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New England League of Middle Schools 460 Boston Street, Suite 4 Topsfield, MA 01983 Tel: (978) 887-6263 Fax: (978) 887-6504 Email: nelms@nelms.org |
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April 8, 2008 |
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As I am writing this month's installment there is still snow and ice in the North Country and spring plants are breaking through the ground in the southern areas of New England. We all live with the eternal hope of spring as we renew our spirits, minds and bodies after a long winter. Warm weather and vacations are fast approaching! We are hopeful that NELMS will be part of your personal or school renewal. New Spotlight Schools Announced After a rigorous process, five new and seven renewed Spotlight Schools were announced at the NELMS Annual Conference. The entire NELMS family sends congratulations to the following schools: Massachusetts New Hampshire Connecticut John Winhrop Middle School Vermont Spotlight Schools Renewed in 2008 Massachusetts Maine Hartford Magnet Middle School Mystic Middle School Rhode Island Plan a visit now to a Spotlight School this spring or in the fall. Nothing beats seeing “it” in action in real middle level schools. Just contact NELMS for help selecting and scheduling your visit. It is sure to excite! Call for Member Involvement! April and May is the time for NELMS committee assignments. Mary Childress, the NELMS Board Chair Elect, will be reviewing applications and making appointments. NELMS relies heavily on the contributions of it members to perform vital functions that would otherwise not get done. We have four (4) committees that meet about 3 times a year in October, January, and May. The work of the committees is directed by the NELMS Board but is limited only by the time and dedication of committee members.
Please indicate your interest now by obtaining the application and submitting it by May 1, 2008! Amidst unavoidable challenges, the 27th Annual conference took place in Providence RI on March 30, 31, and April 1st. We want to thank all the presenters that shared their expertise, all the vendors who filled the exhibit areas, and the attendees who supported this terrific event. While the conference can always get better, almost all attendees seemed very positive and most appreciative of this annual professional development experience. We are all grateful to the office dedicated staff and Board members as well as all the volunteers that helped before and during this event. Many are planning to return next year when the conference will be held one week later on April 5-7, 2009. The later date will help our members in Massachusetts totally avoid MCAS testing and therefore allow many to return to the best regional professional experience in the country! View pictures, our virtual exhibit hall, and obtain information about attending and presenting at next years conference. Plan now to present by submitting a “Call for Presenters” form now! Plan now to set aside the resources necessary to attend all 3 days of the conference! (One idea is to “park this years money” with NELMS for use at next year’s conference.)
Professional Activities this spring and summer As you begin the process of closing this school year and planning for next year, why not use NELMS to help you. We have terrific school based, school wide tools at reasonable prices. In addition, we have wonderful and effective professional experiences throughout the spring and into the summer. Check them all out at NELMS.org and we will see you there! School-Wide Tools! STEPS to Reading Literacy On the Same Page for School Wide Literacy Effectiveness Leadership Teams for the 21 Century Schools Professional Development Experiences Summer NELMS Leadership Academy On-Line Discussions – Just the topics you want! While there are other great online discussion groups, NELMS is focusing on middle level issues based on specific topics. Join in today!! Trying QuickTopic QuickTopic Facilitator and Moderators Dazed and Confused - New Educator's Roundtable Help for the Helpers & The ABC's of Student Issues School Nurse/Health Room Student Voice In the Middle Middle School Advisory Programs Middle School Mathematics Technology Integration Differentiated Instruction, Assessment, and Grading Group Don’t see what you want? Suggest a topic! New Books Now Available! Enjoy a well deserved school break and Sincerely,
Web Links to interesting information Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators on Discovery Education keybr.com NELMS GOLD: Pre-service Learning Communities Principal seeks student input on mending the achievement gap
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