Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Welcome to the ConnectEd Bulletin Board!
This is the place to find opportunities for further professional development, grant and awards opportunities, and much more!
Quick Navigation Links
Updated Bullying Prevention Toolkit Available
Lights on Afterschool
Educational Equity Network Leadership Series
Virtual Exchange Opportunity Deadline Approaching
Virtual Workshop for Teachers of Native American Indian Languages
Nominate an Outstanding WI Mathematics or Science Teacher Today!
Design a Civics Game for Fun and Prizes!
Junior Achievement of Wisconsin South Central Community Scavenger Hunt
News from Around the State
Updated Bullying Prevention Toolkit Available
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
It is essential that schools work to prevent and respond to bullying throughout the year to create safe, inclusive, and welcoming school climates. According to the 2021 Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 18 percent of Wisconsin high school students report being bullied on school property in the past year, and over 16 percent of Wisconsin high school students report being cyberbullied. Female and LGBTQ+ students are at especially high risk of experiencing both school-based and cyberbullying. The DPI’s Bullying Prevention Toolkit serves as a resource for schools to implement and strengthen their comprehensive approach to bullying prevention and response. The toolkit provides guidance for bullying prevention practices including:
- Educating students, staff, and caregivers about bullying
- Establishing a bullying prevention task force
- Creating a bullying prevention action plan that can be integrated into existing multilevel systems of support
- Guidance for bullying response protocols including reporting, investigation, and decision-making procedures
- Letters, fillable forms, and caregiver resources.
Lights on Afterschool
Lights On Afterschool is a day of celebration for out-of-school time (OST) programs across the nation. Lights On Afterschool will be celebrated in over 8,000 communities by over 1 million people on Oct. 26, 2023. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) implements the federal 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) funding and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III out-of-school time (OST) grants. The two grants fund 213 OST programs in Wisconsin, providing meaningful access to students to improve their academic achievement, build on their interests and strengths to explore new learning concepts, build strong and healthy relationships, and engage in leadership activities in the school and community. Please visit the Wisconsin Afterschool Network website or the Afterschool Alliance website for more information.
Educational Equity Network Announces Leadership Series
The Educational Equity Network invites all Wisconsin educators to continue deepening their equity work by attending the 2023-2024 Educational Equity Leadership Series. This unique series was designed to increase educators' capacity for co-creating belonging in all learning spaces. The first of four all-day learning events will take place online on Oct. 26th, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. To read the full slate of presenters and sign up to attend, visit the Educational Equity Network Fall Institute Page.
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Virtual Exchange Opportunity Deadline Approaching
The Wisconsin DPI is growing its partnership with the Stevens Initiative to promote global learning through virtual exchange in our state. Applications from Wisconsin school leaders are being accepted, through Oct. 20, 2023, for the 2024 Virtual Exchange Academy. The Academy is facilitated by the Stevens Initiative through six, two-hour, weekly sessions, running from late January through early March. Ten participants will be selected from the pool of Wisconsin applicants to engage in collaborative learning with administrators and school leaders from around the world. Questions related to global education programs and partnerships in Wisconsin can be emailed to DPI World Language and Global Education Consultant Pam Delfosse.
Virtual Workshop for Teachers of Native American Indian Languages on Assessing Language Proficiency Levels
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Minnesota Department of Education are partnering to offer training on language proficiency levels, based on the ACTFL proficiency scale. This language proficiency training is for teachers of Native American Indian languages and adult speakers involved in supporting Indigenous language learning. The training, provided by ACTFL (a national association of professional language educators), will focus on language proficiency levels and strategies for growing and assessing students’ language proficiency over time.
This virtual workshop is free and scheduled for the mornings of Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2023. Registrants are required to attend both days from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Review the workshop summary and register by Oct. 27, 2023.
Nominate an Outstanding WI Mathematics or Science Teacher Today!
Calling all elementary teachers who love mathematics and science! The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for mathematics or science teaching. The award recognizes those teachers who use their deep content knowledge and pedagogical skills to support and leverage students’ strengths to be successful in learning mathematics or science. Nominations are now open for the K-6 cycle of these awards with applications due in February 2024. Learn more about this White House-sponsored award, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) by visiting the PAEMST website. Mentors and other supports are available for Wisconsin applicants. Have questions? Please contact Julie Bormett for math, or Kevin Anderson for science!
Design a Civics Game for Fun and Prizes!
The Library of Congress is sponsoring a challenge to help improve public knowledge of civics – that is, the rights and responsibilities of citizens – by asking video game developers to create fun, lightweight video games related to civics that incorporate Library of Congress resources. The Library will award cash prizes to the winners and the games will be hosted on the Library's site for use by the public. The deadline for entries is Nov. 27, 2023. Additional details on the rules and information on how to enter are available on this website.
Junior Achievement of Wisconsin South Central Region Community Scavenger Hunt
A fun and action-oriented scavenger hunt that takes you to hidden gems, fascinating spots, and diverse people in your community. You register online, download the printable scavenger hunt sheet, and then follow the instructions to visit places or complete tasks in your community. Sharing achievement photos on social media is encouraged! Prizes are available and proceeds support local K-12 grade youth through Junior Achievement programs. Scavenger hunt registration is now open, and the hunt runs Oct.1-31, 2023. For families unable to afford the event registration fee, family scholarships are available. Email your family event registration scholarship request to southcentralregion@jawis.org
Walden schools' No Place For Hate Program receives special recognition via TMJ4 - Milwaukee
The Walden III Middle and High School campus is home to a small group of students on a mission to make a big difference.
Republican transgender youth bills draw heated public comments via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Republican bills that would ban gender-transition treatment for minors and prohibit transgender women and girls from competing on women's sports teams received hearings in the state Capitol last Wednesday, and several dozen advocates representing the LGBTQ community testified at them. In a letter circulated Wednesday, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly cited data from the state's 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey that found more than half of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide and nearly a quarter attempted to take their own life. Additional coverage on Wisconsin State Journal, TMJ4, CBS 58, WKOW 27, The Cap Times, The Wisconsin Examiner, The Center Square.
Wisconsin DPI awards schools over $1.1 million to combat alcohol, drug use among students
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction awarded over $1.1 million in grants to area schools in an effort to combat the use of alcohol, tobacco, opioids and other drugs among students. A total of 86 school districts across the state were given funds through the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Grant Program and the Opioid Prevention Grant Program. Additional coverage on Channel 3000.