Morgan Hill Unified School District Resumes Classes
After enjoying several weeks off during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, students at all Morgan Hill Unified School District schools resumed classes on Monday. Students went on vacation after Dec. 22, the end of the semester, and resumed classes Jan. 8, the first day of their second semester.
Schools will be closed again in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Jan. 15 followed by a break at the end of the second trimester Feb. 19-23.
ACT to Study Student Achievement in High School Core Courses and Examine Connection with College-Ready Knowledge and Skills
The non-profit ACT, INC. organization has announced it will study the quality and effectiveness of U.S. high school core courses in preparing students for college and work. The research will be funded by a $400,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the results will help lay the groundwork for future initiatives aimed at raising the quality of high school coursework across the country.
“Our initial data indicate that many high school courses appear to be watered down and are not focusing on the knowledge and skills that students need to succeed after they graduate from high school,” said Cynthia B. Schmeiser, ACT’s education division president and COO. “This study will be the first step in helping schools and districts strengthen student preparation.”
Today’s high schools are struggling to meet the needs of all students. According to the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center’s 2006 Diplomas Count report, almost 3,000 students are dropping out every day. And, among those who do graduate, only about half complete high school with the knowledge and skills needed for college and work. ACT’s data, cited in its 2004 Crisis at the Core report, are even more startling: Fewer than one-quarter of today’s high school graduates are well prepared for college coursework in all four subject areas tested by the ACT exam-English, math, reading, and science.
The results of the ACT study will help high schools address these shortfalls by evaluating the quality of their core classes. It will assess what 10th- through 12th-grade students are learning in key high school courses by measuring their achievement and their level of college readiness both before and after taking the courses. These results will help establish benchmarks for future education initiatives designed to support the improvement of core high school courses.
Ninety U.S. high schools will be included in the study, the first of its kind to gather data on course achievement on a national level. The high schools chosen, both public and private, will be a representative sample by size, type, and student socio-economic status. The study will be completed during the 2007–08 school year.
“If we are to significantly raise college-ready graduation rates, we must have a clear picture of course content and student achievement in our high schools,” said Tom Vander Ark, executive director of education, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “We are excited to have ACT lead this effort, informing school leaders and policymakers so they can better understand how to improve the college and work readiness of our students.”
ACT provides links to other Web sites for informational purposes only. ACT is not responsible for the content in other sites, and links from the ACT Web site to other sites are not intended to imply endorsement of them by ACT.
High School Essay Contest
THE HUMANE EDUCATION NETWORK is holding its 17th annual essay contest for high school students, “A Voice for Animals.” The deadline for entry is March 10, and the results will be announced May 31. The contest is held to encourage high school students to become more informed about and respectful towards animals. First, second and third-place awards will be $500, $250 and $100, respectively. Another $250 prize will be awarded to a student for the best personal and active involvement in a project or venture that directly impacts animal welfare.
For contest rules and to submit entries online, visit www.hennet.org.
The Humane Education Network is a non-profit organization that advocates the humane treatment of animals.
Details: (650) 854-8921 or he*@he****.org
Register Now for Science Alive
GAVILAN COLLEGE is hosting a full day of hands-on science exploration for middle school students 8am-3pm on Feb. 10. Students can choose from 19 exciting workshops, including “A Cow’s Eye View,” “Astronomy,” “Geology” and “Help Build a Trebuchet.” Marsha Ivins, an astronaut with Johnson Space Center in Houston, will be keynote speaker. The day will begin with check-in at the Gavilan College Student Center, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd., in Gilroy. The morning workshop is next, then lunch will be served in the center, followed by the keynote presentation. A raffle will be held at the end of the day. Workshops for parents are available, including information on preparing for college and financial aid for college.
The cost is $10 per participant. The complete list of workshops and registration materials is available at www.gavilan.edu/sciencealive
Details: Hope Jukl at (408) 846-4947
Nominations Accepted for Teacher Awards
Teachers, students and parents can nominate their favorite teacher to win the “Teacher of the Year Award” sponsored by the Teachers’ Insurance Plan. Nominations will be accepted through March 1. To nominate an educator, explain in 250 words or less why the teacher should win the award. Nominees will be judged on their ability to motivate students, their special talents and their contribution to their school, students or educational community. The winning teacher will receive $1,000 and a $500 grant for his or her school. The state winner will also be eligible for the national award that includes a special recognition and a $2,500 travel certificate.
Details: www.teachers.com/toty
Youth Piano Competition
Piano students ages 8-18 are invited to participate in the Gavilan College Marian Filice Youth Piano Competition. The competition will have three divisions. The entry fee is $25, non-refundable. The deadline for entry is Feb. 10. The event will be held March 3 at Gavilan College Theater in Gilroy.
Each participant is expected to prepare two stylistically contrasting pieces to play from memory. One original copy of the piece must be supplied for the judges. All contestants will audition the afternoon of the competition. Each contestant will get a certificate of participation. Cash prizes ranging from $50-$500 will be awarded to three winners for each division. The winner of division three will be invited to play at the Gavilan “Bach to Blues” concert in March and may be asked to perform for the South Valley Symphony Youth Concert.
More information and application forms are available at www.gavilan.edu/music/pianocomp2007.
