Registration open for Conscious Discipline Conference
August 6 & 7, 2020
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Conscious Discipline is a transformational social-emotional learning and classroom management approach.
Developed by a teacher for teachers, the philosophy of Conscious Discipline emerged after years of working with children and experiencing the challenges of a broken system full of hurting children and frustrated adults. The methodology and best-practices of Conscious Discipline offer a different – and proven – pathway to transformation.
A two-day Conscious Discipline training will be offered in the North Country. The focus will be on prek-6 classrooms, but middle and high school educators are invited to attend. Although the example activities will be more elementary focused, the strategies and practices are applicable for all grades.
Trainer: Amy Speidel, Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor
Dates: August 6 & 7, 2020
Time: 8:00 to 3:00
Location: Town and Country Resort, Gorham, NH
For: pK-6 educators and administrators. Open to middle/high as well.
Cost (includes morning refreshments and lunch both days):
- $50 per person for staff from full member school districts*
- $60 per person for staff from associate member school districts*
- $150 for non-member participants (only if seats are available after May 1st)
Purchase order number must be submitted with registration or a check can be mailed within 2 weeks of registration to hold your seat. No refunds for cancellations received after May 1st. Substitutions will be allowed.
As this is a highly-discounted fee, NCES expects this training to fill quickly. If the maximum capacity of 150 participants is exceeded prior to May 1st, NCES reserves the right to limit participation to a percentage of seats per school district--with the selection being made by a district administrator. A refund would be given in the event that your seat is bumped. After May 1st, any remaining seats will be first come, first serve and open to non-members as well.
Registration: ncedservices.org/cdreg or calling 603-466-5437 M-F, 8:00-4:00.
*Membership status for the 2020-2021 school year. As district membership will not be finalized during this early registration period, we will tentatively work from the 2019-2020 membership list.
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School Counselor Learning Community:
Best Practices for Supporting Transgender Youth
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Join Shannon Brown for an interactive workshop about transgender, gender queer, and gender fluid identities, with a focus on identifying the best ways to support transgender youth in your community. Participants will learn basic definitions of gender identity terms, hear stories about transgender youth and their families, and have candid conversations about supporting transgender youth in their family, school, and/or community. This workshop will be facilitated by Shannon Brown of Equi*Librium Consulting, whose approach is to meet participants right where they are to advance equity and inclusion.
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2020 from 8:00 - 3:00
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Cost: Free for counselors in schools in SAUs 3, 7, 9 (Jackson), 20, 35, 36, 58 (Stark/Stratford), 68, 77 & 84 and Canaan School (VT). School counselors from non-member districts may participate for $25. Lunch provided.
Register: https://ncedservices.org/counselors or email lisa@ncedservices,org
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
 Shannon Brown is the Director of Residence Life at Southern New Hampshire University and a part-time diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant. Prior to her time at SNHU, Shannon worked in student-facing roles for 16 years at University of New Hampshire in Residence Life and in the Dean of Students office. As a higher education professional and a consultant, she works to meet people where they are, intellectually and developmentally, with an eye toward creating inclusive environments in and out of the classroom.
Shannon earned her B.A. in Public Relations from Marquette University and her M.S. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University. She has facilitated dozens of diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops at UNH, SNHU, and in New Hampshire, and she is a former member of the UNH Social Justice Educator Team. Shannon is an adjunct instructor at SNHU and has taught courses on career development, through a lens of inclusion, and a first year seminar focused on race and gender identity development.
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Seeking Youth to Serve on Coos Grantmaking Committee
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The Tillotson Fund of the NH Charitable Foundation is seeking a diverse group of high school students entering 9th to 12th grade from Coos County and surrounding communities in Vermont and Maine for the third year of their Youth Grant Making Program.
The deadline to apply to the committee is April 15th. Details about the program can be found at Empower Coos Youth Grants Program.
Download the application form.
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NHCF Scholarships for NH Students
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 Each year, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation awards more than $6 million in scholarships to help New Hampshire students with the fewest resources and most promise realize their educational goals, whether it’s a two- or four-year college degree, a certificate, or professional license.
The Foundation is particularly interested in supporting students who are beginning their college careers at two-year community colleges. The Foundation has pledged to make $500,000 in scholarships available to students attending community colleges for certificates or associate degrees for the 2020–2021 academic year.
Applications open on February 1, 2020, and are available online at www.nhcf.org/scholarships.
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Starting a Girls Who Code Club
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Girls Who Code is on a mission to close the gender gap in technology and to change the image of what a programmer looks like and does. Girls Who Code Clubs provide you with FREE coding curriculum and resources to help 3rd-12th grade girls build important life skills as they join a sisterhood of supportive peers, learn about inspiring female role models, and learn how to use computer science to positively impact their community. Our curriculum is extremely flexible so you can either use it to run an after school program or to supplement what you are already teaching during the school day.
