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Region B News
November 2008
Latest News from PDK Region B — Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Manitoba, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Oregon, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming and Yukon
This e-newsletter is sent to all current region B members who have e-mail addresses on file with PDK.
More New Beginnings
National elections seldom have an immediate impact on those of us in education, and in all likelihood that will also be true this time around. Schools have a unique opportunity this year as we reflect on what has been an historic campaign and election. As the new President prepares his cabinet, education will be one of the areas attracting attention. Will this be the time when members of the education community will be invited to offer input on the necessary repairs to the No Child Left Behind Act? Will the appointment of a new Secretary of Education meet with the approval of educators? Time will tell.
One thing remains constant. It is the educators, with collaboration with parents, who ensure that children's educational needs are served in a conscientious, caring manner. That is why PDK is proud to represent all educators and supports teachers through its mission: The mission of Phi Delta Kappa International is to promote high-quality education, in particular publicly-supported education, as essential to the development and maintenance of a democratic way of life.
Good News From Region B
I have electronic photos from some of these events and would be happy to send them to you. Just e-mail me!
New Chapter Charter Signing
On October 16, CML Celina Mau, International President-Elect Sandee Crowther, and I were on hand as we joined members of the University of British Columbia–Okanagan chapter #1609 in signing their charter. Congratulation to the new chapter!
Fraser Valley Chapter Up and Running
While in BC for the new chapter's charter signing, Sandee and I were pleased to be able to visit the Fraser Valley chapter #1587 meeting. Thanks to the hard work of CML Eileen Phillips and chapter members, the chapter has returned to active status and promises to provide another excellent opportunity for PDK members in the area to continue their professional growth and to enjoy the collegiality that marks PDK membership.
Visit to UBC Chapter
Rounding out our visit to British Columbia was the opportunity to visit the meeting of UBC chapter #0124 in Vancouver. We were pleased to be in Vancouver on Canada's election day and to be included in both the election excitement and the UBC chapter meeting.
Research Conference
Washington State chapter #1599 hosted its third research conference supporting the PDK International summit theme on October 11. The Washington State conference was called "High-Performing Educators: What makes a great teacher?" A highlight of Washington State's conference is the Washington State Kappan Journal that includes the research presented at the conferences. The latest journal was printed in November. To see the Journal, go to http://www.pdkwa.org/.
Minnesota PDK Efforts
CML Margo Tech and representative from chapters in Minnesota are continuing their work toward setting up the new Minnesota State Chapter. We look forward to the completion of their work.
Let us know what you or your chapter is doing so we can let others know about the great research, leadership, and service activities happening in our region.
PDK Chalk WalkSM
The Chalk WalkSM is coming up. Be sure to get your chapters involved and their larger communities involved in this opportunity to celebrate great teachers and honor those teachers who have had an impact on your life.
Chapter Visits
I was pleased to attend a meeting with the Des Moines chapter. Struggling a bit with having people stepping up to serve, the chapter is looking at options available to them. CML Elaine Ericson and I were pleased to meet with chapter members and to let them know what services PDK International can offer them.
I remind you that the CMLs and I are here to serve you. If you have questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us. If you would like to have either your CML or me visit your chapter or meet with your executive board, just let us know. With a little advance notice, we will try our best to comply with your requests.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Bob
PDK International News Links for PDK Leaders
Download the first issue of this year's Leading Through Learning column, Leaders Relate, Repeat, and Reframe, written by NSDC emeritus executive director Dennis Sparks. You can read it at www.pdkintl.org/publications/leading.htm.
The new issue of the PDK Connection is online at www.pdkintl.org/newsroom/newsletters/connect/conv53n1.pdf.
Finally, don't forget to log in to access the first issue of EDdge, International Education: Education for the 21st Century. This issue is a Q&A with Karen Kodama, international education administrator in the Seattle Public Schools.
Also online is an audio interview (podcast) with Karen. Use your membership name and password.
You can retrieve a password reminder from the log in page or by calling PDK International at 800-766-1156.
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The scholarship program through the chapters will remain the same in 2007-2008. Chapters have already received the applications that they are to use to select two high school seniors for consideration for Prospective Educator Scholarships. In addition to the two high school nominees’ applications, all applications from PDK student members who are applying for support through a chapter should be sent to International headquarters. The applications and supporting information for the chapter nominees and student PDK members must be received by International no later than March 1, 2008.
New rules for direct scholarship/fellowship applications this year! While there are no changes to the chapter-based scholarship program, PDK will no longer accept “at-large” applications for scholarships/fellowships. Direct applicants must now have some connection to PDK—applicant must be a Kappan in good standing, a “Kappan kid” whose parent or grandparent is a Kappan in good standing, a member of a PDK-sponsored FEA chapter, or have at least one recommendation letter written by a Kappan in good standing.
