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NEW NOTIFICATIONS
MAHPERD Conference Set for November 7-8 at HealthWorks! In Tupelo
The Mississippi Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
(MAHPERD) will hold its 80th annual Conference on Nov.7-8 at HealthWorks! in Tupelo,
Mississippi. This state-wide conference will provide an opportunity for professional growth,
exchange of ideas, presentation of best practices, and networking with colleagues from all over
Mississippi.
This year’s conference will include guest speakers Deuce McAllister, former Ole Miss and New
Orleans Saints football player, and Dr. Andy Gillentine, current Professor and Associate Dean of
Hospitality, Retail & Sport at the University of South Carolina. There will be sessions on
Archery, Let’s Move in Schools, FitnessGram, Ipad Apps, Tools for Building Health
Assessments, MS’s new Health and PE Education Curriculum, Hershey’s Track and Field, Game
Skills to get PE thrills, Using your Noodle, For the Love of Dance, and much more.
MAHPERD is a voluntary professional organization of teachers, coaches, administrators,
students and agency personnel. MAHPERD is governed by an executive board and encourages
all members to be involved in leadership roles. For membership forms and convention
registration visit the MAHPERD website at www.msahperd.com .
CMSE Offers CCSS “Mini” Institutes at JSU
The Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMSE) at the University of Mississippi will
offer two Common Core State Standards (Mathematics) "mini" institutes at the eCenter @
Jackson State University on January 2-4, 2014. Each day begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 4:30
p.m. The K-2 and 3-5 institutes will be held concurrently. Content will focus on Day 1)
Counting & Cardinality and Numbers in Base Ten; Day 2) Operations with Algebraic Thinking
& Fractions; and Day 3) Geometry and Measurements. Tasks and activities will be presented that
are aligned with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Two (2.0) CEUs are
available. For more information, call Charlotte Dailey at 662-915-6621 or visit our website
at http://cmse.olemiss.edu/professional-development/ccssm-mini-institutes/.
The cost of attendance is $295 each for all three days and includes materials, cost of CEUs,
and a bound booklet of CCSS-M/PARCC information. REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW.
Other Locations Are Also Available:
University Of Mississippi Desoto Center
March 12-14, 2014
Gulfport High School
May 28-30, 2014
Mississippi Education Symposium
There’s still time for educators to register to hear the latest on teaching methods and technology
in the classroom as Mississippi continues to move to college- and career-ready standards. The
Mississippi Education Symposium, hosted by Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, is set for Oct. 29 in Tupelo.
The event, co-sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Education, will begin at 9 a.m. at the
BancorpSouth Conference Center, 375 East Main St., in Tupelo.
The symposium will provide educators with materials for implementing higher academic
standards in the classroom, strategies for teaching English and math courses, and applying
technology to teaching techniques. These professional development opportunities are of
particular interest to educators as we incorporate more technology in the classroom and to
improve learning opportunities for students with disabilities.
The symposium also will feature former U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. William Bennett; Dr.
Andrea Honigsfeld, author and associate dean in education at Molloy College in New York;
Harry Dickens, author and technology director for the Arkansas Public School Resource Center;
and former Mississippi principal Dr. Billy Ray Jones, founder and executive director of Superior
Learning and Leadership.
Attendees can earn credit toward continuing education requirements. The registration fee will
include the cost of the conference, professional development materials and online curriculum
resources. The first 600 full-time Mississippi public school educators will receive a registration
fee discount. The conference is open to both public and private school educators. RSVP to
www.corwin.com/mississippicci
GOT AN ITEM FOR EdUpdate?
To submit information for consideration in the EdUpdate, email the information to Tabatha
Burkett at tburkett@mde.k12.ms.us by noon on Thursday. Please include a contact name and an
email or phone number as part of each item.
VACANCIES
To inform you of vacancies in school districts, we provide a link each week to a list of school
district openings. This list, updated monthly, is compiled by the Mississippi Teacher Center and
includes job openings for administrators and teachers. To view the current monthly list, visit
http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/teacher-center.
For information on employment in the MDE, contact the Office of Human Resources at 601359-3511 or visit the "Active Recruitment List" on the State Personnel Board Web site at
www.msps.ms.gov for a list of openings in all state agencies.
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Mississippi Recycling Coalition Accepting Grant Applications
The Mississippi Recycling Coalition (MRC) announces the immediate availability of the 20132014 Mississippi School Recycling Grants. This is the second year that MRC has made these
awards available and is offering up to 10 $1,000 grant awards. These awards are available to
schools wishing to start, expand, or continue a school recycling and/or composting program at
any public or private primary or secondary school. The deadline for submitting a grant
application is 5 p.m. Nov. 15. Applications must be submitted online using the form at
http://www.msrecycles.org/school_grant.html.
