NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE

March 11th, 2010

Urgent Need to Contact House Education and Labor Committee by March 26th to keep NCLI moving forward.

Dear NCLI Coalition member:

Earlier this year, we asked you to provide comments to the U.S. Department of Education on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (currently known as No Child Left Behind), and you responded. Hundreds of Coalition members, and thousands of their members let Secretary Duncan know how important it is that provisions of the No Child Left Inside Act be included in a reauthorized ESEA. Thank you!

We are asking you for help once again. Leadership from the House Education and Labor Committee issued a bipartisan statement last month reflecting their commitment to amending and improving ESEA this year. They have flagged NCLI on their website as a key bill up for consideration and are inviting organizations and agencies to submit comments on NCLI and other legislation related to ESEA by March 26, 2010. Please take a few moments today to email the Committee at eseacomments@mail.house.gov and let them know that you support the inclusion of the No Child Left Inside Act (H.R. 2053) in the reauthorized ESEA.

Some tips for submitting your comments:

  • Send your comments in the format of a letter on organizational letterhead.
  • Personalize your comments with information about your organization—size and type, interest in environmental education, specific progress in your state/region.
  • Send a copy of your comments to Sarah Bodor, sbodor@cbf.org, so that we can follow-up on your comments in subsequent meetings with Committee staff and members of Congress.

Remember, comments should be emailed to eseacomments@mail.house.gov by March 26, 2010.

Thank you for your continued work on behalf of No Child Left Inside!

The template message below may be of use to you in crafting your email. Remember to personalize it with information about your organization and why you are a member of the NCLI Coalition.

Members of the Committee on Education and Labor:

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  We are pleased that the Committee’s website highlights the No Child Left Inside Act as one of four key pieces of legislation pending before the Committee for consideration as part of the reauthorization.  We urge you to embed the provisions of the No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Act, as introduced, into the reauthorized ESEA.

[Personalize with information about your organization/state/region here]

The No Child Left Inside Act is critical to providing our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be ready for college and the tremendous career opportunities developing as America transitions to a green economy. Enhancing students’ environmental literacy is a proven way to expand the academic pipeline for STEM subjects and is increasingly seen as an innovative way to give students the sense of wonder and excitement so essential to encouraging scientific inquiry.  Environmental education has been shown to improve student achievement across core subject areas and increase engagement in learning.  What’s more, getting kids outside and active promotes a healthy lifestyle that is essential to fighting obesity and reducing symptoms associated with attention deficit disorder, depression, and stress.

We are grateful that the Committee approved a modified version of the NCLI Act during the 110thCongress and are hopeful that you will include the provisions of the current NCLI bill in ESEA this year.  Leaving it out of ESEA would be a missed opportunity to improve education while helping to systemically address other national priorities of a strengthened economy, a competitive workforce, and a healthier nation.

Sincerely,

Training: “Water” Curriculum, 21st Century Afterschool Science Project

March 11th, 2010
21St Century Afterschool Science Project (21st CASP)The 21st Century Afterschool Science Project is a 21 lesson curriculum designed to enrich student learning through inquiry-based, interactive science experiences using every day materials.  Developed in partnership with Liberty Science Center, this fun and engaging “water” curriculum is easy to implement and reinforces the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards in science, literacy, and math. This project was pilot tested and evaluated over a 2 year period.  The evaluation demonstrated successes on many fronts including:*    Creating a replicable model designed for afterschool, OST and extended-day programs to implement science programming;

*     Increasing OST staff capacity to facilitate science learning in the afterschool setting;

*    Increased student engagement, skill and knowledge related to science;

*     Developing and piloting curricular materials tailored for the OST setting, which imbed math and language arts components, and which are grounded in the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and inquiry-based learning; and

*    Involving families in hands-on science, math and language arts activities in support of their children’s learning.

This training is relevant for all afterschool providers and is especially geared for those without science background, as is the entire model.
This training will provide afterschool staff with a free science curriculum funded by the New Jersey Department of Education.

“This project was funded in its entirety with federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by No Child Left Behind, Title IV, Part B, 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) grant funds through a grant agreement with the New Jersey Department of Education.”

All participants will receive a CD copy of the curriculum.

