leadership in high schools

http://www.slideshare.net/nashworld/protecting-ocean-resources-from-missouri-

Our teacher Mr. Kim Minnier teaches classes on Marine Biology to grades 9-12 students as an elective.  He developed this class after receiving a grant worth U.S $5,000 in 2006, from the National Education Association in Washington, D.C.   The above slide is one I accessed from slideshare a wonderful resource for teachers and presenters which focusses on a variey of topics.  This slide explores all the interesting facts about fish from hatching, fish on our tables and the implications for this industry in the future.  I like the tie in this slide shows,  between what happens in Missouri, USA.,  how this impacts food choices in Japan and the cost of fish world wide.  

Mr. Minnier’s class began working on a wall mural last year which showed the progression of ocean life from bottom feeders to the big blue whale.  We hope to have this class grow with an incoming group of freshmen this year.  Thank you Kim for taking a love that you have for fish and aquariums and parlaying this into an area of study and interest for students. 

Can you begin to think of all the leisure time fun our students have when they learn how to cultivate an interest and learn skills associated with maintaining aquariums?   

This is a class project I read about  which currently involves three countries Australia, China and Turkey.  The object of this exercise using a power point presentation is to have students select their favorite foods.  I thought of the universal appeal to all students for this kind of input which is both gratifying and immediate.  Food and and the development of epicurean tastes!  In addtion the ability to bridge a global area of interest.  I see the value of this exercise across several subject areas and an experiment that can be introduced to students of all age groups.   On coming across the blog post I was surprised that America is not yet a part of this experiment, so in an effort to join our teaching colleagues in Australia and share our  students passion for food with their global counterparts please check out this slideshare presentation.   

This is a power point presentation contained in the blog http://hawkesdale.globalstudent.org.au. However it is not always accessible.  You may also go to the actual slideshare presentation at http://lunchboxproject.wikispaces.com and add your own uniques features to this classroom project.  Whereas it is listed Kindergarten through 3rd grade you can easily adapt this project to any grade level with your own teacher input and creativity. 

If we could all collaborate on this expeiment I believe we shall expand the horizons of our web 2.0 reach as well as teach our students a variety of skills. 

How did Erie 2 CC BOCES develop the theme of “providing a world class education for all students” and make it a part of the mission of this organization?  Does any one remember?  This was before  Superintendants Mr. Guiffreda and I am being told,  Dr. Timbs.   

In June 08, before the end of the school year, the Student Council voted for a $300 seed fund to distributed to the summer school High school classes.  The purpose of this fund is to challenge the thinking of students in free enterprise.  the goal is to see if the students can double the $300 investment and turn a profit for student council based on the idea of free enterprise -running a summer school business over 6 weeks. 

In the first week July 7-11, the students sponsored a salad bar and made a profit of @$54.  Each week the students working with three teachers, Cindy Jackson, Amy Montgomery and Jim Hedlund will embark on a business venture aimed at teaching successful work habits, the value of profit and loss, advertising, how to start and run a business, customer relations etc. 

In the new school year, 2008-09 student council might well benefit from sponsoring a sister club SIFE devoted to the notion of promoting free enterprise with an additional foray into donating some of the profit to a needy organization that benefits students eg.  research into autism, cerebral palsy, mental illnesses or pervasive developmental disorders   all issues that impact the quality of life of our students.  What do you think? 

This past Spring work began on a collaborative model between Chautauqua Works and Erie 2 CC BOCES.  For the Alternative and Special Education High School student who attends the instructional programs at the Hewes Center, linkages were forged between Chautauqua Works and the BOCES.  The entire process of selling the model to students, engaging parents in the process and making work a fashionable alternative to doing noting over the summer became the focus of our consultant teacher, Rose Dorey and our work experience teacher, Amy Montgomery.  The greatest plus of this work experience exposure has been the notion of students understanding the need to not work “under the table”, the need to become tax payers and understand their role in the local economy.  Most important is the schools goal of making education and a high school diploma relevant to the world of work and the skills needed in that environment. 

Students must meet income eligibility requirements - family of four making less than $42,000 a year.  Preference for students on probation.  Will need proof of citizenship, have working papers and have clearance from a physician stating that the student has no work restrictions.  All students must be aged 16-21.  These students are placed in jobs in the community and will be supervised by counselors from Chautauqua Works.

The above program sponsored by Chautauqua Works is different from that offered at the Hewes Center for summer school in that regression statements dictated summer school attendance and limits the number of hours worked to less than 30.  Please refer to category on Collaboration with Chautauqua Works.

Any comments regarding the difference between this summer program and the work experience programs of Erie 2 CC BOCES in the past?