Yahoo, it only took until May, but it seems like spring has finally arrived. It feels like the school year has gone quickly and it's hard to believe we are already wrapping up year one of the STEM project this week.
Speaking of our STEM Resources Partners, this short video clip goes to show learning can be fun (click image to the right). Check out this performance by Chelsea Petereit (Lancaster),Kevin Briere (Profile), and Erv Connary (Whitefield) after an introduction to Makey Makeys.
 Another of our STEM Resource Partners, Michael Thompson from Haverhill Middle School recently created 3D printed bottle rocket parts and shared it via Instructables.com. If you are looking for a more affordable way to use bottle rockets, check it out.
Speaking of NCES learners sharing with others, we were also excited to hear that Veronique Legendre of Berlin High School, a participant in NCES' second cohort of the NISL Executive Development Program, recently presented at the American Council on Rural Special Education (ACRES) conference in New Orleans. She presented about her research interest as a Plymouth State University doctoral student in studying the impact of bilingualism on potentially reducing learning disability in literacy. Learn more.
And last but not least, congratulations to Gorham Middle High School English Teacher, Rob Hamel, for being selected as a New Hampshire Teacher of the Year Nominee. He is now in the running with twenty-three other candidates to be named the 2016 NH Teacher of the Year.
Lori Langlois
Executive Director
lori@ncedservices.org
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Dr. David Pook Returns, CCSS Writing K-12
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 This workshop offers teachers and administrators alike insights into how the Common Core Writing Standards were designed and how to make them come alive in K-12 classrooms.
The morning will concentrate on the close connection between the reading and writing standards, and how to generate text dependent writing tasks based on the standards. The afternoon session will delve more deeply into the different types of writing called for by the standards to grasp their similarities and differences, and learn more about how to assess writing using the standards—and how writing will be assessed on Next Generation assessments like Smarter Balanced.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage in best practices around generating CCSS aligned writing instruction and assessment, and attendees will receive timely constructive feedback about how to proceed with the opportunities and challenges that stem from adopting and implementing the Common Core Writing Standards. Applicable for K-12.
Learn more about Dr. David Pooks background at Achieve the Core.
Date: Friday, June 5, 2015 from 8:30 - 3:30
Location: NCES
Cost: Staff from full member schools $125, associate member schools $145, all others $175.
Registration: Register online at http://www.ncedservices.org/pook-writing or call 603-466-5437 (between 8:00 - 4:00) or email lisa@ncedservices.org.
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Discounted Workshops at SERESC
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NCES, in partnership with SERESC, is pleased to announce that we are able to offer discounted rates for NCES consortium schools for select workshops. To receive the discounted rate, you must register via NCES by SERESC's early bird registration date. For the workshops listed below, that date is June 10th.
Check out these three upcoming workshops with Shannon Harken.
No Reader Left Behind: K-12
(Focus on Tier II and Tier III)
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 from 9:00 - 3:30
Location: SERESC, Bedford, NH
Teachers face the daily challenge of improving reading skills in ALL students. We will spend the day "digging deeper" into the essential skills necessary in providing high quality instruction. Participants will be given explicit examples of how to use data to identify students' instructional needs and match that to a practical, reasonable, and doable instructional response. Tools and instructional strategies will be provided and modeled to assist participants in feeling confident that they can meet the needs of every student.
This workshop is appropriate for anyone supporting or teaching K-2 students to read, including: administrators, instructional coaches, general education teachers, reading support teachers (Title One), and special education teachers. Please join us for this learning opportunity so that we will leave no reader behind!
Improving Outcomes for All Students with High Quality Instructional Practices, K-12
Date:Thursday, June 25, 2015
Location: SERESC, Bedford, NH
Teachers face the daily challenge of improving reading skills in ALL students. Participants will spend the day dissecting, analyzing, and learning how to implement high quality instruction practices that are practical, reasonable, and doable within any classroom. "The teacher's influence on student achievement scores is 20 times greater than any other variable, including class size and student poverty." (Fallon, 2003).
By the end of the day, participants will be able to describe what high quality instructional practices look like, sound like, and feel like within the classroom. Key components will include: quality lesson design, active engagement, formative assessment, and differentiation techniques. This course is for the educator that strives for improving his/her "impact" and/or for administrators and instructional coaches seeking for clarifying the "desired state" of high quality instruction for the building.