Also new for scholarships this year. All students who wish to apply for PDK scholarships directly must do so through the PDK website. The online applications will be available on the website on November 15, 2007.
PDK is podcasting. Listen to the current PDK podcasts—an interview with Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind, and an interview with Kappan author Alfie Kohn—by going to www.pdkintl.org/podcasts/podcasts.htm. You don’t need an iPod or any special equipment. Just go the website, click on the link, and start listening. Every month, we will interview a
Kappan author, so watch for the notice in your magazine and send questions for the author to eyoung@pdkintl.org.
Google us. Now navigating the PDK website is even easier with the addition of a Google search engine. Just click on Search at the top of every page on the site to quickly locate the information you seek.
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America's Foundation for Chess
http://af4c.org
HIGHLIGHTS
In honor of National Poetry Month, First Move held our first annual Poetry Contest.
We encouraged teachers to take advantage of poetry month by having their students submit poems about chess.
The entries we received are filled with creativity and energy from our students and we couldn't be more pleased.
Below is one we received from Timothy Wang of Mrs. Koreski's third grade class at Sacred Heart School.
My Chess Poem about the Pieces
By Timothy Wang,
Pawns are infant, and can't move down,
But Queens are crazy, and move all around.
Knights are chivalry, that can only hop,
Bishops are spotlights, that are not easy to be caught.
The Rook is very powerful so keep it very safe,
And do not risk the King or checkmate.
Phi Delta Kappa of Washington held their Annual Membership and Awards
Luncheon on April 18th honoring great teachers. Our own "Chess Lady" Wendi Fischer
received a Great Teacher Award for her work with First Move.
Angela McCathern of Rosa Parks Elementary was also given a Great Teacher Award,
recognizing her outstanding work in teaching the First Move program.
Annual Board Meeting
The annual Board Meeting for America's Foundation for Chess was held Monday, April 20th.
We reported to the Board on our activities, growth and retention, new ideas, and our plan for the 09-10 year.
A few highlights we shared include the following: online play usage up 295%!
This has become an important component of the First Move program.
Kids love it and teachers love it because it reinforces what the students are learning in class,
and parents are thrilled that their children are playing an educational game on the computer.
This fall we will be adding a new Family Activity Book to the First Move offering that will promote family interaction as well.
This fall, we will have the final of our NWREL research project that began September 2008.
In the meantime, the anecdotal evidence continues to pile up.
The highlight for the staff this year was to be able to pass out packets
full of thank you notes to our Board members written by students in our program.
The notes are so sweet, cute, and express how much the children truly love and appreciate First Move.
Thank you very much to all of our Board Members.
Congratulations, First Mover Chad Toussaint!
This month's First Mover is Chad Toussaint. Here is what Chad's teacher Peg
Sullivan had to say about him, "Chad is an extremely bright Third Grader here at
Lincoln School. He is younger than the other students in our class because he skipped
kindergarten. Chad is an eager, enthusiastic learner of everything we present to him during the school day."
Peg went on to say "when we began the First Move Program, he would ask
every day if he was going to receive his chess set to take home.
I explained that he would be getting the set after our class had learned about all the
pieces and how they moved. But he still continued to ask every week! Chad's father is
sick at home and Chad wanted to bring his chess set home, so that he and his dad could
play chess together."
"We have learned that chess is much more than a game.
It is about positive socialization, displaying manners, and enabling a
higher order thinking process. It also is an escape for a lot of kids. Chad writes
about his chess moves and imagines the days of battles, Kings, Queens, Knights, Bishops,
Pawns, and Castles. Thank you for letting us bring this into his life" Peg said.
Schools Update:
Most of our current schools have signed up for another year of First Move.
The budget crunch is an issue but schools continue to want First Move.
One of our principals in Kentucky was told to cut everything that isn't necessary.
His response was, "First Move IS necessary."
New districts continue to sign on as well. Final numbers will be a little
later than usual, but we are still working hard.
Special Events:
This year, the US Chess Championship is being held May 7th-17th at the beautiful
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis. Twenty-four of the nation's best chess
players have been invited to participate.
For more information,
please visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.
Warm regards,
Wendi
Wendi Fischer
Executive Director
America's Foundation for Chess
http://af4c.org
O: 425-284-3322
C: 425-785-2513
F: 425-284-3326
America's Foundation For Chess
608 State Street S, Suite 110
Kirkland, WA 98033
425.284.3320
http://af4c.org
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