DoDDS Pacific Director attends national administrators’ conference. From February 20-22, 2004, Dr. Nancy Bresell attended the American Association of School Administrators Conference, along with other Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Directors. The conference held sessions on legislative, education and reform issues; leadership; characteristics of high quality professional development; brain research and learning; strategies for narrowing the achievement gap; and the role of policy and diversity, among other educational topics of national interest.

DoDDS Pacific students participate in nationwide mathematics competition. A team of four middle school Mathletes® from Yokota Middle School, Yokota AB, Japan, took the honors at the recent Pacific Area MATHCOUNTS competition. The individual competition winner was from Kadena Middle School, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan. The nationwide math coaching and competition program is designed to improve math skills among U.S. students. Over six million students across the U. S. have participated in the MATHCOUNTS program. The individual and team winners will now participate in the DoDEA competition to be held on March 24, 2004.

Implementation of new high school initiatives monitored. Kinnick High School, Yokosuka, and Zama High School, Camp Zama, Japan, hosted visitors from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) during a visit to monitor the schools’ implementation of specific aspects of DoDEA’s High School Initiative. This year, the team reviewed the program implementation of each of the school's lab classes by interviewing teachers and students and visiting classes. Currently, four lab classes–Geometry, Algebra I, Reading and English–have been established at all high schools as part of the six-year DoDEA High School Initiative that calls for a multi-dimensional redesign of grade 9-12 high school programs over a period of six years. The initiative ensures that all students meet or exceed challenging standards in academic content and are prepared for continuous learning and productive citizenship. The visiting team was impressed with the quality programs they observed.

Yokosuka administrator met with sailors and families of USS Fitzgerald. The USS Fitzgerald, from San Diego, is expected to arrive in Yokosuka this summer. In preparation for incoming families, the command from the USS Fitzgerald invited assistant principal, Roger Reade, to meet with future parents during the week of February 16, 2004. As part of his presentation to the sailors and their families, a 12 minute video, "A Day in the Life of a Sullivan’s Student," was prepared by the Sullivan’s Student Network (SSN), under the direction of Media Specialist, Barbara Bowman. The video depicts the life of a new student entering the school for the first time and introduces many aspects of the school and student life. The video was transferred to CD format, and approximately 100 copies were delivered to "new" parents.

DoDEA Comptroller selected for Senior Executive Service. Ms. Irma P. Finocchiaro has been selected for the Senior Executive Service (SES) position of Associate Director for Financial and Business Operations, DoDEA, by Deputy Undersecretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), Mr. Charles Abell. Ms. Finocchiaro has served as the DoDEA Comptroller since joining DoDEA in 1999.

Students and teachers to attend Research Science Institute at MIT. A student and teacher from Kubasaki High School, Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, and a teacher from Zama High School, Camp Zama, Japan, were recently selected by DoDEA to participate in the Research Science Institute (RSI) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education, the institute will take place from June 20-July 31, 2004. One student from DoDDS Europe and one teacher and student from the Americas schools will also be in attendance. Students will experience college-level classes taught by distinguished professors from leading universities. Teachers will gain essential research perspectives related to content, emphasis, and selection of science and math curricula at the high school level.

Atsugi Naval Air Station students record with famous Japanese musician. Students from Shirley Lanham Elementary School were invited to sing an English version of “Share the World,” a song written by renowned jazz musician, composer, and music producer, Mr. Sadao Watanabe, of M&M Studio, Tokyo, Japan. The song has been adopted as an image song for Government Pavillions in the 2005 World Exposition to be held in Aichi, Japan. On February 21, 2004, twenty-five students traveled to Tokyo to make the CD recording with Mr. Watanabe. Plans are to air the song on Japanese radio and television to promote the 2005 World Exposition. Lanham students will again visit Tokyo on March 21, 2004, to sing the song at Roppongi Hills, where the event will first be announced.