No Reader Left Behind: Grades 3-8
(Focus on Tier II and Tier III)
Date: Friday, June 26, 2015
Location: SERESC, Bedford, NH
We will spend the day "digging deeper" into the essential skills necessary in providing high quality instruction. Participants will be given explicit examples of how to use data to identify students' instructional needs and match that to a practical, reasonable, and doable instructional response. Tools and instructional strategies will be provided and modeled to assist participants in feeling confident that they can meet the needs of every student. This course is appropriate for anyone supporting or teaching students in grades 3-8 to read, including: administrators, instructional coaches, general education teachers, reading support teachers (Title One), and special education teachers.
About the Shannon Harkon, M.A.Ed.
 Shannon Harken, M.A.Ed., began her career as an elementary and special education teacher in 1991. She also served as a special education consultant in a problem-solving service delivery system, where she helped school-based teams use data to develop a more efficient, proactive, and systematic process to meet the needs of all students. Shannon currently works as an RtI Professional Learning and Leadership Consultant (PLLC) for Heartland AEA 11.
Based on her experiences, teaching background, and knowledge from experts in the field, Shannon has spent the last 10 years, co-authoring and training RtI modules in the areas of consensus building, infrastructure development, and implementation to hundreds of school-based teams across the country interested in implementing RtI. She also has co-developed several organizational tools, such as a four-box format that groups students with similar instructional needs and provides guidance for an appropriate instructional match and action plans, for school-based teams to use as they work towards implementing RtI.
In addition to training new schools Shannon provides on-going follow-up trainings, holds coaches meetings, and assists buildings with data analysis and decision making. The lessons she continually learns while in the “RtI implementation trenches” greatly enhance her work as she strives to assist schools to raise the achievement of all students.
Pricing
These three separate workshops will be held at SERESC, Bedford, NH.
Discounted registrations available for SAUs in the NCES consortium when register through NCES by June 10th.
NCES full member schools: $100
NCES associate member schools: $115
NCES consortium schools w/o membership: $125
Registration: Online at http://www.ncedservices.org/reg-harken or call 603-466-5437 (between 8:00 - 4:00) or email lisa@ncedservices.org.
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Teacher & Administrator Workshops on NH Policies & Practices in Arts Education
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Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2015 9:00-3:00
Location: NCES, Gorham
Participants will examine and discuss the new Arts Model Competencies; share performance-based assessments aligned to the competencies; and learn how the new competencies support Ed 306, Minimum Standards for School Approval.Participants will explore how the competencies provide entry points for access to the arts curriculum for students with disabilities and will review relevant resources from VSA, the international organization on arts and disability. As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to demonstrate how their instructional practice and programs are impacted by these new policies, and how they can be used to advance student achievement in the arts.
Details & Registration
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Teaching Mobile Computer Science Principles in their 2015-2016?
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Attention STEM high school teachers who are interested in integrating Mobile CSP in their 2015-2016 teaching. There is free blended summer workshop for the Mobile CS Principles course beginning June 29th at the UNH STEM Discovery Lab in Manchester. The program also supports the creation of a community of practice with year-round peer-to-peer professional learning opportunities for participating teachers. The application deadline is May 4, 2015.
Learn more or contact mihaela.sabin@unh.edu
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Human Resources 101 for School Principals
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Sponsored and presented by Primex, this session will to follow the May NC Principals and NCCIA meetings at NCES. Lunch will be provided. Registration is encouraged and appreciated.
Date: Thursday, May 21, 11:30 - 1:30
Location: NCES
Cost: Free
For details and descriptions, download the series flyer.
To register, email Jen Leger, Primex Education & Training Program Assistant at jleger@nhprimex.org.
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Google Chrome & Chromebooks in the Classroom to Meet the Diverse Needs of All Learners
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The New Hampshire Department of Education (NHDOE), Bureau of Special Education is providing a free event for New Hampshire Educators on the use of Google Chrome and Chromebooks in the Classroom to meet the diverse needs of all learners.
Mike Marotta of Inclusive Technology Solutions will conduct the Chrome Institute: a series of three (3) one hour webinars from 3:00 - 4:00 PM:
1. Google Apps for Education (GAFE): May 13, 2015
2. Chromebooks and Access for Struggling Students: May 20, 2014
3. Chrome Apps and Extensions: May 27, 2015
To participate in the Chrome Institute, please register at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chrome-institute-tickets-16468892902
For additional information, please contact Mary Lane: Mary.Lane@doe.nh.gov / 271-3740.
