Tuesday, June 18, 2013

News: City Recognizes Cunningham Elementary and Fulmore Middle School for Sustainability Projects

Congratulations on your achievement, Cunningham and Fulmore !

This month, the City of Austin recognized Cunningham Elementary School and Fulmore Middle School for their work implementing sustainability projects on their campuses with help of the city's Bright Green Future Grant. 
Sponsored by the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability, Bright Green Future Grants is a competitive program that provides funding for school-based sustainability projects.  The grants program was designed to recognize and support innovative projects that will inspire students to become lifelong environmental stewards.  
Cunningham Elementary School was recognized for their community organic farm, Partners for Education, Agriculture, and Sustainability. Grant funding allowed the PEAS farm to add an outdoor classroom to better facilitate a hands-on learning experience for participants.  The project involved educators, students, parents, and members of the surrounding community, who learned about irrigation and organic farming practices, composting and healthy cooking.
Fulmore Middle School applied their Bright Green Future Grant funding to expand a successful air-conditioning condensate collection project.  The students collect condensate in clay olla pots that serve as rain barrels; the condensate becomes a self-sustaining water source for a native Texas habitat on campus that features drought-resistant plants.  The project has helped educate Fulmore students about water conservation and responsible landscaping practices during one of the worst droughts in Central Texas history.
The schools were recognized for their sustainability projects at a city council meeting where Mayor Lee Leffingwell presented representatives from the schools with certificates of appreciation for their work. 

Congratulations 2013 Seniors !

Congratulations so all AISD 2013 Seniors ! May all your futures be BRIGHT !
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RZTY4LG4F9g



Monday, June 3, 2013

News: Safe Dating, Social Emotional Learning and Athletics at AISD

On May 14, all Austin ISD High School Athletic Directors received training on five relationship lessons including topics on dating abuse and sexual assault.  The lessons were developed collaboratively by Keeth Matheny, teacher at Austin High School, and Randy Randolph of SafePlace.  Athletic Directors received the training in order to teach the lessons to their student athletes.  In addition to the other social and emotional learning (SEL) lessons during the year, with topics such as teamwork, empathy, and decision making, the department of SEL, SafePlace, and AISD Athletic Director Tommy Cox created character development lessons.  There are plans to roll out modified lessons to middle school athletes and high school band students next school year.

The Office of Innovation and Development is currently assisting the Department of Social and Emotional Learning in their $1 Million match campaign to expand SEL to all AISD Students. For more information,  read this entry : http://aisdinnovation.blogspot.com/2012/11/1-million-challenge-grant-announced-for.html