Participants will receive 2.5 hours of professional development hours.

When: Friday April 9, 2010
10:00am-12:30pm

Where: Morristown Neighborhood House
12 Flagler Street
Morristown, NJ 07960

Cost: $10 fee,includes entire curriculum

Deadline to Register is Monday, April 5, 2010.

To Register: Fill out this on-line registration form.
An email confirmation will be sent to you containing payment information.

Celebrate Afterschool! Outdoors in the Garden State

March 9th, 2010

Celebrate Afterschool! Outdoors in the Garden State is coming the week of May 10, 2010. Are you ready?

Join the Statewide Celebration of Afterschool and Nature!

Celebrate Afterschool! Outdoors in the Garden State
is a high-visibility, fun and educational event that uses nature as a teaching tool to build support for afterschool.
Afterschool programs across the state will participate by hosting special programs during the week of May 10, 2010.

Visit www.njsacc.org to check out the event planning guide and activity guides.

Updated versions are coming soon, but it is never too soon to start planning.

Contact NJSACC by emailing amy@amyplotch.com for more information.

logoOutdoorsSmall

Last day to Register: Adventures in Peacemaking

March 9th, 2010

Adventures in Peacemaking: An Adventure Based Conflict Resolution Curriculum

This workshop is to help staff in school-age child care settings teach children effective, nonviolent ways to resolve conflict. Participants will also receive an Adventures in Peacemaking Basic Activity Kit and an

Adventures in Peacemaking Book

AIP BOOK

An adventure based Conflict Resolution Curriculum.

Click HERE to Register

This workshop is developed to meet the unique needs of school-age child care providers and provide assistance in the following areas:

  1. Implementing instruction in key conflict resolution concepts
  2. Further developing children skills using experiential education strategies
  3. Developing approaches for resolving conflict in child care settings

The Program Focuses on “The Peaceable Program” model and uses an Adventure based approach to teaching Conflict Resolution.

Lunch will be provided.

Participants will also receive an Adventures in Peacemaking Basic Activity Kit and an

Adventures in Peacemaking Book

Fee: $ 150 for the first person who will receive the training kit

$50 each additional person on the training team (one training kit & book per team)

Date:  Friday, March 19, 2010

Time: 10 AM to 2:30 PM

Location:  NJSACC

Directions: CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS

Registration is due by: March 11, 2010

IS YOUR PROGRAM A WINNER? METLIFE NOMINATIONS

March 8th, 2010

Dear Afterschool Supporter,

The Afterschool Alliance and MetLife Foundation are partnering to develop and disseminate a series of Issue Briefs that address topics related to middle school youth and afterschool programs. Nominate a program by April 23, 2010 for a chance to receive a MetLife Afterschool Innovator Award and be highlighted in one of our Issue Briefs.

Awardees will be recognized in the related Issue Brief and in the final compendium.  Awards will be given out by the Afterschool Alliance in conjunction with the 2010 Lights On Afterschool and each recipient will receive an award of $5,000 to be used to continue or improve upon the highlighted program.

We need your help in finding programs that are:

Providing multiple benefits to middle school students:

  • Nominate an exemplary middle school program that is providing benefits to middle school students, including helping them succeed academically in middle school, providing opportunities for service and preparing them for success in high school.

Promoting health and wellness for pre-teens and teens:

  • Nominate an innovative afterschool program that provides a place for middle school youth to be physically active, while teaching them to make positive choices for themselves.

Preparing middle school youth for college and careers:

  • Nominate an afterschool program that better prepares middle school youth for high school, college and careers, while keeping them on track and engaged in middle school.

Merging middle school programs and STEM learning:

  • Nominate a middle school afterschool program that incorporates/features STEM activities, giving students time to develop an interest in science, inspiring them to learn STEM skills and even explore STEM careers.

Your knowledge of the field is critical in helping us identify these potentially lesser known, yet highly effective, programs and the individuals running them.  Take a moment to make the nomination yourself or to point candidates in our direction.

Our online nomination form can be found here and additional details are available online at http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/metLife.cfm.  If you have any questions please contact Chris D’Agostino at cdagostino@afterschoolalliance.org or call (202) 347-2030.

Join us for the Afterschool for All Challenge - April 19-21, 2010