All you need is space to host the Club, computers/laptops/chromebooks, and an adult who is 18+ to facilitate the Club (no coding experience needed!). GWC will take care of the rest -- with flexible and easy-to-use plug-and-play curriculum for all skill levels, a designated virtual GWC Club Success Specialist, free t-shirts, and a mini-grant of $300 for snacks, supplies, robots, and more!
To access the free Clubs curriculum and resources for this spring, fill out the quick 15 min Clubs Application.
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"The Kids We Lose" Documentary Screening in Lancaster
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Career Pathways Partnership Grants Program
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The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire have launched the Career Pathways Partnership grants program to create career pathways for New Hampshire public school students — by supporting partnerships led by local chambers of commerce, nonprofit organizations or school districts that work collaboratively with area businesses and educational institutions.
Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to support workforce development efforts including work-based learning experiences for students, career exploration programs, dual enrollment programs, credential or certification programs and formal high school and post-secondary learning experiences.
Deadline to apply: February 28, 2020
Learn more
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Trauma-Informed Care and the Pyramid Model
Online Lessons
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For those serving the birth to age 5 populations, the Trauma-Informed Care and the Pyramid Model Online Lessons helps teachers understand the impact of trauma on young children and their families. Adding a trauma-informed care lens to your existing pyramid practices will help to implement practices that promote children’s social emotional development, healing and resilience.
Benefits of Trauma-Informed Care and the Pyramid Model On-Line Lessons:
- Assists teachers to understand the impact of trauma on young children and their families and to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in young children
- Ensures teachers understand the assumptions and principles of trauma-informed care
- Builds a foundation to support children’s resilience and recovery
- Supports implementation of specific practices for teachers and families to implement trauma-informed care pyramid model practices in early childhood
Cost: Free. Priority to iSocial practitioners.
Link to flyer.
Registration link, register by April 8th.
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Life Under Construction - Youth supported mental health
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Life Under Construction! is a Facebook group supported by NAMI NH that provides a place for youth whose lives are affected by mental illness to share ideas, concerns, and questions they have about planning their future. This site assists teens and youth with emotional disorders/mental illness transition successfully into adulthood. You’ll also find information about how teens and young adults can get involved and connect with leadership opportunities that can influence policies in mental health, education, and other related areas.
For more information or questions, contact Michele Watson at mwatson@NAMINH.org or 603.225-5359 x 353.
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Online Parent & Caregiver Group
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 Struggling with your child's or teen's behavior?
NAMI of NH is offering an online virtual meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.
For more information, contact Carol Lemelin at 603.664.2116 or rclemelin@metrocast.net.
Flyer
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Regional Support Groups and Classes
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The Family Resource Center is offering a variety of programs to support families, caregivers, and individuals. These classes and support groups include:
- Parenting with PTSD: A Workbook-Based Support Group for Moms with PTSD, mornings starting January 14, 2020 in Berlin
- Positive Solutions for Families, parenting class, evenings beginning January 15, 2020 in Berlin
- Mommy and Me Playgroup, beginning January 16, 2020 in Berlin
- Anger Management, afternoons beginning February 4, 2020 in Berlin
- Like Skills 101, evenings beginning January 16, 2020 in Berlin
- Support Group for Relative Caregivers, 2nd/4th Thursdays, in Berlin
- Support Group for Relative Caregivers, every other Wednesday, in Lancaster
- SMART Recovery, Monday evenings beginning January 13, 2020 in Berlin
Download flyers or contact the FRC for more information or register at 603.752.2511.
The Family Resource Center serves Coos County and northern Grafton County. Childcare available with advanced request. Local transportation may be available with advanced notice. For families already connected to FRC services, out-of-town transportation may be available as well. If you are interested in a program that is not currently offered in your community, contact the FRC as satellite programs are being considered for Littleton, Lancaster, and Colebrook.
Looking for other support groups? Check here.
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NHSaves Education Challenge, for grade bands K-12
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 The NHSaves Education Challenge invites NH students to respond to topics about energy efficiency and create projects to educate and encourage their community to make sustainable energy choices. Submission format may vary as long as a written component is included with the entry and the project is shareable via local newspapers, on school websites, or other public formats. Winning entries will be selected three times per year, published through various media outlets, and awarded a prize.
Learn more
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NHSaves' LED Fundraiser for School
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Raise money for your school while helping students and their families save money at home by
using more energy-efficient lighting. NHSaves’ LED fundraiser starts with an entertaining and
fun school-wide assembly by a NHEEP educator on energy efficient products, the benefits
of saving energy, and the logistics of the fundraiser program. Students sell energy-efficient
light bulbs ranging in price from $2–$5 and are awarded prizes based on the number of items
sold. Schools keep 100% of the money collected.