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Date: Saturday, May 30, 2015
Time: 8:00 - 4:00
Location: UNH, Durham, NH
Cost: Free
Registration
Keynote speaker, Dr. Katherine L. McNeill, Associate Professor, Boston College, will speak on designing classrooms for science practices: strategies from research on scientific argumentation.
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Do you have news to share with the educational community in the North Country? Send us your announcements and stories to be included in this newsletter. We want to share and highlight the many great events, learning opportunities (students and teachers), and other positive happenings in our schools and communities.
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Pathways for Boys: Finding Involvement in Out-of-School Activities
A conversation for families, boys, teachers, program staff, and community members with North Country Listens, the Coos Youth Study teams, and the Outdoor Pathways Coalition to discuss boys' involvement in out-of-school activities.
Colebrook
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Tillotson Center
14 Carriage Lane
Colebrook, NH 03576
Berlin
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
ELC Outdoors
26 Exchange Street
Berlin, NH 03570
More information and registration
Congratulations to Winners of the 2015 North Country Middle School Film Festival
NCES would like to thank this year's sponsors for making the event possible: AutoNorth Pre-Owned Superstore, the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund, and the Rialto Theatre, along with prize sponsors: the Omni Mount Washington Resort, Peak Resorts (Attitash & Wildcat Mountain), the Mount Washington Auto Road, Great Glen Trails.
Take a look at the winning films at:
http://www.ncedservices.org/2014-15
Celebration of School Community
Milan Village School
Celebration of Community Events (tie)
Jefferson Elementary
Celebration of Community Events (tie)
Lisbon Regional
Best Editing (tie)
Lafayette Regional
Best Editing (tie)
Lafayette Regional
Celebration of Community Partnerships
Monroe Consolidated School
Best Technical Merit
Lafayette Regional
Best Promotional Film
Berlin Middle School
Celebration of Place
Berlin Middle School
Best Editing (tie)
Lisbon Regional
GIS & GPS Training for Teachers
Check out the great teacher-focused training on GIS & GPS is available in NH this summer! Not only are the courses free, stipends are also available (see details on each institute webpage).
Topics range from basic GIS concepts, mapping with smartphones, applying GIS to watersheds, how to best use online GIS, and incorporating geospatial technologies into your classroom.
The first of the offerings is taking place here in the North Country at Stratford School on June 24-26th.
PSU School Law AD5700 Offered at NCES in July
Federal and state laws that apply to school systems, educational programs, and personnel will be discussed. Also covered will be the legal prerogatives available to the administrator and local boards of education. Consideration of constitutional, statutory, and case-law foundations of education systems, and the school administrator's role will be discussed. Prerequisite: AD 5010 or EP 7020.
Dates: July 7, 10, 14 & 17, 2015 from 8:00 - 4:00.
Learn more
Because Mental Health Matters
 Mental health is one of the biggest issues facing youth and one that is very difficult to talk about. Three quarters of all mental illnesses begin with youth and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24, one out of four Americans will struggle with mental health issues in their lifetime, and suicide is among the leading cause of deaths for teenagers, and yet we rarely have conversations about these facts or what we can do to help.
Text Talk Act will be available May 7th. To learn more about participating in a nationwide conversation, contact Eleanor Kane at New Hampshire Listens eleanorrkane@gmail.com.
Additional information
Check out the various summer camp opportunities available to students being held at WMSI in Bethlehem.
July 6 -10
Robot Camp (New robotic Challenges for 2015!). For students entering grades 3 - 6
July 13 - 17
Maker Camp (New design Projects for 2015). For students entering grades 4 - 7
July 20 - 25
Robot Design Studio (New Tools and New design Challenges for 2015). For students entering grades 6 - 9
August 10 - 14
Inventors Camp for Girls (Change the World with your Ideas!). For students entering grades 6 - 9
August 17 - 21
High School Robotics (Totally Next Level!). For students entering grades 9-12
Education Job Opportunities
Visit TeachNorth.org for education related jobs in the North Country.
Odysseyware provides online curriculum for grades 3-12, with customizable core, elective and CTE courses, assessment & remediation tools and much more. Odysseyware is ideal as a stand-alone curriculum or for blended learning, credit recovery, RTI, alternative and special education, ESOL, 1:1 and more.
Contact:
North Country Education Services
300 Gorham Hill Road
Gorham, NH 03581
ncedservices.org
603-466-5437
nces@ncedservices.org
NCES is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
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