Applications will be judged with a strong focus on the student leadership component and the
instructional emphasis of the program in teaching students the value of recycling. Other major
components in judging the applications are; participation of students and community, creativity
and program design, and a detailed description of the program operations with a key emphasis on
the continuation and sustainability of the program.
EVENTS
Council on Economic Education Schedules Online Program for Teachers
Stock Market Game
 Who: Students in grades 4-12
 Dates: September 3-December 13 (make trades before November to be eligible for
prizes!)
 Set up: Teams of 3-5 students working together to trade in the stock market using a
simulated portfolio of $100,000.
 Prizes: the top 3 teams in each division (elementary, middle, and high school) each fall
and spring semester are awarded cash prizes (listed below). The grand prize winner over
both the fall and spring semester (1 awarded for the school year) is given an all-expense
paid trip to New York City!
 How: Register your students online at www.stockmarketgame.org
 There is a fee of $17 per team. If your school is unable to pay, please let us know so that
we can make scholarship arrangements for you.
For any questions, contact Kristi James at jamesk@millsaps.edu.
The English Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition
Students are invited to participate in the 2013-2014 ESU National Shakespeare Competition.
High school students read, analyze, perform and recite Shakespeare monologues and sonnets in
as many as three qualifying stages: school, state competition in Jackson, MS on Saturday,
January 25 and national in New York City, April 27-29.
The competition involves approximately 60 English Speaking Union branch communities
nationwide. Annually 15,000 high school students and thousands of teachers participate.
In the past, the ESU Jackson Branch state winner has done very well at the national competition.
For example, in three out of the last the last four years, the Mississippi winner has been a top 10
finalist.
Learn more at www.esus.org in the Programs/National Shakespeare Competition section. For
more information, contact James Lander, jimlander@aol.com, or call (601) 212-8800.
State Bankers Association Sets “A Banker in Every Classroom” Week
The Mississippi Bankers Association has set the 2013 "A Banker in Every Classroom" Week for
November 4 – 8. In 2012, over 400 bankers joined local teachers throughout the state to present
lessons in personal finance in grades K-12. Reaching close to 12,000 students in a five-day
period, this program is one of the biggest financial education projects in Mississippi schools in a
long time.
Registration information will be available soon. For more information, contact Amy Davis at
adavis@msbankers.com at the Mississippi Bankers Association.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Mississippi Department of Education maintains an up-to-date professional development
calendar. The calendar can be accessed at this address:
https://districtaccess.mde.k12.ms.us/Lists/MDE%20PD%20Calendar/calendar.aspx
Common Core Workshop Offered
School Aids will host its first workshop on Common Core on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 9-11 a.m. at
St. Luke’s Episcopal School, 3957 Japonica Lane, Mobile, Ala. The cost is $10 and attendees
can register either by phone at (251) 272-3713 or by email at Kristen@schoolaids.com
Learning Forward Mississippi Offers Professional Learning Opportunity
Learning Forward Mississippi encourages your participation in an annual retreat, Transforming
Professional Learning, on November 4 - 5, 2013, at the Eagle Ridge Conference Center in
Raymond, MS.
This year’s retreat is an opportunity for high-quality, standards-based professional learning
specifically intended to help you improve the implementation of all these initiatives. Come learn
from an experienced educator and administrator how the initiatives overlap and best-practice
tools and tips you can use for addressing these areas. Participants will receive a copy of the
newly released book, A Playbook for Professional Learning: Putting the Standards into Action.
Participants will also work together to create school- or district-based professional learning
plans. 5 SEMIs and 1.0 CEUs will be available.
With this experience, you will be prepared to best support and facilitate implementation of
MPES, SOARS, CCSS, and M-STAR - where it matters most to each of us - in our schools and
districts.
For more information about the retreat and to access the registration form, please visit
http://www.learningforwardmississippi.org/attachments/File/Learning_Retreat/LFM_Retreat_Fly
er_Registration_Form.pdf
USM Offers DuBard Professional Development Training
The University of Southern Mississippi Office of Professional Development and Educational
Outreach will be offering the following professional development program. Continuing
educations units will be available.

Missing Links in Academics
October 29-30
For more information or to register call (601) 266-4186 or visit www.usm.edu/training.
AWARD NOMINATIONS
2014 Green Ribbon School Recognition Award Program Accepting Applications
Last year, six schools in Mississippi participated in our first Green Ribbon School Recognition
Award Program. Watkins Elementary School in the Jackson Public School District was
recognized as a National Green Ribbon Award School.
