# Schools
Book Wars: MCPS Middle School Students build friendships through literacy and leadership
Media Specialists combine a love of literacy and leadership skills through county-wide book trivia competition. MCPS District 2 Book WarriorsRon Poker/Used with Permission. Lights. Music. Themes. Decorated tables. Costumes. Opening skits and book warriors. Welcome to Montgomery County Public School’s Middle School Book Wars.
Sarah Smith Garnet School hosting Spring Celebration on Saturday
(Ashton Bingham/Unsplash) (BROOKLYN, N.Y.) The Sarah Smith Garnet School PTO is holding its Spring Celebration on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the schoolyard. The family-friendly event will have kids games, a bounce house, raffles, a silent auction, food and beverages.
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$1K STEM Grants Available for K-12 Schools, Apply by May 31
The first annual Lt. Governors’ STEM Scholarship Program awards up to $1,000 to 12 schools nationally. Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2022. The first annual Lt. Governors’ STEM Scholarship Program awards up to $1,000 to 12 schools nationally to support STEM-related activities for students. Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2022, with award recipients announced and funded this Summer 2022.
Governor DeSantis To Sign Bill That Designates November 7 As ‘Victims of Communism Day’ in Florida’s Public Schools
A bill that was approved unanimously during Florida's legislative season, was passed to Governor Ron DeSantis on May 5 for signing into law. Bill HB395 was approved without objection in both the house and the senate, and was introduced and sponsored by Republican Reps. David Borrero and Alex Rizo and Republican Sen. Manny Diaz Jr. It proposes that November 7 will be designated as 'Victims of Communism Day'
Florida Teacher Claims To Have Been Dismissed for Violating ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Law – Even Though It Isn’t in Effect Yet?
It was reported on May 4 that a middle school teacher in Florida claims she was dismissed from her job because of the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis last month.
Advocacy Group Says TN Teachers Deserve Actions, Not Words from Gov. Lee
Southern Christian Coalition laments empty promises of new school funding plan. Before Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed his school funding plan - TISA - into law today, a group of pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition held a video press conference to call out the inadequacy of the formula. The group noted that this week is Teacher Appreciation Week and that Lee's actions on school funding fail to match his rhetoric and are not indicative of appreciating the work of educators.
TN Pastors Lament Legislation Giving Book Banning Power to Textbook Commission
Southern Christian Coalition calls for veto by Gov. Lee. On the heels of the Tennessee General Assembly's passage of legislation that would give a state level, politically appointed committee of 12 individuals authority over whether books should be banned from Tennessee public school libraries, pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition called on Gov. Bill Lee to vote the measure.
Oakland Teachers Go On Strike Against School Closures
Many teachers in Oakland, California, are expected to go on strike for one day today to protest school closures scheduled for this year and next. Thus, the Oakland Unified School District has advised parents not to send their children to school on Friday since most teachers are expected to be absent. Quoting Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell in a letter to parents:
Lessons from our youngest teachers: TEDxYouth@WHRHS - RebooTED
Five impassioned and eloquent local high school students and one teacher took to the stage of the Watchung Hills Regional High School’s performing arts center on the evening of March 31st, 2022, joining the global movement that seeks to bring “ideas worth spreading” (credit: ted.com) to the forefront for general consumption and lifelong learning. This year’s TEDxYOUTH@WHRHS event marks the 6th year in which the high school has hosted this premier, self-organized conference. 2017 WHRHS graduate Vineet Parikh first proposed the inclusion of this programming in the district’s “2015-2020 Strategic Plan” and the event and its preparatory needs were added to the offerings that round out the high school’s student-experience through extracurriculars.
Activist Chaz Stevens raises $5,110 to ban Bible from Florida schools, argues it contains "explicit content"
Political activist, Chaz Stevens, has embarked on a new mission to remove the Bible from Florida schools. His latest efforts involve starting a "Go Fund Me" campaign to raise money to support his cause. So far, it's brought in over $5,000.
WHRHS Team 41 RoboWarriors rise to the challenge at FIRST Robotics World Championships
Tired but triumphant, Team 41-RoboWarriors, representing Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren, NJ, arrived home late Sunday afternoon, bringing home the title of FIRST Robotics World Championship Roebling Division Semi-Finalists, and a whole new appreciation for the sport.
Pastors Call on Lawmakers to Take it Slow on TN School Funding Reform
Southern Christian Coalition issues plea for funding adequacy, equity. As Gov. Bill Lee's school funding reform plan - Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) - moves through the General Assembly, pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition are calling on lawmakers to slow the process and pass a final bill that adequately funds Tennessee schools.
MCPS parents, students, and teachers provide feedback at meeting hosted by interim superintendent
MCPS Interim Superintendent, Dr. Monifa McKnight listening intently to community feedbackHeather Jauquet/Author. On April 20th, staff, parents, students, and board of education members participated in the first in-person community conversation hosted by Montgomery County Public School’s Interim Superintendent, Dr. Monifa McKnight.
The Problems With ABC Charts
When my son first began struggling in school, ABC Charts were considered an important way to dig down and figure out what was causing the problems. If you haven’t heard of them before, ABC stands for Antecedent, Behaviour, and Consequence: It’s a chart staff are often asked to fill out after a concerning behaviour has occurred.
MCPS Teachers concerned about a post spring break surge
Students and staff asked to test before returning to the classroom. It’s the end of spring break for Montgomery County Public Schools, and across the county, students and staff are preparing to return to the classrooms. However, before they do, they are asked to send in the results of a rapid home kit provided by the school system.
Superintendent of schools candidates say they are intent on correcting educational disparities in Sonoma County
Superintendent candidates, from left to right, Brad Coscarelli, Amie Carter, Ron Meza CallowayCourtesy of the Coscarelli, Carter and Calloway campaigns. There are three candidates running for Sonoma County’s next superintendent of schools, and all three took part in a recent forum hosted by Cradle to Career Sonoma County.
Free College Tuition Is Slowly Becoming A Reality
New Mexico's government recently attempted a first-of-its-kind experiment to provide free college tuition to all state residents. According to The New York Times, "A new state law approved in a rare show of bipartisanship allocates almost 1 percent of the state's budget toward covering tuition and fees at public colleges and universities, community colleges and tribal colleges. All state residents, from new high school graduates to adults enrolling part-time, will be eligible regardless of family income. The program is also open to immigrants regardless of their immigration status."
Texas School District Approves 4-Day Week For Students
During the upcoming school year, a Texas school district has approved a 4-day school week for pupils, according to USA Today. The Jasper Independent School District, located in eastern Texas, is emphasizing teacher burnout and shortages as primary reasons why the school is switching to the 4-day model during the 2022-2023 school year.