Will there be any school?

From mid-December to mid-January, holidays and snow caused Tacoma students to have just 11 days of school out of 35 calendars days.  Now comes the news that the district is going to seek an additional waiver for the 3 snow days in mid-January.


I think this line--"Tacoma canceled three school days during the storm and backloaded the makeup days at the end of the school year, where they could be canceled if a waiver is granted"--means that Tacoma would simply not make up those 3 days and would retain their snow makeup days as a day off.  In other words, they would not use the available makeup days to make up days cancelled for snow.


That would mean that students would now have only 173 days, as the district has already gotten four days waived.  I'm sure there's some sort of reasoning that makes sense for the district or the leadership, but I don't know how it makes sense for students.  I do know it sends a strange message about the (un)importance of school.  


I've asked the district spokesman if they plan to post an explanation of this on the district web site.  No response yet.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/30/2004684/schools-may-avoid-makeup-days.html#storylink=cpy

Resolutions Revisited

Ok - January is all but gone. Are you still plugging away at those New Year's resolutions? Or, have those good intentions faltered and old habits crept back into place? Research indicates that by now, over 75% of New Year's resolutions have been abandoned. The reasons vary, but in many cases the goals were unrealistic or the strategies employed in support of the resolution were overly optimistic, perhaps even bordering on fantasy. Achieving a goal is rarely easy and for most doing is far harder than wishing. As the Scottish proverb suggests, "If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride"

But what of the 20 - 30% of us who are still plugging away? What strategies are being deployed to help us towards our goals? Some may suggest that sticking with and attaining one's goals is down to good genes or even just single bloody mindedness. While positive attitude, will power and determination definitely play a role in reaching one's goals, there are also other tools that can also help sustain the effort to change .

Good planning is essential. Humans are crea�tures of habits. Many New Year�s res�o�lu�tions often require people to abandon habits devel�oped over the course of years. Keeping goals S.M.A.R.T. -Spe�cific, Mea�sur�able, Action-oriented, Results-focused, Time-bound can help. Many educators are familiar with the idea of SMART goal planning. Nice when something brought up annually for school improvement or achievement contract planning can be applied to our personal lives!

There is also the power of thoughtful reflection. Rather than feeling badly about not making any gains, people can consider what might be blocking their progress and then take action. If the goal is worthy and well planned out, perhaps there are other things getting in the way. Are there competing agendas that need to be assessed for priority and time management? Or, is it just a paralyzing fear of change that is stopping effective action. In his article Beyond New-Years-Resolutions & SMART Goals-Achieve-Success Derek Lauber points out that moving forward requires a person to take a deep breath, look at why they are stuck and then do something about it!  Ironically fear of failure can actually guarantee it! 

At his first inaugural address President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said "All we have to fear is fear itself" Less well known, but even more important were the words that followed "Nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." Hopefully your resolutions are still on track, but if not, take heart. Good planning, careful analysis and the courage to act can still provide the impetus to reach those goals!

Sad, Sad State for Charter Schools

Back in June, I blogged about a Georgia Supreme Court ruling which declared that the statute authorizing Georgia Charter schools was unconstitutional.  I found the logic of the court's ruling very questionable and disturbing.

Interestingly enough, when I spoke to parents who had children in these charter schools which were affected by the ruling, they seemed quite unperturbed. Surely it would not affect them.  All would be well.

Well, here we are six months later.  How are things for these charter schools? Uh, not too good.  Not too good at all!  It truly saddens me.

Ivy Prepatory Academy is an all girls middle school in Gwinnett County that opened as a Charter School.  The plan was for the school to grow one grade a year to encompass high school as well.  As parents of a current 5th grade girl, living in Gwinnett County, our family has been keeping an eye on this school. We have seen some very good things coming out of this school.  After all, if homeschooling didn't work out well this year, she would need to go to school somewhere, right?

Not simply trusting parental word-of-mouth, we were interested in as much factual data that we could acquire.  It certainly helps when trying to see how a school is performing.  So, how does Ivy Prep measure up compared to the typical Gwinnett County Public School (GCPS)?  Take a look at some of the statistics.  I stole the nice table from Peach Pundit.

