Want to learn how to run a School Garden?

The Sustainable Food Center,  will be offering their School Garden Leadership Training again this fall, and registration is coming up soon ! Learn more and sign up below !

School Garden Leadership Training

Help foster a brighter, healthier future for children in Central Texas by teaching youth to grow their own food. We will teach you how to successfully start and sustain a school food garden. Topics covered include: organizing your garden team, planning and implementing your project, incorporating the garden into a curriculum, and fundraising. We won't be covering basic gardening principles, but can point you to a variety of resources on this topic (including our Citizen Gardener classes!). This workshop is for teachers, parents, and any community members looking to volunteer with school gardens.
Childcare and translation will be provided upon request.**
Registration required. Click here to register. Up to 3 people per school group can register.
Deadline for registration is October 24th.
Cost: Free. Participants will also have an opportunity to buy SFC's The School Farm guide at the training ($15).

Questions? Contact Jess Guffey: (512) 236-0074 x105 or email jess (at) sustainablefoodcenter (dot) org.

When: October 27, 2012 9am-1:00pm
Where: C4 Building at Mendez Middle School, 5106 Village Square
Austin, TX 78744
Website Link: http://www.sustainablefoodcenter.org/events-1/school-garden-leadership-training

Samsung Technology Contest

Your school can win a piece of $1,000,000* in technology

At Samsung we’re dedicated to helping children share the wonder of life, learning and our planet.
This fall, Samsung is giving public schools nationwide the opportunity to share the wonder of technology.

Samsung and its partners are asking teachers to participate in its contest which will address a key academic challenge in our country: to increase the pursuit of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education. With Samsung and schools joining together, we’re looking to foster interest in these subjects among students and illustrate the power of applying that knowledge to practical, real-world issues. Click here to apply.

Match the Promise Foundation

"Scholarships Now Available!

Sixth through ninth graders can apply now for competitive matching scholarships and tuition grants offered by the Match the Promise Foundation. Eligible Texas students at those grade levels may apply for scholarships of up to $2,000 worth of college tuition units in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund.

Texas Students and the Texas Tuition
Promise Fund: A Perfect Match
 http://www.matchthepromise.org/

The Match the Promise Foundation encourages families to save for college by offering matching scholarships and tuition grants to participants in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund. The Texas Tuition Promise Fund helps families prepay for all or some future tuition and required fees at any two- or four-year Texas public college or university.

Dec. 31 — A Date to Remember

Eligible applicants have between now and Dec. 31, 2012, to apply for Match the Promise scholarships.* Families can also enroll in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund during this time if they haven’t already done so.

Visit the Match the Promise website for scholarship eligibility and selection criteria, and apply now. It's never too soon to dream big.         

* Income and residency restrictions also apply. In the case of a tie when scoring applications, awards will be made in the order in which the applications were received."

PBS Resources and Sweepstakes for Teachers!

PBS LearningMedia | Love To Teach Sweepstakes

PBS LearningMedia is a free digital media content library that builds on the strength of public media and is the destination for relevant educational resources for PreK-12 teachers. Love to Teach? Then LIKE PBS LearningMedia for the chance to win great prizes for you and your classroom.

https://www.facebook.com/pbslearningmedia

$500 for your school for good volunteer and community service!

The Meadows Foundation Charitable Schools Program is celebrating its 32nd year, and invites your school to encourage students to perform volunteer and community service projects in your community.

Fill out an application here to receive $500 dollars to award your school for good student volunteer and community service!

Award: A $500 award will be sent to you for each middle or high school that completes and returns the Application to us on or before October 15, 2012.

Mark Your Calendars

• October 15, 2012 – Applications are due to us on or before this date
• November 5, 2012 – Grant checks mailed to Superintendent/Diocese offices
• April 1, 2013 – Final Report forms due to us (all volunteer projects must be completed and funds expended)

Teacher Sponsors Should:

·       Go to our website at www.mfi.org, click on Charitable Schools Program and select Teacher Training information.  Review all forms and guidelines.

·       Complete Application, sign and obtain your principal’s signature.

·       Review the eligible and ineligible project lists before planning (in Teacher Training).

·       Submit Final Report no later than April 1, 2013.

·       Unused funds over $50 must be returned to The Meadows Foundation.  Amounts under $50 may be used for volunteer refreshments/recognition items.

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR CENTRAL TEXAS FIRST® ROBOTICS TEAMS

Thanks to the support of our many industry partners, the STEM Council has secured $60,000 in cash and equipment grants to support robotics teams across Central Texas this school year.  Whether you’ve been on the fence about starting a team or are a seasoned veteran, we want to support your elementary school (Jr.FLL), middle school (FLL) or high school (FTC) robotics team.  Apply for a team grant and help us reach our goal of having a robotics team at every public school in Central Texas!

APPLY FOR A ROBOTICS TEAM GRANT: http://centraltxfirst.org/grantapplication

CALL FOR ENTRIES : BRIGHT GREEN FUTURE SCHOOL GRANTS!

The City of Austin's Office of Sustainability has released a new grant to fund eco-learning ! For more information, see below.

Bright Green Future Grants

A City of Austin program to fund sustainability projects at Austin schools

Call for Entries | Do you have an innovative idea for a school-based project that will inspire K-12 students to become lifelong environmental stewards? 

If so, we want to hear from you! The City of Austin is seeking entries for a competitive grants program that will award three $3,000 grants for the 2012-2013 school year. 
 

Deadline:  Oct. 31, 2012  Entry form available online (after Sept. 4) at www.austintexas.gov/sustainability/schoolgrants

 

Grants Program Coordinator: Mary K. Priddy, Office of Sustainability, City of Austin, mary.priddy@austintexas.gov  (512) 974-2539

What projects are eligible?  The project should advance sustainability by: reducing resource consumption; decreasing car trips/miles driven; promoting local healthy food; educating students about the issues of sustainability and climate change; and/or advancing other “green” innovations. The project should provide hands-on student involvement and learning. Winning entries will offer measurable environmental benefits, provide school-wide educational engagement, and potentially have larger community impacts.

Who can submit an entry?  Project proposals are invited from public or charter schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels located within the City of Austin. 

How will entries be judged?  Questions on the entry form correspond to evaluation criteria that will be used to select the winning projects. A panel of judges composed of staff from the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability, as well as community members who serve on the City’s Environmental Board and other related Boards and Commissions will evaluate project entries. 

What is the project timeframe?  Grant awards will be announced Dec. 13, 2012 and funding will be available by Jan. 7, 2013.  The project funded must be completed by May 31, 2013. Preference will be given to projects that can be sustained and grown into the future, beyond the initial grant year.

Please note: Grants cannot be used to fund needs outside the specific project, such as the purchase of HVAC system or other standard school-facility upgrades, general classroom supplies, refreshments, project components that are already funded, debt reduction, etc.