DoDDS Pacific transportation division receives top Air Force accolade. The DoDDS Pacific Transportation Management Office (PACTMO) has been honored with the Air Force Productivity Excellence Award. The US Air Force commands at Okinawa and Yokota nominated DoDDS PACTMO for the award based on innovative transportation achievements that have increased productivity and decreased costs while improving the quality of life for DoDDS Pacific students at Air Force installations. The awardees were honored at a formal ceremony on April 4, 2002, at the Pentagon.

DoDDS Pacific Area Advisory Council to meet. The next DoDDS Pacific Area Advisory Council meeting is planned for May 23, 2002, to discuss issues and concerns related to dependents' education in the Pacific. School advisory committees/boards are well established at all levels of the organization. The Council is comprised of military command, parent, civic organization, education, and student representatives and offers advisement to the Director, DoDDS Pacific.

Annual reports provide accountability to school community members. Both DoDDS Pacific and DoDEA publish an annual report that provides commands, parents, community members, and school staff with information concerning the quality of education in DoDDS Pacific and in the system. The 2000-2001 DoDDS Pacific Annual Report is being made available to commands, districts, and schools for use with stakeholders.

Ten Pacific schools to receive accreditation visits. From April 17 to May 2, 2002, representatives from the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA-CASI) will lead Pacific teams through accreditation visits. During the on-site visit, the teams will review the school's implementation of the DoDEA/NCA school improvement process; assess the quality of the teaching and learning climates as well as the adequacy of the school community's resources to promote and sustain improved student performance; appraise the effectiveness of the school as it relates to student success; and monitor the school's compliance with NCA Standard and Criteria. Schools to be visited include: Arnn and Lanham ES, Yokosuka MS, and Zama HS, Japan District; Osan ES and Osan HS, Korea District; and Amelia Earhart IS, Bob Hope PS, Kadena MS and Kadena HS, Okinawa District.

DoDEA policy specifies minimum enrollment age for K/1 students. A recent DoDEA Policy Memorandum, dated February 11, 2002, was published stating that "a child must turn 5 or 6 by October 31 of the enrolling year for entrance into kindergarten and first grade respectively." The only exception to this policy is for students who have transferred into a DoDEA school, were born between October 31 and December 31, and have met the transfer enrollment criteria referenced in the memo.

Summer school announced in DoD Pacific districts. Fee-based summer school guidance and tuition rates have been publicized by districts and schools. Preliminary school sites have been identified along with course offerings, grades 1-12. The purpose of summer school is to provide remedial and enrichment opportunities for students. Culture programs are offered on a non-fee basis. Parents have been encouraged to check with DoD Pacific district and school offices for additional information.

DoDEA Teacher of the Year visits Okinawa. The 2002 DoDEA Teacher of the Year, Mahaffey Middle School, Fort Campbell, KY, visited Okinawa District middle schools to participate in the Middlequest training, a program that focuses on instructional best practices for delivering standards-based content to middle level students. She met with middle school teachers and provided helpful insights about her middle school experience to include block scheduling, students in transition, conflict resolution, and peer mediation.