6th Grade	Reading	Social Studies	Science	English Language/Arts	Math
GCPS	92.7%	78.8%	81.5%	93.5%	82.3%
Ivy Prep	100%	78.0%	87.0%	100%	86.0%
7th Grade	Reading	Social Studies	Science	English Language/Arts	Math
GCPS	93.1%	84.4%	89.9%	94.6%	92.6%
Ivy Prep	100%	93.0%	89.0%	100%	97.0%

So what action has the Gwinnett County Board of Education decided to take regarding Ivy Prep? Why deny an extension of the school's charter, of course.

What in the world is my County doing?  You have a school that is working.  Working better, in fact, than most of your other schools.  Don't support it.  Don't try to learn what they are doing better than the rest of the schools.  Don't try to emulate it.  Actively work to shut it down!  

Friends have wondered why I didn't want to use the public schools.  Why don't I have faith in the public school system?  I don't trust them.  Our values regarding education are clearly not the same.  I don't believe that the Gwinnett County Board of Education places providing the best possible education for the children of Gwinnett County on its priority list in any sort of a leading position.  Perhaps providing an "adequate" education is on their list, but certainly not providing "the best possible" education.

Outside of health and safety, there is nothing more important to me than ensuring that my children receive the best possible education that we can provide.  What a sad state of affairs that exists in Gwinnett County (and throughout the rest of Georgia too)!  I predict that the homeschool movement will continue to grow, particularly in Gwinnett County, while the local governmental approach is so hostile to innovation and effectiveness. 

Developments in Electronic Residency Application Service for Foreign Medical Graduates.

The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is a world leader in promoting quality health care � serving physicians, members of the medical education and regulatory communities, health care consumers, and those researching issues in medical education and health workforce planning. ECFMG�s Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), a support service developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (an ECFMG member), has recently undergone advancements to further assist medical school students and graduates in applying for residency positions in accredited U.S. graduate medical programs.

Among these developments, the number of international medical schools using ERAS has grown, with 95 schools now submitting documents electronically on behalf of their students and graduates. The ERAS new Letter Writer Portal has also been introduced to aid international medical graduates applying for U.S. post graduate training, by allowing letters of recommendation to be requested through and later uploaded directly to ERAS; this feature has seen success in accelerating this part of applying to U.S. programs.

Also accessible through ERAS, on Thursday, February 9th, the National Resident Matching Program will be hosting an informational web conference on the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). This is one of multiple new web conferences, meant for both international medical schools and their students, which will include complete information on the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) implemented for Match week 2012, as well as information and guidelines for letters of recommendation, and information on the AAMC�s new release date for the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE).

Interested participants can RSVP to erasadmin@ecfmg.org.

For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/xFcOeo

Patience - A Necessary Virtue

We live in a fast paced world where speed and instant change and action have become the norm. Whether its the number of airport queues I've passed through recently, or the presently glacial pace of progress in the current teachers labor dispute, its worth remembering that patience is a necessary virtue.

Patience can be defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate trouble or delay without getting angry or upset. The modern world is not a patient place. We are used to fast food, fast computers, instant results and service on the fly. Time is money, and no one has time to just stand around and wait. Watch the line ups at a bank, or the body language in a waiting room and the annoyance with any degree of delay can be seen first hand. But how do people cope when circumstances dictate that we "hurry up and wait"? Stories about road rage and violent frustration over delays in service are increasingly common .

And yet when students get impatient in the classroom teachers talk of a need for "self regulation".  In the classroom patience is not just a virtue, its a necessity for both students and educators. Real and effective learning takes time. Learning something new often involves a degree of adversity. The light bulb moment, when students get something that was previously unknown or unfathomable, is cited by many teachers as the best thing about teaching, but what about the struggles that led to that magic moment? Calmly dealing with the frustrations that bring us to a successful break through is equally if not more important.

Anyone can be quick to boil over with frustration when faced with adversity. "Someone should do something" we think. The blame game is an easy, but futile option. If only (insert scapegoat here) would act/be reasonable/give me what I want, all would be good. A better test might be to think about what can be done about the situation. And, if the answer is nothing, or not much - if the matter truly is beyond our control - how can we be constructively patient as we wait for circumstances to change or sort themselves out?

