District Announced Changes to Boundary Process
Every year, the District initiates a comprehensive boundary process that considers demographic changes in student populations, current and projected facility capacity and programming components. On Tuesday, November 25, 2008, the School Board will meet to determine the schools that will participate in the upcoming boundary process, prior to the 2009/10 school year. Schools selected are based on relevant data collected that is analyzed and presented to the Board. Impacted schools will be notified in early December that a boundary change may be needed to meet state mandates of school concurrency and class size reduction. As part of the boundary process, the District solicits input from the community and stakeholders at the impacted school boundary conferences, as well as at the community meetings. Community members are encouraged to provide input on the Superintendent’s recommendations and rationale for the changes. Dates, times and locations for the community meetings will be announced in the near future. For additional information, contact Jill Young, Director of School Boundaries, 754-321-2480.

Two New Workshops Added For Parents Of Students With Disabilities
The Exceptional Student Education, Parent Services Department and Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System have added two additional sessions to a series of workshops for parents of students with disabilities. Although targeted for parents of students with disabilities, the workshops are open to all interested parents.

On November 8, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. the first workshop, titled “Navigating the ESE Process: Advocating for Your Child’s Unique Educational Issues” has been added to the popular “Weekend with the Experts” series. It will be presented at Nova Southeastern University, Health Professions Division Assembly Building (Room 2103, Auditorium C). This workshop is designed to familiarize parents with effective strategies for advocating for their child, as active members of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) team. There is a $10 fee for the workshop, but financial assistance may be available.

On December 4, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. a free workshop titled, “Strategies to Help Your Child Keep-up with the Handwriting Demands of the Classroom,” will be offered at Fox Trail Elementary School (Music Room 109). This workshop is designed to give parents an overview of how handwriting relates to the development of fine motor skills, visual perceptual skills and the ability to acquire new concepts. Parents will gain an understanding of how to facilitate the progression of these skills. To register for either workshop, or for more information on other workshops being offered, contact Kimberly DiLuzio at 754-321-2211.

Consulate General of Brazil Sponsors Poster and Essay Contests
Students will have an opportunity to learn about the Brazilian community in Broward County by entering poster and essay contests sponsored by the Consulate General of Brazil, in cooperation with the District’s Diversity & Cultural Outreach Department. This is the third year the Consulate General of Brazil has sponsored the poster contest for elementary school students and essay contest for middle and high school students. The theme of both contests is, “How Have Brazilians Added to the Quality of Life in Broward County?” Prizes for the poster contest are $100, $300 and $500, while prizes for the essay contest are $500, $1,000 and $1,500. The deadline for schools to submit student’s entries is January 30. Contest rules and entry forms may be downloaded from the Diversity & Cultural Outreach Department’s Web site (www.broward.k12.fl.us/diversity). For additional information, contact Nancy Weintraub, Community Liaison, Diversity & Cultural Outreach Department, 754-321-2090.

Students Participate In March To Abolish Bullying
More than 1,000 students may participate in a march and rally in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, November 16 for safe, bully-free schools. The march, sponsored by The Thousand Youth March for Humanity, will bring together a diverse cross-section of students from kindergarten through 12th grade in a grassroots effort to abolish bullying. The event begins at 1 p.m. and will end at the park at the corner of Las Olas and Andrews Avenue at 3 p.m. The march is in support of the District’s new comprehensive anti-bullying policy, which has become a template for other Florida school districts working to develop anti-bullying policies mandated by a recently passed anti-bullying state law. The Thousand Youth March for Humanity is part of the BCPS Anti-Bullying Task Force’s effort to create a student-led movement within the schools, enlisting young people to directly address the concerns of their peers. For additional information, contact Amalio Nieves, Health Curriculum Specialist, 754-321-2578.

“Students Letting Go of Baby Words”
Students at Lauderhill Paul Turner Elementary School found a unique way to purge their vocabularies of ‘baby words” and replace them with more grown-up language. The Third and Fourth Grade Balloon Launch recently kicked off a vocabulary-building effort that will continue for the remainder of the school year. Students released helium filled balloons bearing “baby words” and watched them float away, to be banished in favor of bigger words like fantastic, tremendous and spectacular. A different “baby word” and alternative words will be introduced each week. Students will be “Letting Go of the Baby Words” to signify the end of using such words and the introduction of an increasingly sophisticated vocabulary in their writing.

Indian Trace Elementary Hosts 2008 Green Day
Indian Trace Elementary School will host Green Day 2008 on Saturday, November 8. The event is highlighted by a campus beautification project, sponsored by The Brickman Group and the school’s PTA. Teachers, students, parents and administrators will all assist in the initiative beginning at 8 a.m. The Brickman Group and Arazoza Brothers are donating the plant material, mulch, supplies and equipment for the project. Volunteers will focus on key areas of the school grounds, including the carpool area, the main entrance and the butterfly garden at the entrance to the media center. The Green Day event includes a learning component tied to the beautification project with students learning through real life, hands-on work about the plants they have been studying.

