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A message from the
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education

November 8, 2019
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News from Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Contents:

  1. Additional Application Webinar for Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning
  2. Picture of the Week: Somerville High School and the Boston Chamber Music Society
  3. Digital Literacy and Computer Science Convening
  4. Gingerbread House Building Competition
  5. Service-Learning Connect Science Energy and Design Institutes Grant
  6. Registration Open for Student Government Day
  7. Cybersecurity Grants
  8. For Your Info:
    • The Big Read
    • Native American Heritage Month

1. Additional Application Webinar for Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning:


The Department encourages schools and districts to apply for the Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning’s inaugural cohort. The application deadline is Friday, November 15; in advance of the deadline, DESE has scheduled three webinars, the last of which will be held from 3:00-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 12. The webinar will provide support for leaders developing their school’s or district’s application. Please register online.
 
Schools and districts in the Collective will have access to opportunities, training, and incentives to try new approaches to teaching and learning. The Department will use the lessons learned in the pilot to refine the process, share successful deeper learning techniques, and leverage what was learned for students across the Commonwealth.

Picture of the Week:

Somerville High School’s String Orchestra receives weekly coaching by members of the Boston Chamber Music Society’s string quintet, which is in residence at the school. The partnership is in its third academic year. (Photo courtesy of Somerville Public Schools)
A professional cello player helps two high school cellists.

3. Digital Literacy and Computer Science Convening:


The Department, the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, and the University of Massachusetts Boston will hold a digital literacy and computer science convening from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 20 in Waltham. The event will focus on what Massachusetts can learn from other states about how to build momentum for advancing high quality, equitable computing education. More information and online registration are available at the link above.

4. Gingerbread House Building Competition:


This year, in an effort to promote and highlight the importance of career education programs across the state and the talents of their students, the Governor’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Open House on Wednesday, December 4 will include the first Commonwealth of Massachusetts Statewide Holiday Gingerbread House Building Competition. Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito and the Executive Office of Education invite any school with a culinary program to participate in two ways:
  1. Create a holiday treat to serve to the public during the tree lighting reception at the State House. Create a holiday cookie, cake, or other confection that highlights the school’s culinary arts program. Each participating school will have its own serving station where students can assemble, display, serve, and educate attendees about the item of their choice.
  2. Submit an Ultimate Gingerbread House! Submissions can highlight the school’s community, Massachusetts, or be any creative vision of a gingerbread house that students can dream up.
Submissions, including information on each district’s culinary program, will be on display at the State House from December 4 through the holidays. Judging will take place during the December 4 tree lighting, and citations will be awarded for Most Creative, Most Authentic, and Best Embodiment of the Commonwealth Spirit.

Schools interested in participating should contact Grace Robinson, director of operations for the Office of the Governor, by Wednesday, November 20 at Grace.Robinson@State.MA.US.

5. Service-Learning Connect Science Energy and Design Institutes Grant:


The Department is pleased to announce a new Service-Learning Connect Science Energy and Design Institutes grant. The grant will fund school and district teams’ participation in professional development and help them adopt an interdisciplinary approach to instruction. This grant will give teams tools to use service-learning to weave together instruction in science, social emotional learning, and other content areas. The goals of the grant are to support teachers' science instruction, boost students’ collaborative skills, and spark students’ interest in future civic work.  Applications are due Friday, December 6.

6. Registration Open for Student Government Day: 


The Department is honored to sponsor and coordinate the 73rd annual Student Government Day program to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 3 at the State House. All public and private schools are invited to elect and register two students – one designee and one alternate – both of whom will attend and participate in a simulated session of the General Court. Students will take on roles as senators, representatives, judges, or constitutional officers for an immersive experience in the legislative process. Registration closes January 24. For more information, visit the Student Government Day website.

7. Cybersecurity Grants:


The Baker-Polito Administration recently announced $250,000 in grants awarded to 94 municipalities and public school districts to provide cybersecurity awareness training for over 42,000 employees to better detect and avoid cyber threats. Congratulations to the districts that received this grant!

8. For your info:
  • The Big Read: The National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) Big Read supports communities reading and discussing a single book. Local governments, libraries, school districts, colleges, universities, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for one of an estimated 75 grants to be awarded for programming occurring between September 2020 and June 2021.  The application deadline is Wednesday, January 29. In this cycle, communities will choose from 32 selections. 
  • Native American Heritage Month: November is National Native American Heritage Month, and teacher resources from the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and more are available online.
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