Your school could be recognized for efforts by staff members, students, officials and
communities to work together to produce energy efficient, sustainable and healthier school
environments. Schools may submit a new “user-friendly” application to the Mississippi
Department of Education and our top state applications will be submitted to the U.S. Department
of Education for the Green Ribbon School Recognition Award.
The primary goal of the Green Ribbon School Recognition Award is to inspire schools to strive
for 21st century excellence. The award recognizes schools that:
1) Reduce environmental impact and costs;
2) Improve the health and wellness of schools, students and staff; and
3) Provide effective environmental and sustainability literacy, incorporating STEM,
civic skills and green career pathways.
Combined excellence in these three areas will serve as the basis for recognition.
Application deadline is January 14, 2014. Go to the Office of Healthy Schools website at
http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/healthy-schools. You will find the Green Ribbon School Award
Application under “What’s New”. For more information concerning the green schools program,
contact either Christine Philley at cphilley@mde.k12.ms.us (601) 359-1737 or Judy Frazier at
jfrazier@mde.k12.ms.us (601) 359-5010.
Applications Now Accepted for Best Urban School
The National Excellence in Urban Education Award Program identifies and celebrates some of
the nation’s best urban schools (schools in metropolitan areas with 50,000 or more residents.)
The criteria and award application are available at http://www.ncust.org . The application
deadline is Nov. 15. For more information, contact Dr. Lynne Perez at lperez@mail.sdsu.edu or
call (619) 594-7905.
EDUCATOR RESOURCES
Office of Educator Licensure Offers Teaching Certificates through ELMS
The Office of Educator Licensure (OEL) is now offering access to original teaching certificates
in the Educator Licensure Management System (ELMS). The original certificates can be printed
by logging into the educator’s ELMS account and selecting the option that says “View your
credentials here.” Once in the account, the educator can select the yellow link bar that says
“click here to view virtual certificate” just below the educator’s contact information.
As a result of the original certificates now being available online, the OEL will no longer
automatically mail original certificates to educators. An individual may request a duplicate copy
of a license by applying online and paying with a debit or credit card or by submitting a
completed Licensure Application and a $5 money order (Personal checks not accepted) to the
Mississippi Department of Education; Office of Educator Licensure; P.O. Box 771; Jackson, MS
39205.
The OEL asks that all educators verify the accuracy of the personal information within ELMS,
paying special attention to email addresses. Email is the quickest and most efficient way for the
OEL to communicate with the educator if there is a deficiency with the application, or to notify
the educator once the licensure request has been processed.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the OEL at (601) 359-3483.
Move to Learn Introduces New Videos
Move to Learn has produced 10 more fitness break videos to add to its library. From now
through January, a few videos will be made available every month. Here’s an overview of what
will stay the same – and what will be new.
What’s staying the same?



Coach Calhoun will still lead every video.
The time. The videos are still easy-to-do five-minute breaks that are perfect for the
classroom.
The “Cool Downs.” Coach will still let your class “cool down” at the end of each video.
So, what’s new?



The music. Several fun, new songs have been added that you and your students will
LOVE.
Assistant coaches. This time, Coach Calhoun will have a few awesome assistants from
around Mississippi who will help lead parts of some videos.
Common Core. Listen carefully to the new songs, and you’ll hear some helpful school
tips for your students. The new videos help support the Common Core State Standards.
MDE Launches College and Career-ready Information Web Pages
The Mississippi Department of Education now has a one-stop location for all information
regarding the state’s college and career-ready standards, Common Core State Standards. The
information is targeted to educators, parents and any other interested community members.
The information includes several resources, including a video of Interim State Superintendent
Lynn House’s CCSS community presentation and accompanying PowerPoint, Myths vs. Facts,
and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). The department is in the process of updating the FAQs
to add additional questions from the community meetings. All the CCSS information and
resources can be found here.
Accreditation Office Develops Tutorials for Cumulative Folders, Permanent Records
The Office of Accreditation has developed two online tutorials How to Complete the Mississippi
Cumulative Folder and Permanent Record (Part A – Cumulative Folder) and How to Complete
the Mississippi Cumulative Folder and Permanent Record (Part B – Permanent Record). These
tutorials provide training to school districts in correctly completing student cumulative folders
and permanent records. It is paramount that districts keep accurate and complete records on all
students. The tutorials, along with the companion manual, are available through the Office of
Accreditation webpage under the WHAT’S NEW section at
http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/accreditation
Office of Curriculum and Instruction Offers Educator Resources
The Mississippi Department of Education Office of Curriculum and Instruction is online
at www.mde.k12.ms.us/ci. From this page, individuals can view the MDE PD Calendar and sign
up for the C&I Open Listserv. Through this list, the office sends a weekly email with several
short items, including links to CCSS resources, upcoming events, and webinars.