Students Honor Fallen Heroes In Pre-Veterans Day Flag Ceremony
In a special ceremony honoring the 4,780 servicemen and women who have lost their lives fighting the war on terrorism, Pompano Beach High School students and members of the Army JROTC will post American flags on the school’s campus representing each fallen service member. The school will host its third annual Special Flag Ceremony to honor these fallen soldiers and veterans on the day before Veterans Day, Monday, November 10 beginning at 9:15 a.m. Each of 4,780 flags displayed will provide information about an individual fallen service member including name, photograph, hometown, date of loss and the flag sponsor’s name. Special invitations have been extended to veterans and local family members of the servicemen and women who are being honored at the Special Flag Ceremony. For additional information, contact Lieutenant Colonel Greg Johnson, Pompano Beach High, Army JROTC, 754-322-2000.

Dolphin Bay Elementary Students Enjoy First-Ever Solar Powered Popcorn Party
In honor of its new school science program, Professor Whys’ Powerful Adventures, and the return of an old favorite, Captain Conservation, fourth and fifth grade students at Dolphin Bay Elementary School were recently treated to the first-ever solar power popcorn party by Florida Power & Light Company. A prototype solar trailer with a full kitchen including a microwave was on site to provide students hands-on lessons about the principles of solar and renewable energy. The trailer with solar panels is able to store solar power, which can operate appliances even during cloudy weather. Students enjoyed bags of popcorn, popped through energy harnessed by the sun. This school year, Professor Whys’ Powerful Adventures debuted to fourth through ninth grade classes throughout FPL’s service territory.~ Professor Whys takes students on a journey filled with unique and electrifying experiments, quizzes and fun to teach kids the powerful wonders of science.

Orangebrook Elementary School Celebrates New Replacement School
Orangebrook Elementary School will officially introduce its new state-of-the art replacement school on Friday, November 7 at a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony. The ceremony is a celebration of a new $21 million state-of-the-art school campus. The new replacement school is 110,000 square feet and has room for 830 students. Festivities will begin at 9 a.m. in the cafetorium with special presentations, student performances, and congratulatory greetings from School Board member Eleanor Sobel, Superintendent of Schools James F. Notter, South Area Superintendent Dr. Joel D. Herbst, and Mayor of the city of Hollywood Peter Bober.

Frank Mandley Honored at National Conference
Grants Administration & Government Programs Director Frank Mandley was honored at the Annual National Conference of the American Association of Grant Professionals (AAGP) recently held in Long Beach, California. Mandley received the President’s Award from the Grant Professional Certification Institute (GPCI) for his work with the AAGP and the GPCI in helping to establish a formal certification examination for grant professionals in the United States. GPCI, an affiliate of the American Association of Grant Professionals, is the credentialing arm of the organization and has now overseen five exam administrations and awarded 195 GPC certificates to grant professionals around the country. Mandley was recognized as a “pathfinder” in the credentialing effort and for his services and contributions to helping the grant professional certification process become a reality.

Crystal Lake Teacher Recognized for Outstanding Work with Hispanic Students
Florida Governor Charlie Crist recently honored Crystal Lake Community Middle School world languages teacher Hector Varas with the Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award. Varas was recognized for his outstanding work with Hispanic students, their families and the community at Crystal Lake, where he has impacted the lives of over 1,500 students in the Magnet TEENS (Teenagers Education in English and Spanish) program. He is one of three Hispanic educators in the state honored with the award for their contributions to education in Florida. He received an award check for $1,500.

Benefits Open Enrollment: November 24 – December 5, 2008
Open enrollment materials will be delivered to employee work locations the week of November 17, 2008. In preparation for Benefits Open Enrollment, make sure you can log into Employee Self -Service (ESS). Prior to logging in, make sure that your computer has the correct system requirements to access BRITE (ESS). This information is located on the BRITE web site at (www.broward.k12.fl.us/erp/brite/support/updates/). For instructions and additional information, see attached flyer.

Broward County's Character Trait for October is Responsibility
Citizenship: Knowing, understanding and displaying a high regard for rules, laws, government, and heritage, and for those who have served and sacrificed for community and country.

The 411 Newsletter and News & Views Available Online
For environmental and budgetary reasons, The 411 is no longer printed. The quarterly newsletter is now published only online at (www.browardschools.com). Just click on “Employees” and click on “The 411” banner to read current and back issues. News & Views is also available online. Just click on the News & Views banner next to The 411 banner. Both newsletters are in CAB’s District Announcements. If you have any questions or suggestions concerning these publications, contact Communications & Media Relations, 754-321-2300 or (news@browardschools.com).

Submissions for News & Views
Send articles and suggestions for News & Views to (news@browardschools.com) or contact the Communications & Media Relations Department, 754-321-2300.