov/KentuckyArt/2012Market.htm

Applications are being accepted for the 2012 Promising Practices in Character Education Program, sponsored by the Character Education Partnership (CEP).

CEP looks for a wide variety of practices that successfully promote character education among youth, and the group recognizes them annually as Promising Practices.

Access the application here. The deadline to apply is March 1.

On Feb. 14, the Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA) awarded Fred Williams a Lifetime Achievement Award for 54 years of work in public education.

In presenting the award, KASA Executive Director Wayne Young said, “Dr. Williams, you have led the way in developing leaders of excellence, and we thank you for devoting your entire career to Kentucky’s education leaders and the students they serve.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes leaders in the field of educational administration whose professional lives have been characterized by extraordinary commitment, excellence, leadership, capacity, generosity and service. The award recipient is selected by the association’s board of directors.

Williams’ education career spans 54 years in public elementary and secondary education. Having begun his tenure as an 8th-grade teacher and later director of pupil personnel, he was named superintendent for the Grant County school district and, later, held the same post in the Fort Thomas Independent school district. In addition, he served the Kentucky Department of Education in numerous roles and was named the Kentucky Association of School Administrators’ first executive secretary in 1970. Continue Reading

Western Kentucky University will be offering a course called Geographic Skill and Concepts for Teachers, set for June 5-14.

The course is a study away course in which participants will compare the physical and cultural geography of the karst regions of Mammoth Cave and of the Black Hills of South Dakota. This unique learning opportunity is open to 5th-12th grade teachers during the summer of 2012.

For more information, go to www.wku.edu/studyaway/caves.

The Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition (KCFC) provides the following 2011 update on the Hybrid Electric School Bus Project in Kentucky:

• 1,169,142 miles driven
• 39,000 gallons of diesel displaced
• $152,000 saved
• 9 mpg average
• 134 buses on road, (ThomasBuilt and IC) with an additional 26 due in March
• 35 school districts in program

Best performers:

• Pike County – 11.10 mpg
• Whitley County – 9.88 mpg Continue Reading