In his article " Dealing With Adversity" Chuck Gallozzi outlines several techniques for improving one's patience. Amongst them is the PPPP program. Briefly summarized, the P's recommend a person deal with frustration by not Panicking,  by making a Plan, to Progress by implementing the plan, and ultimately, to Prosper in maintaining one's calm in frustrating times. Perhaps easier said than done. Gallozzi outlines several other strategies in his article. Maybe the trick is to have the patience to find one that works best for you.

The Serenity Prayer asks that God grant people the serenity  to accept the things they cannot change; the courage to change the things they can; and the wisdom to know the difference. Perhaps it should also include having patience necessary to properly identify which is which. 

Reenlistment

For those of you with children in private schools, you know that this is the "crunch time" for your decision making process with regards to re-enrollment. Deadlines are looming, deposits need to be made ... do you keep your child in their present school or move them somewhere else?  As a veteran of five whole months of homeschooling (bah, ha ha), I am having the same thought process too.  After all, if homeschooling is not working and we are going to return to the world of brick and mortar schooling, we need to be making our decisions and FAST.

As much as I agonized over the decision to homeschool last year, this is almost a no-brainer!  The kids are learning-- A LOT!  They are getting along really well (phew!).  We are getting into a real groove.  We are starting to branch out a bit and meet other homeschoolers. We still see some of our old friends (albeit not enough and I need to make a concerted effort to get back in touch with several of them).  I am actually really liking the learning process as it pertains to all of us.  DFACS has not been called.  I am not drinking.  No one has been maimed in the educational process.  This is actually working!

Alas, (INSERT big sigh here) I do miss several things about traditional schooling.  I miss being able to make a hair cut appointment or doctors appointment with ease.  I miss being able to have lunch with a friend.  I miss the ease of Christmas shopping while the kids are in school.  I miss hanging out with friends while waiting to pick up the kids from school.  I miss volunteering with amazing women for one various school function or another.

But on the other hand, there are a number of things that I don't miss.  I don't miss the pressures of a 6:30 a.m. alarm clock.  I don't miss frantically enforcing bedtimes to the point of turning into a screaming banshee because I know that the alarm clock is going to be going off at 6:30 and I will have snarling, grumpy kids if they don't get to sleep immediately! (Just writing that run-on sentence is enough to make me lose my breath and feel stressed.) I don't miss making school lunches in the morning and screaming, "Hurry, Hurry!" every five minutes.  I don't miss rushing out the door so that we won't be late.  I don't miss the kids being sick all the time because someone else thought their child would be "fine" even though their child threw-up that morning or was running a fever.  I don't miss the tears and anguish caused by "So and So" who was being a bully or hurt a friend's feelings.  I do not miss fighting with my kids about doing their homework.  I do not miss deadlines imposed by teachers which could not be more inconvenient for our family's schedule.  I must also confess that every month I think about how delighted I am to not be sending tuition checks.

Our family lifestyle has changed dramatically in the past few months.  Overwhelmingly, the changes have been extremely positive.  Our decision to homeschool again was the briefest of conversations between my husband and I.  It didn't really merit a big discussion.  It just seemed to be the obvious conclusion to continue with homeschooling.  The factors which led us to our decision to homeschool had not changed and we are happy with the results.  Taking simple wisdom and applying it, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Paying it Forward Down Under

"Let's have a look then" - with those words the professional photographer took hold of my camera. During my recent trip to the southern ocean it seemed everyone had a camera. With wildlife and breath taking scenery all around us photo ops were everywhere. Most of us, were amateurs carrying fairly expensive cameras. Three of our company were professional photographers armed with a dizzying array of technology, who routinely produced amazing pictures. It was intimidating to be even aiming at the same subjects, let alone have one of them analyze my results, but Lionel was a remarkably cheerful and insistent man.

"You've got not a bad eye" he pronounced after skimming through a few of my pictures, "But yer making it hard on yourself". What followed was an unsolicited 30 minute hands on workshop that soon me taking better pictures than I ever imagined. "You got to to be brave enough to take it off auto" Lionel pronounced. I have a Canon Rebel EOS digital SLR. One of its chief selling points was that it is "idiot-proof" - anyone can take great photos simply by using the auto functions. Having disavowed me of that belief, Lionel proceeded to show me  some tricks of the trade and shooting techniques well suited to the types of pictures I was aiming for. "Now go and take a few yerself" were his parting words. 

