Community Meeting on Behavioral Health and Prevention Services Opportunity

AISD's Office of Innovation and Development will be hosting a meeting for AISD staff and our community partners to discuss the Texas Department of State Health Services RFP for Behavioral Health and Prevention Services on Monday, November 26, 2012 at 1PM. The purpose of this meeting is to review the funding opportunity and identify potential partnerships.

Subject:
Texas DSHS Behavioral Health Prevention Services (Mental Health & Substance Abuse Division) Grant Meeting

Grant Submission Date:
December 19, 2012 @ 2PM CST

Meeting Date:
Monday, November 26th at 1:00PM

Location:
AISD Central Administrative Offices, Suite C-150
1111 W. 6th Street
Austin, Texas 78703

If you are interested in getting involved with opportunity, please RSVP to susan.patterson@austinisd.org by close of business on Tuesday November 21st.

For more Information about this opportunity, visit the RFP for Behavioral Health and Prevention Services website.

$1 Million Challenge Grant for Social and Emotional Learning Announced

Photo from Left to Right: Sharon Raven, AISD Director of SEL; Dr. Meria Carstarphen, AISD Superintendent; Betsy Abell, Buena Vista Foundation; Jennifer Buffet, NoVo Foundation; Carmel Borders, Tapestry Foundation; Jeanne Klein; Roger Weissberg, CASEL

On November 7^th, Jeanne and Michael Klein, Betsy and Hughes Abell of the Buena Vista Foundation and Carmel and Tom Borders of the Tapestry Foundation announced a $1 Million challenge grant in support of expanding the Social and Emotional Learning initiative. AISD  invites support from national and local donors to match this gift and fulfill AISD’s vision for all students to acquire and effectively apply social and emotional skills by 2016. 

About the Initiative: The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Initiative helps children and adults acquire and apply attitudes and skills necessary to manage emotions, persevere, develop resiliency, establish positive relationships and make responsible decisions. SEL is currently being implemented in 57schools, reaching 44% AISD students. The initiative is also supported by the Collaborative for Academic,Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) and the NoVo Foundation.

Social and Emotional Learning at AISD: 
Watch the video below to learn more about Social and Emotional Learning at AISD or visit http://www.austinisd.org/academics/sel 

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.