MDE’s Common Core State Standards (CCSS) page (www.mde.k12.ms.us/ccss) includes links
to CCSS training materials and other relevant information.
Our regular CCSS webinar series for both Mathematics and English/Language Arts is available
on iTunes U. Additionally, a CCSS Specials series is posted. Simply search for the Mississippi
Department of Education on iTunes. Webinars are available from the Office of Curriculum and
Instruction as well as other program offices.
Remember that you can follow the MDE on Twitter: @MissDeptEd.
StormReady Supporter Program Helps Schools Prepare for Severe Weather
The StormReady Supporter program is designed to encourage critical facilities to incorporate the
principles of the StormReady Preparedness program.
The critical elements of the StormReady Supporter for Schools program are:
 A close working relationship with the county Emergency Operations Center.
 Multiple ways to receive severe weather information.
 Multiple ways to disseminate the warnings within the school facilities, to buses, during
athletic events, etc.
 Effective sheltering plans for all schools during severe weather, which are exercised at
least four times per year.
To learn more about the StormReady program visit www.stormready.noaa.gov.
FBI Seeks to Educate Students About Cyber Safety
The FBI-SOS (Safe Online Surfing) Internet Challenge has been developed as part of the FBI’s
longstanding crime prevention and public outreach efforts. The FBI provides this free, webbased initiative to help educate 3rd- through 8th-grade students about cyber safety.
Daniel McMullen, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI in Mississippi, is notifying parents
and teachers that all public, private, and home schools are eligible to participate in this
entertaining and educational program, which can be accessed at any time during the year, in the
classroom, or at home.
The FBI-SOS Internet Challenge was developed with the assistance of the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, with input from teachers and schools. FBI-SOS is available
through its newly revamped website at https://sos.fbi.gov. The site features six grade-specific
“islands.”
Current Version of GED Test Set to Expire
The current version of the test—the 2002 Series GED Test—will expire December 2013, along
with incomplete test scores. The GED Testing Service announced the launch of its campaign Your Future is Calling - to alert test-takers who need to finish the GED test by the end of 2013.
GED test-takers who have started the 2002 Series GED Test, but have not finished and passed
every section, have until December 2013 to do so. Otherwise, their scores will expire, and they
will have to start over again with the new 2014 GED test.
If you currently have GED Option students, please encourage them to test before the December
2013 deadline. The new 2014 GED test will be based on emerging national and state standards. It
will offer dual performance levels where test-takers can earn the high school equivalency
credential as well as an additional endorsement that indicates career- and college-readiness. The
test will be delivered solely on computer and offered only in official testing centers.
Please contact the Office of Dropout Prevention and Compulsory School Attendance
Enforcement at (601) 359-3178, if additional information is warranted.
The Natchez Trace Parkway Seeks School Partnerships
The Natchez Trace Parkway is very interested in partnering with schools who want to do projects
that relate to the Natchez Trace. All of the services are at no charge to schools. Services range
from providing funding for field trips to the Natchez Trace Parkway; free lesson plans; rangers
leading field trips, visiting classrooms, or distance learning connections; loaning equipment to
produce videos; history and science travel kits and trunks; to partnering on grant funded projects
as an "in kind" partner.
For more information, contact Jane Allen Farmer at (662) 680-4015 or 4027or email
jane_farmer@nps.gov
ED SAID Teaching Materials Available
Mississippi Public Broadcasting is partnering with the Office of Healthy Schools to address
childhood obesity. MPB is spreading a healthy message to benefit not only the children of
Mississippi, but also children outside of the state.
The ED SAID web-based program was developed by CJ Burks, who was inspired to develop the
program after learning about the work of one of Mississippi’s elementary physical education
teachers, Kay Strickland, from Corinth School District. Kay developed a classroom curriculum
called “Moving with Fruits and Vegetables”. Kay’s work incorporated physical activity into
lessons that focused on eating and learning about healthy foods.
ED SAID and his Lunch Bunch are available on the Internet in webisodes at EdSaid.org and
HotChalk.com (a learning management system designed specifically for the K-12 educator) and
in an animated music video that is broadcast on MPB’s television channel during MPB’s
programming block.
To get your ED SAID program materials that include video, lesson plans and student activity
materials contact: Nikki McCelleis at nikki.mccelleis@mpbonline.org or login to EdSaid.org.
For more information about the ED SAID educational project, contact cphilley@mde.k12.ms.us
or Nikki McCelleis.
The Mississippi Children’s Museum
The Mississippi Children’s Museum (MCM) wants to be a resource for teachers. To find out
more information, sign up for the monthly Educator E-News. First, “like” MCM on Facebook,
visit www.mississippichildrensmuseum.com, or call (601) 981-5469.