Top DoDDS Pacific Musicians Collaborate and Perform .   Along with their directors and chaperones, 170 DoDDS Pacific student musicians gathered at Yokota AB , Japan for four days of preparation and rehearsal in celebration of the 26th Annual Far East Honor Music Festival April 25-29.  Choral students auditioned for the festival by submitting MiniDisc recordings which were judged by a team of Yokota music educators; band students auditioned by submitting MiniDisc recordings which were judged by members of the U.S Air Force Band of the Pacific. 

DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam Advisory Council.   The DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam Area Advisory Council met at the Area Office in April.  Topics addressed included the Department of Defense Education Activity's (DoDEA) Community Strategic Plan, Special Education Initiative, Student Transitions, the DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam Literacy Project, staffing, substitute usage, and school accreditation visitations.  The Council is comprised of Pacific military command representatives, parents, students, civic organization leaders, educators, administrators, and members of the Pacific Director's Office.

Lester Middle School Recognized by NCA.   Every other month the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) features a school or district that has demonstrated statistically verifiable gains in student achievement.  This month, they featured Lester Middle School , Okinawa , Japan .  Members from the NCA CASI visiting team noted that the school uses technology as an integral tool in the learning process and to help drive continuous improvement.  From the delivery of interventions and assessments to the documentation of success and distribution of data and results, the school relies on technology initiatives and innovations.  The school has 400 computers including seven computer labs and four portable wireless laptop labs.  A full time staff member helps integrate technology into the curriculum and provides professional development in technology.

Edgren High School Graduate wins prominent Army Scholarship. Rhonda Reaves, Edgren HS class of 1999 and a first-year student in the Oregon State University ’s (OSU) professional degree program, was awarded a three-year U.S. Army Health Care Department's F. Hébert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship.  She is the first person from OSU in the last nine years to be selected for the honor.  In all, 18 Army veterinary scholarships were awarded nationwide this year.  As part of her scholarship award, Reaves will receive a $1,235 per month stipend.  In addition, the Army will cover fees, tuition, and books for the next three years.  Ms. Reaves will also receive 45 days of full-time pay each year during her schooling.