I did. The results were inspiring, and so much better than what I'd been producing before. When I asked Lionel about why he'd offered to help me, he just shrugged and smiled. "Gotta help a fellow photog now don't I?" he said with his broad New Zealand accent. Lionel's cheerful and selfless instruction, offered for no other compensation other than a love of the craft, improved my photography and added to the enjoyment of an already incredible holiday. It was a classic example of the concept of paying it forward. As I return to my day job I can't but think that perhaps we should all follow Lionel's example. When we see someone starting out, or struggling with an activity that we know and love, it can't hurt to lend a hand, offer a few tips and help them along the way. (For a more detailed explanation of the pay it forward concept see http://www.wikihow.com/Pay-It-Forward)

I've since shown my pictures to dozens of people and have heard many complements. Thanks Lionel! Good on you, as they say down under! Hopefully I'll  pass on a similar favor to someone else one day!

Excellent and Awesome Tips on How to Study Well in College

For many students, being able to study well in college means that they have a better shot at a bright future. If they are able to get good grades, there is a chance that they will get good jobs with substantial paychecks. Indeed, in these economically-depressed times, it only through a good education that they can be able to find better employment.

Being able to study well in college would require you, the student, to develop the skills that will greatly enhance both your memory and your capacity for learning. These skills fall under five specific factors related to memory and learning enhancement.

1. Study Time = This pertains to the number of hours that you spend for studying and just how appropriately you are using them. This does not include the time you spend listening to lectures in class and doing your homework in the evening. Research studies have clearly documented that students do better in their exams if they squeeze in 30 minute to 1 hour study periods in their daily college schedule. While such a short duration may seem counterproductive, in reality, a shorter time period means that you can concentrate better on what you are studying. With study periods of 3 hours or longer, concentration dwindles to the point that you can no longer understand what you are reading.

2. Study Location = This pertains to the places where you choose to hit the books. Although the library remains the best place to study, research has shown that it is more effective if you alternate study places, particularly if you choose locations that are somehow related to the topics that you are reading on. Do you want to be able to understand those complex theories in Biochemistry? Ask your professor if you can study in the chemistry lab. The sight of the many charts and formulas on the walls, as well as the labeled bottles of chemicals can help you to remember what you are studying more. If you want to do even better in your tests, psychologists highly recommend that you study in the exam room or the lecture room that is very similar to where you will be given the test. Study location helps to "color" the knowledge that you are reading.

3. Putting Information in Short-Term Memory (STM) = Not too many students know that cramming and doing all-nighters primarily uses your short-term memory. Unfortunately, STM is not very effective since there are only 5 to 9 bits of information that you can remember at a time. Worse, if you don't reinforce this with constant memorization and repetition, you can expect all the information you have crammed into your brain within 15 to 20 seconds flat. In order for STM to work for you during cram sessions, you can combine all related facts together in easy-to-memorize chunks (a technique known as "chunking").

4. Storing Information in Long-Term Memory (LTM) = Research studies have confirmed that whatever information that you have crammed into your mind during an all-nighter will only stay inside your brain for 2 weeks at the most. For the information to stick inside your head until Final exams, you need to encode this knowledge into your long-term memory. If the information is encoded properly, it will be very convenient for you to get them out of your head during exams. Check out tutorials on techniques such as Mnemonics, the Peg Word Method and the Loci Method.

5. Retrieving Knowledge from Memory = Believe it or not, knowledge retrieval from your memory is actually being facilitated by the exams you take. The easy sections, like Matching Type, Multiple Choice and True or False, help you to develop the skills of knowledge retrieval with the help of "cues". As you move on to the more difficult Essay section, you will find that the "cues" which you have noted in the early parts can actually help you to delve deeper into your memory for the answers to the essay questions (that don't have the "cues").

Discover the basic strategies that will help you to study well in college today!

International PhD Scholarships in Biology at University of Queensland, Australia

The School of Biological Sciences is a large and research intensive unit at the University of Queensland, one of Australia�s most prestigious Universities. The School has broad expertise across the disciplines of ecology and evolution, molecular and quantitative genetics, developmental biology, behavior, plant and animal physiology, and conservation biology. Their research programs span all scales of biological organization, from molecules and cells, to organisms, populations, species and communities, and take advantage of study animal and plant systems in a large variety of habitats. The School has announced a new initiative that has made available a number of PhD scholarships for talented International students who enroll in their PhD program in 2012.

