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Newsletter
Office of the Director |
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The DoDDS•P
Newsletter is a publication of the Director’s
Office to inform military and educational leaders
of issues concerned with policy, trends, research,
programs, and practices related to DoD dependent
educators.
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April 2007: DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam Celebrates Month of the Military Child. April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the significance military children play in the armed forces community. Sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, the Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome. Throughout the month, commands and communities will plan special events to honor military children. These events will stress the importance of providing children with quality services and support to help them succeed in the mobile military lifestyle.
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The Combined Federal Campaign-Overseas (CFC-O). The CFC-O represents an opportunity for U.S. Government personnel serving overseas, both service members and civilians, to help those suffering hardship or need by contributing to worthy charities. Public servants may not only make monetary contributions to the campaign, but may also assume leadership roles to ensure its success. Last year, the CFC raised almost $250 million with $15.4 million coming from bases and installations overseas. This was a result of the generosity of thousands of military and civilian contributors. In past campaigns, educators and administrators from DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam have also been very generous. Over the past three years DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam employees have increased their contribution by $100,000 reaching $265,800 in the 2006 campaign.
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Outreach Programs Showcase Community Interaction. Thanks to the commitment and dedication of many DoDDS-Pacific educators and professionals, DJ Lamarr, a special needs student from Kadena High School, will be competing in the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai. The Okinawa Special Olympics organization was established just five years ago in support of Special Olympics Nippon. DJ’s selection represents the first time an American has been able to participate in the world games on a Japanese team. Only 80 athletes from across Japan were selected to compete on the Japanese team. Service members on Okinawa from the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and Army, and civilians from DoDEA volunteer hundred of hours each year to host the Special Olympics games at Kadena High School.
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Advanced Placement (AP) Audit. In order to preserve the integrity of our AP courses, the College Board/AP initiated a full audit procedure. The purpose is to ensure rigor and quality of courses bearing the AP designation. As of SY07-08 any course identified as AP must receive College Board approval on any school documents, especially student transcripts. The audit process requires teachers to submit their course syllabi for approval after being reviewed by Pacific Area Specialists. Simultaneously, high school principals submit their school’s AP Audit packages to the College Board. Revisions of course syllabi will occur as necessary throughout the approval process. The AP Audit is designed to be annual process with new syllabi required if teachers change, resources change, or if courses are added or withdrawn. The target date for final approval is May 2007. DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam offers 25 AP courses.
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English as a Secondary Language. New staffing criteria will take place throughout DoDDS-Pacific and DoDDS-Europe providing one ESL teacher to 50 students starting SY07-08. This decision will align our teacher to student ratio with criteria used at stateside and DDESS schools. The new staffing ratio also eliminated the weighted system, which measured student/teacher ratios based upon the skill level of the students. Parents with children enrolled in the ESL programs should see little change in the quality of education their children receive. We hope the ESL program will operate more inside the classrooms rather than as a pull-out program.
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Communication with Our Military Partners. Monthly breakfast meetings are one way the schools on Okinawa keep in close communication with military commanders. Principals in our Marine Corps and Air Force schools along with the District Superintendent meet with the commanders to exchange information and discuss common issues and concerns. The principals share information regarding upcoming events at their schools and the Superintendent provides information about the District. Issues discussed include traffic safety, the DARE program, disciplinary actions, zoning, school enrollment, volunteers, student activities, deployments, and ways we can help each other. These monthly meetings ensure students remain safe and continue to receive a rigorous education.
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DoDEA Introduces Mathematics Curriculum Guides. Twenty-seven teachers representing elementary schools in Japan, Okinawa, and Korea attended Math Cadre Training Jan. 29-Feb. 4. The purpose of the training was to prepare these teachers to return to their schools and introduce the new DoDEA Mathematics Curriculum Guide to their colleagues. All elementary teachers in the Pacific will receive one day of professional development on how to access and utilize these on-line guides that were developed in collaboration with the Educational Development Center (EDC). Teachers will begin using these guides this school year with the expectation that they be fully implemented in SY 07-08.
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MATHCOUNTS Dates and Competition. Results of the 2007 Math Counts competition are: Yukino Nagai, from Kadena Middle School earned the number one spot in the Individual Category. Zama Middle School placed second in the Team Competition. Members of the second place team were: Alex Austin, Bryant Fiesta, Emily Haun, and Jeanine Sybico. Yukino Nagai along with three other students will represent DoDDS in the National MATHCOUNTS Competition in Fort Worth, Texas in May. In February, middle schools in the Korea, Okinawa, Japan, and Guam districts participated in MATHCOUNTS. The focus is to generate enthusiasm for mathematics and improve math skills. Individuals participating in the “State” competition were: Michael Harding and Michelle Roh, Seoul American Middle School; Yukino Nagai, Kadena Middle School; Kathryn Green, McCool Middle School, and Nicholas Krenek, MC Perry High School. Each year approximately 39,000 students participate, representing more than 6,000 schools from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and Department of Defense and State Department affiliated schools in the important program.
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Last Updated:
March 28, 2007
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