Parent Info

Last Updated on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 at 3:47 PM

In this issue:

*'Kentucky Education Issues' available on Web

*Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Day

*March packed with other educational opportunities
*ACT Test reminder
*CDC warns parents about 'choking game'

*Kentucky Teacher of the Year

*State Farm Youth Advisory Board

*Miss America preliminary March 13 in Frankfort

*Upcoming days of interest

'Kentucky Education Issues' available on Web

Kentucky Education Issues, a television program hosted by Education Commissioner Jon E. Draud, is now available on the Kentucky Department of Education's Web site.

To access the program, visit the KDE Web site at www.education.ky.gov and click on the link under "Headlines."

The half-hour program features lively discussion with leading educators and policy makers concerning topics important to students, teachers and taxpayers. Plans are to produce two programs each month.

Program No. 1 features interviews with KDE Associate Commissioner Robin Kinney and Division Director Petie Day. The show's theme is the state budget.

Kentucky Education Issues is produced by KDE's Virtual Learning Branch primarily for Insight Cable in northern Kentucky and its affiliates throughout the state. The program also will air on the Kentucky Channel (KET3). Check local listings for specific times and availabilities.

Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Day

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places.

You're off and away!

- Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Dr. Seuss, 1990)

Dr. Seuss was born Theodor Geisel in Springfield, Mass., on March 2, 1904. Geisel published his first children's book, "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street," in 1937, after 27 publishers rejected it. A Pulitzer Prize winner in 1984, he also won an Academy Award, three Emmy Awards and three Grammy Awards. Geisel wrote and illustrated 44 books. He died on Sept. 24, 1991, but Dr. Seuss lives on, inspiring children of all ages to read.

We celebrate the life of Dr. Seuss this year on Monday, March 3, with Read Across America Day, sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA).

While schools will be commemorating this day with Dr. Seuss readings in class, parents are urged to spend extra time reading to and with their children. It doesn't have to be a Dr. Seuss book. You can read (and have them read to you) a newspaper, a magazine or even a cereal box.

For more ideas for celebrating Read Across America Day, click here.

March packed with other educational opportunities

March is going to be a busy month, and that spells great things for you and your children. Aside from Read Across America Day on March 3, here are several other great chances for parents to share quality time and learning with their children.

March is:

· National Women's History Month

o Historical Kentucky Women

· Music in Our Schools Month

· National Talk to Your Teen About Sex Month

Also in March:

· Teen Tech Week (March 2-8)

· National School Breakfast Week (March 3-7)

· Newspaper in Education Week (March 2-8)

· World Book Day (March 6)

· Johnny Appleseed Day (March 11)

· Agriculture Day (March 21)

ACT Test reminder

All high school juniors will be taking the ACT during school hours on March 11.

The next available national ACT test date is April 12. That date has a March 7 registration deadline and a March 12 late registration deadline. The final ACT testing date will be June 14.

Click here for online registration and test date information.

ACT offers an optional Writing Test in addition to the multiple choice achievement test. Click here to find out more about the Writing Test, including what colleges your child is interested in have decided about requiring it.

Also available on the ACT Web site are test prep aids including free sample test questions. “Preparing for the ACT,” a booklet with a complete practice test, scoring key, writing prompt and sample essays, is available to download on the Test Prep section of actstudent.org or by clicking here.

CDC warns parents about 'choking game'

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is urging parents to be on the lookout for warning signs involving their children and a potentially deadly activity know as the "choking game."

At least 82 youths have died as a result of the choking game, according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The choking game involves intentionally trying to choke oneself or another in an effort to obtain a brief euphoric state or high. Death or serious injury can result if strangulation is prolonged.

Choking deaths have been identified in 31 states. Children involved in these deaths range from ages 6 to 19.

Signs that a child may be engaging in the choking game include:

· discussion of the game – including other terms used for it such as "pass-out game" or "space monkey"

· bloodshot eyes

· marks on the neck

· severe headaches

· disorientation after spending time alone

· ropes, scarves and belts tied to the bedroom furniture or doorknobs or found knotted on the floor

· unexplained presence of things like dog leashes, choke collars and bungee cords

For more information about CDC's work in injury and violence prevention, click here.

Kentucky Teacher of the Year

Teachers are doing great things in Kentucky. If you know of one who deserves recognition for performance in the classroom, nominations are now being accepted for the 2009 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Program, sponsored by the Department of Education and Ashland Inc.

You can nominate a teacher online or by filling out a print nomination form that will appear in the April issue of Kentucky Teacher. Print nominations should be mailed or faxed to Donna Melton at the appropriate address below.

Nomination deadline is May 15.

2009 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Program

Kentucky Department of Education

500 Mero St. Room 1716

Frankfort, KY 40601

(502) 564-6952 (fax)

State Farm Youth Advisory Board

State Farm is accepting applications for Associate Youth Advisory members. Applications for the Youth Advisory Board membership must be postmarked by April 11. Applicants must be between 17 and 20 years old prior to June 30.

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is comprised of 30 young adults from communities across the country and Canada with three at-large members representing State Farm’s national service-learning partners. The board’s mission is to create and oversee a signature service-learning initiative to address pressing issues that have a direct impact on communities. The Youth Board is responsible for identifying these issues, overseeing the site selections and grant making process, providing technical assistance to the site grantees and assisting communications and outreach.

Students selected to the board will serve as associate members in 2008 with the option to serve as board members in 2009.

Each Associate Youth Advisory Board member receives a $3,000 scholarship to be used for postsecondary education at a vocational training program or a four-year or two-year college or university. For a second year of service, each board member receives a $5,000 scholarship.

Miss America preliminary March 13 in Frankfort

A preliminary for the Miss Kentucky America Pageant is set for Saturday, March 15, at Western Hills High School (Franklin County).

The preliminary is open to all ages, and all contestants will receive a full scholarship to Union College in Barbourville.

Other scholarships are given to winners and/or runners-up of the actual Miss Kentucky pageant in June. Winning contestants of consecutive pageants earn the right to compete for Miss America for their category.

Mrs. Kentucky, Miss Teen Kentucky and Little Miss Kentucky links are on the Miss Capital City of the Bluegrass Web site.

For more information, click here.

The deadline to register is March 13.

Upcoming days of interest

· Babysitter Safety Day (March 1)

· National Anthem Day (March 3)

· World Book Day (March 6)

· Registration deadline for April 12 ACT (March 7)

· Daylight Saving Time begins (March 9)

· ACT testing for juniors (March 11)

· Johnny Appleseed Day (March 11)

· Girl Scout Day (March 12)