Qualifications

Applicants should possess a Bachelor�s degree with Honours, Master of Science, MPhil or equivalent, and must be accepted into the PhD program at the University of Queensland. The UQ Graduate School website provides further information on the entry requirements for admission to the PhD program (http://www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/our-research-degrees).

Remuneration

Living stipend (scholarship) of $23,728 per annum for 3 years which is tax free, with the possibility of a 6 month extension. International students normally pay international student fees of $29,600 per year, however individuals successful in gaining one of these scholarships will also be granted a full tuition-fee waiver.

The Application Process

Interested students should identify potential supervisors within their research area of interest (http://www.biology.uq.edu.au/academic-staff) and contact them to discuss potential projects. Strong candidates will be invited to apply for entry to the PhD program, and if accepted into the program will be considered for the School of Biological Sciences International Scholarships on a competitive basis.

For further information:

For detailed information on research programs, see http://www.biology.uq.edu.au/

For furher information on the application process please contact the Postgraduate Administration Officer Gail Walter gj.walter@uq.edu.au

Four Year Doctoral Fellowship for International PhD Students; The University of British Columbia, Canada.

  

Study Subject(s):Courses offered by UCC
Course Level:PhD
Scholarship Provider: The University of British Columbia; Canada

Scholarship Description: 

• The Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF) program will ensure UBC�s best PhD students are provided with financial support of at least $16,000 per year plus tuition for the first four years of their PhD studies. 
• This program allows UBC to continue to attract and support outstanding domestic and international PhD students, and provide those students with stable, base-level funding for the first four years of their PhD studies and research.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes

Eligibility:

• Four Year Fellowships may be held by domestic and international students. 
• In general, the fellowships are offered to students beginning their first year of PhD studies, but may be offered to continuing PhD students.
•  In all cases, funding is offered until the end of the fourth year of PhD studies, subject to satisfactory academic progress. Students holding the following Tri-Agency awards automatically become 4YF designates: Vanier Scholarships, Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGSD), CIHR Doctoral Research Awards, NSERC Doctoral Postgraduate Scholarships (PGSD), and SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships.
• Doctoral students who obtain Tri-Agency scholarships may be eligible for 4YF tuition coverage and will receive 4YF stipend and tuition support once their external scholarship funding ends, to the end of the fourth year of PhD studies. 
• Other major external scholarship winners who are selected as 4YF designates may be eligible for 4YF tuition coverage and will receive 4YF stipend and tuition support once their external scholarship funding ends, to the end of the fourth year of PhD studies.

Further Scholarship Information and Application: http://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards/four-year-doctoral-fellowship-4yf

United World College International Baccalaureate Diploma Scholarship, Malaysia

Study Subject(s): Courses offered by the university
Course Level: Diploma
Scholarship Provider: UWC National Committee (NC) � Malaysia
Scholarship can be taken at: Malaysia

Eligibility:

�         Malaysian citizen.

�         Resident in Malaysia and having completed Form 5 and sat for the SPM (or currently in the final year of ICGSE or equivalent) in Malaysia. A student who purports to be resident in another country straight after Form 5, without their family being with them would not qualify as IQ and the application would be carefully scrutinized.

�         Between the ages of 16-19 years as of the 1st August in the year of entry to UWC.

�         Those on refugee status should contact the NC directly.)

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes

Scholarship Description: Each year the UWC National Committee (NC) � Malaysia will receive from the UWC colleges a specific number of places (which may include a scholarship, bursary/partial scholarship or fee-paying place) for which they select students to study the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. Although strong academic achievement is valued highly at UWC, academic achievements are put into perspective with a demanding mix of community engagement, international affairs, physical activities and creative pursuits. Our student intake is deliberately diverse and each of the schools and colleges draws together students from many different nations and backgrounds. Our bursaries, scholarships and fee structures aim to ensure a broad socio-economic mix within the student body that adds value to the student experience and the organization

How to Apply: By Post; for application form, visit the website: http://www.uwc-my.org/

Scholarship Application Deadline: 17 February 2012

Further Scholarship Information and Application: http://www.uwc-my.org/

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Secretariat

(C/o En Ahmad Fhamy Sallehudin)

UWC National Committee � Malaysia

5 Jalan BK3/2,

Bandar Kinrara,

47180 Puchong,

Selangor Darul Ehsan

Telephone: 03 80767843

Telefax: 03 80767829

Email enquiries should be directed to Deborah Mazlan.