Sign-up or learn more at NHEEP.ORG/FOR-TEACHERS/LED-FUNDRAISER-FOR-SCHOOLS
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Attention Retired Androscoggin Valley Teachers
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 Androscoggin Valley Education Collaborative AVEC invites retired teachers to an AVEC Cafe event with coffee and muffins on Wednesday February 5, 2020 at White Mountains Community College in Berlin. This will be a conversation with SAU 3 Superintendent Julie King, SAU 20 Superintendent Dave Backler, and President of WMCC Chuck Lloyd to discuss collaboration and creating more opportunities for students in our region. There will be updates for those who have attended a prior cafe.
RSVP requested, not required. Please email courtney.wrigley@unh.edu
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Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment -
North Country Meeting
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The next meeting for those coordinating curriculum, instruction and/or assessment for their school or district is scheduled for Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at NCES. In addition to member-led topics, guest presentations are planned from Alma (Student Information System) and Get More Math. For February, this meeting will be combined with the regional principals meeting.
RSVP to attend.
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There are many resources available to school personnel who are working with military connected families including the NH National Guard. Visit the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State's Applied Science Research Center for more information.
Contact Kristen Ferullo at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at kristenferullo@navy.mil or (207) 318-1730.
Coos Adult Learner Services offers small group instruction in basic reading, writing, math, English for English Language Learners, and preparation for the HiSet exam.
Services available in Berlin, Colebrook, and Lancaster locations. The program serves all of Coos County.
Volunteer tutoring opportunities as well.
Call 603-752-1927 to get started.
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Coos ALS - Berlin is now Northstar testing location.
The Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment defines the basic skills needed to use a computer and the internet in daily life, employment, and higher education. Online, self-guided modules assess the ability of adults to perform these tasks. Test takers can receive digital badges whenever they pass assessments, and can additionally receive certificates when they pass assessments in a proctored environment at a Northstar testing location.
Classes in basic to intermediate computer literacy begin February 11th.
Free energy education workshops for educators and students and more.
2020 US Census is important
Once a decade, America comes together to count every resident in the United States. It counts our population and households, providing the basis for distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to support states, counties and communities’ vital programs — impacting housing, education, transportation, employment, health care and public policy.
See NH's allocation of funds from federal programs based on the last census.
Earn extra income as a Census Taker
The Census Bureau is accepting applications from those interested in being Census Takers. The rate of pay is $17.50/hour, with flexible hours, paid training, and mileage reimbursement. Learn more 2020census.gov/jobs or call 855-JOB-2020
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire recruits, trains and supervises volunteers to serve as advocates for abused and neglected children in the New Hampshire court system.
For more information, contact speakup@casanh.org.
Want to learn more about education funding in NH?
Reaching Higher NH has a series of articles that explains different aspects of the issue.
Advancing NH Public Education has several articles on education funding as well.
Follow the Save Our Schools page on Facebook.
Sign up for email updates from the School Funding Fairness Project here.
Granite Guarantee:
Tuition-Free College
The Granite Guarantee is a financial aid program that makes college possible for qualified first-year and transfer New Hampshire students by covering the cost of tuition for up to four years.
Learn more about the Granite Guarantee process at participating schools:
or learn more about the program through the University System of New Hampshire or by calling 844-309-3855.
Foster Care: Short-term and Long-term Families Needed
If you’ve ever thought about becoming a foster parent, please act now. Did you know weekend-only care is option? If you’d like to learn more about the foster care program, visit the NH DHHS webpage on Becoming a Foster Parent.
Foster and Adoption Care Essentials (FACES)
Berlin training, Monday evenings January 27 to March 9, 2020
There is also a training series in Littleton.
Protecting children is all of our responsibility. KNOW the signs of abuse and TELL responsible authorities.
NCES Online Professional Development Library & Educational Student Texts
Want to enhance your ebook collection?
Check out the hundreds of educational ebooks available to NCES member schools:
Check out the K-12 computer science resources curated through the CSNorth project.
Learn more about CSNorth
Help support the mission of NCES
Your tax deductible donation will support NCES' mission of collaborating with public schools and community partners to support excellent and equitable educational opportunities throughout the North Country.
NCES seeks exceptional educational experiences and realized potential for all students.
NCES believes that thriving schools are at the heart of vibrant communities!
The core values of NCES:
- PUBLIC EDUCATION
Learning is key to a fulfilling life and protecting our democracy. Quality public schools are the core of vibrant communities and essential for strong local economies.
- COLLABORATION
Working together for efficiency and improved outcomes through convenings, sharing best practices, and partnerships.
- QUALITY
Investing in professional development for educators, pursuing innovative approaches, and providing high-quality services and programs to members.
- EQUITY
Equity and fairness are promoted in all actions and decisions—as well as advocating for equitable access and opportunity throughout the region.
- INTEGRITY
Conducting all actions, relationships, and financial transitions with transparency, trustworthiness, and good stewardship.
- RESPONSIVENESS
Anticipating and meeting the evolving needs of stakeholders for continuous improvement.
Contact Information
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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