KNOW YOUR BENEFITS

List of Discounts for Employees Continues to Grow

Being an employee of the School Board of Broward County certainly has its advantages.

Many businesses are eager to offer discounts to the 40,000 plus men and women that make up our work force. Whether you are sending flowers, utilizing a cell phone, hiring a home inspector or applying for a mortgage, there are businesses offering discounts exclusively to Broward County School employees.

To view the current list of businesses offering discounts, go to (www.browardschools.com) and click “Departments.” Then click on “Benefits.” When the “Library of Benefits” bookshelf appears, click on the last book entitled, “Employee Discounts.” There you will see a variety of categories ranging from reduced-priced gym memberships to new computers at surprisingly low rates.

If you know a small business owner who would like to be placed on the Web site, please contact the Benefits Department at 754-321-3100 for an application.

The list of products and services continues to grow -- so check back often!



BCC Scholarships Offered
Through the Broward Futures
Scholarship Program

Broward County Public Schools has joined with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Broward County Government, and the Broward Community College Foundation to create the Broward Futures Scholarship Program. This scholarship is open to public school students in grades 6-12 and provides a two-year tuition only scholarship to attend Broward Community College. The program targets students who may not otherwise consider attending college due to at-risk factors such as being raised in a single family household, homelessness, low income/public assistance recipients, health/disability issues, family violence and/or incarceration, or living with a guardian or foster parent. To become a scholarship candidate, a student must be involved in a mentoring program, graduate from high school and be accepted to attend Broward Community College. Applications for Broward Futures Scholarships may be found at (www.getinvolvedineducation.com). For more information, contact the Youth Mentoring Programs Office, 754-321-1972.

Guidance + Kids = Student Success National School Counseling Week Celebrated Poster contests, recognition programs, coffee talks with teachers and interviews on closed-circuit TV are just a few of the ways Broward schools joined the nation in celebrating National School Counseling Week (February 6-10, 2006). Sponsored by the American School Counseling Association (ASCA), the week focused public attention on the unique contributions of professional school counselors. A resolution of support adopted by the School Board at its February 7th meeting highlighted the important role Broward’s nearly 530 counselors have in the education of students. In a proclamation, the Board cited how school counselors help students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents and how they enhance students’ academic, social, personal and career development. School counselors work in partnership with parents as they face the challenges of raising children in today’s world. They also work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system in which students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic goals. “Professional school counselors are certified, experienced educators with Master’s degrees in guidance and counseling,” explains Sharon Friedlander, Coordinator – Guidance, BRACE and Academic Advisement. “Their combination of training and experience make them an integral part of the total educational program and help us to fulfill our goal, which is Guidance + Kids = Student Success.” Did You Know? • That elementary school counselors provide classroom guidance lessons on bullying and what to do if you are a victim … or a bully? • That middle school counselors provide small group sessions for students who need assistance with managing their behavior, especially their anger? • That high school counselors meet with students in large groups, classrooms and individually to educate them on the steps to succeed?These activities are happening every day as school counselors make a difference for the 270,000+ children in our school system. From classrooms to small groups and from individual counseling to support for parents and families, school counselors are educating students to increase their academic and social skills, promote career awareness and achieve success in and beyond the classroom. Guidance counselor Laura Cohen works with a group of Flamingo Elementary School Students.