Facts About LPN Programs in New York

There are a lot of LPN programs in New York for you to choose from if you are interested in becoming an LPN. As states go this is one of the best ones to earn your LPN qualification because there is just so much choice. Some examples of schools are the State University of New York at Farmingdale, the Marion S. Whelan School of Practical Nursing, and the Lee G. Peters Career Training Center. However these are just a few of the many options. The important thing to ascertain before enrolling is whether or not the school is accredited with the New York State Board of Nursing if you want to become a certified LPN nurse.

In order to enroll in LPN programs in New York you have to meet a few requirements. Unlike in many other states you only have to be 17 or older to qualify. You will also have to have a high school diploma, pass a background test and be in good health to get into most New York LPN schools. Some schools may require that you write an entrance exam to get into the program and study for your qualification.

Good LPN programs in New York will always include practical as well as theoretical classes. In fact if you want to become an LPN you absolutely have to do hands-on training. This is an unavoidable requirement that you have to meet if you want to succeed as an LPN nurse in your studies. Online LPN schools in New York, for example, will not offer the clinical training that you need and you will have to organize that side of things for yourself in order to properly qualify as an LPN. A school or program that offers very little or no clinical training should be avoided altogether.

When it comes to choosing LPN programs in New York you will want to, then, choose one that has good clinical facilities and that will provide you with a high degree of clinical exposure during your time in the program. The better the facilities of a school, the higher the school should be on your list of possible schools to attend. This part of your training is not only essential for the examination, but also for preparing you for your actual career as an LPN nurse in the future, so it should form the basis of your decision.

If you are someone who is going to need financial aid to get through your studies then you may want to only consider those LPN programs in New York that offer financial aid options. There are many LPN programs out there that will be happy to provide you with the financial aid you need. Sometimes the aid is merit based, sometimes it is need based. You may also be able to qualify for loan forgiveness programs where you will be able to have a portion of your loan paid off on your behalf. In return for this you will be required to work for a set period of time in a designated undeserved facility as an LPN once you have qualified.

Out of District: The Benefits of Travel

The start of a new year found me away from my desk and out of district. Actually, right out of the hemisphere, spotting penguins in the Snares Islands in the sub Antarctic south of New Zealand. It was my second trip to Antarctic climes. Last year my wife and I were able to camp overnight on the Antarctic peninsula. Our preference for the far south may come from living in a place where winter reigns supreme much of the year, but I think it has more to do with my wife's fascination with penguins, and her life long desire to see them in their natural settings. (for a cool penguin classroom tool see penguinscience.com) Traveling to the Antarctic requires considerable planning. The region is accessible only at certain times of the year, getting there is a challenge, and fitting the trip into a work schedule is never easy.

And yet it is all so worth it! The benefits of travel far outweigh the reasons not to go.  Travel frees the mind and provides first hand experiences far beyond anything one can see on tv, the internet or in books. There really is no substitute for being there. If a chance comes up to go to a place you've always wanted to go - take it! Fortunately I work with colleagues who think the same way. Our Director of Instruction took a gap year and moved his whole family to live in France, and the district's superintendent and board of trustees support requests for time for international travel, believing such trips promote well rounded and better energized personnel. Human resource research supports the idea that employees who travel and move outside of their comfort zones are more likely to have the flexibility and improvisation skills to deal with the demands of the 21st century workplace.

Travel benefits students as well. Brightspark (Simplifying Student Travel) illustrates this point, with their 10 reasons why teachers should definitely consider traveling with students. SD 60 students have journeyed to Japan, Europe and South America. This spring, our secondary gifted program students are headed to China. Without exception, these journeys provide experiences above and beyond the benefits of traditional instruction. Students share their stories with family, friends and classmates, thus becoming living learning resources. Travel is real life learning that broadens a student's perspective on on other countries and cultures. St. Augustine wrote "The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." Here's hoping 2012 brings people opportunities to turn as many pages as possible!