Standardized system-wide test to be administered in March. The 2003 TerraNova system-wide standardized test will be administered to all DoD Pacific students from grade 3 to 11 from March 10-25, 2003. The results of the test will be available to students and parents in the spring of 2003. The TerraNova provides students, parents, and the system with an understanding of how our students stack up against students nationwide in reading, language arts, math, science and social studies.

DoDEA recruitment efforts underway. Every year DoDEA recruits top quality educators representative of our diverse military community. Recruiters from DoDDS Pacific area office, districts and schools participate in job fairs, campus, and local area interviews throughout the United States. This year sites include Phoenix, AZ; Chicago, IL; Arlington, VA; Waterloo, IA, and San Diego, CA. Recruitment efforts to attract, hire, and retain highly qualified educators continue to be a top priority in DoDDS Pacific. Throughout the year, DoDDS Pacific strongly supports local hire prospects through its continuous employment program and provides local hire referral lists prior to contacting the DoDEA Personnel Center for stateside applicants. During School Year 2001-2001 DoDDS Pacific hired 107 local educators.

DoDDS Pacific addresses school safety. In a recent memorandum to district superintendents and school principals, Dr. Nancy Bresell, Director, DoDDS Pacific, encouraged school leaders to launch strong relationships within the military communities with commands, helping service agencies, health, medical, safety and security units and to keep lines of communication open. In February, DoDDS Pacific disseminated a packet of communications, checklists, and references related to deployments, family support, and safety for use by schools. Every district and school is required to have an up-to-date crisis intervention plan that is ready to implement at a moment’s notice. Each school crisis team is prepared to assemble in support of any activity or emergency that requires intervention. Schools will continue to focus on their mission, provide stability for students, and ensure that the environment is safe and secure.

DoDDS students take national assessment. DoDEA students are joining students in all 50 states in participating in the 2003 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in Reading and Math. This year the assessment is being conducted from January 27 to March 7, 2003. The 2003 NAEP State Tests will be administered to all DoDEA students in Grades 4 and 8, including students requiring accommodations. Students will take the reading or math assessment during a 90 minute testing period. The NAEP is also known as the nation’s report card and is the most accurate measure of DoDEA students’ average performance against other states and jurisdictions. The DoDEA school system has been one of the best in the nation as measured by student performance and its narrow achievement gap between white and non-white students.

Assistant principals attended annual conference focused on literacy. From January 27-31, assistant principals attended the DoDDS Pacific annual conference entitled Leading a Standards-based School: Literacy at the Center, in Tokyo, Japan. The conference highlighted research based practices and skills that promote literacy and how using a standards-based curriculum can improve student achievement. As school leaders, assistant principals will be in the forefront of the DoDDS Pacific standards-based reform initiative.

Iwakuni teacher recipient of science award. The 7th grade science teacher at MC Perry High School, Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, has been selected to receive the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Science Teaching Tools Award. She will be presented with a $1000 check to be used for her proposal in the AFCEA competition. This is the second time MC Perry High School has received this award.

Kadena High School hosts expanded Model United Nations. As recipients of the first Model United Nations Global Leadership Opportunity (MUNGLO) Award sponsored by The Goldman Sachs Foundation, Kadena High School hosted the expanded Far East Model United Nations (MUN) Conference January 27-29, 2003. The event involved over 200 students from 13 DoD Pacific high schools, 3 international schools and 7 Okinawa prefectural high schools. The increased participation from international and prefectural schools provided an exemplary educational environment that allowed students to deal with international issues through research, conflict resolution, teamwork, public speaking and leadership. Students simulated the United Nations General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, and the Security Council.