August 1, 2008

Parent Info

Last Updated on Wednesday, August 06, 2008 at 5:03 AM

In this issue:

*Welcome back

*Online Parent Involvement Survey
*State fair educational opportunities

*Kentucky children get a boost in the back seat

*St. James Art Show scholarships

*Governor names members to EPSB

*Three school districts ‘PEP’ up
*The need for Speed…and fun learning

Welcome back

Schools will be back in session soon, if not already. Make sure your children have all of the necessary school supplies and are getting the proper amounts of sleep and nutrition heading into this important time.

Let’s make this a great year!

Online Parent Involvement Survey
The Division of Exceptional Children Services and the Office of Teaching and Learning have made available an Online Parent Involvement Survey for parents of students receiving special education services. The deadline to complete the survey is Aug. 30.

State fair educational opportunities

The Kentucky State Fair, Aug. 14-24, will host two exhibitions: “Infrastructure: Supporting Kentucky’s Future” and “Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln.”

“Infrastructure: Supporting Kentucky’s Future” is a 12,000-square-foot interactive exhibition offering a behind-the-scenes look at the essential services, products, facilities, and people that make Kentucky work and secure the Commonwealth’s future.

“Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln” will prepare fairgoers for the bicentennial of President Lincoln’s birth in this exhibition focusing on Lincoln's Kentucky connections. Within the exhibit are touchable objects, images, audio clips, video and interactive elements that appeal to a variety of learners.

Discounted admission is available to school groups booked in advance.

In addition to the educational exhibits, the State Fair will offer a full array of other educational opportunities, including Main Street Kentucky, Pride of the Counties, Kidz Biz and Health Horizons. Fine arts, 4-H Cloverville, the animal barns and much more may be found around the State Fair for your children to experience.

Kentucky children get a boost in the back seat

Gov. Steve Beshear signed into legislation a new child booster seat law that went into effect July 15. Kentucky parents are now required to put children under 7 years of age and between 40 and 50 inches tall in a booster seat. The new requirements are part of KRS 189.125, which sets forth guidelines for child safety seats, booster seats and seat belts.

Courtesy warnings will be issued through June 30, 2009. After that date, violators will be required to pay a fine of $30.

Any persons who have not been previously charged with a booster seat violation can have the charge dismissed by providing proof that they have acquired a booster seat for the child.

Police will be able to judge whether you have the seats installed in your vehicle simply by looking at your car windows and judging if your child is sitting high enough to see outside.

Sharon Rengers, R.N., who works for the Children's Hospital Foundation Office of Child Advocacy at Kosair Children's Hospital and a Certified Passenger Safety (CPS) instructor, offered some booster seat safety tips for parents:

Your child should use a car seat with a harness for as long as possible, until at least age 4 following the weight/height limits of your seat.
Use the back seat for children under age 13. It is safer with or without airbags. The center of the back seat is safest; however a child in a booster MUST have a lap/shoulder belt. NEVER use just a lap belt.
If your car has no shoulder belts in the back seat, a different safety device can be used (vest or harnesses are available).
Booster seats with shields are never recommended. Remove the shield and follow the manufacturer's directions.
Always use your seat belt. Your child learns from what you do. Make sure everyone (grandparents, friends, older children) in the car buckles up.

For more information on vehicle passenger safety or to inquire about free fact sheets on a variety of health and safety subjects, call (502) 629-KIDS or (800) 852-1770.

St. James Art Show scholarships

The annual St. James Court Art Show Scholarship Competition will award eight scholarships to high school seniors in portfolio, watercolor and photography.

The deadline for entries is Sept. 22. The portfolio competition is open to Louisville area (Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Bullitt counties in Kentucky, and Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana) and Kentucky high school seniors, while the watercolor and photography categories are open to seniors in the Louisville area.

For more information, contact Norman Nezelkewicz at (812) 282-1470or Kim Crum at (502) 417-3424.

Governor names members to EPSB

Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed Cathy Gunn to serve as a member of the Education Professional Standards Board.

Gunn, of Morehead, is the dean of the College of Education at Morehead State University. She represents postsecondary education institutions. The appointment replaces James G. Cibulka, who has resigned. Gunn shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term ending Sept. 18, 2009.

The governor also reappointed Charles S. Evans of Bowling Green, the dean of the College of Educational and Behavioral Sciences at Western Kentucky University, and Gregory E. Ross, a teacher at Morgan Elementary in the Paducah Independent school district, to serve on the board for terms expiring June 7, 2012.

The Education Professional Standards Board consists of 17 gubernatorial appointees. The board establishes the standards and requirements for obtaining and maintaining a teaching certificate within the state. It also sets forth the guidelines and standards for the programs that prepare individuals for becoming teachers and professional school personnel.

Three school districts ‘PEP’ up

Three Kentucky school districts will use federal grant funds from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools to support physical education programs.

The funding is through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP), which provides money to local educational agencies and community-based organizations (including faith-based organizations) to initiate, expand and improve physical education programs (including after-school programs) to make progress toward meeting state standards for physical education. The funds may be used for equipment, support and training and education of teachers and staff.

The three districts and their grant amounts are:

· Bell County ($252,236)

· Mercer County ($305,483)

· Harlan County ($465,308)

See more details in the KDE news release.

The need for Speed…and fun learning

Want to take your children on an inexpensive, fun-filled learning experience that likely won’t use up an entire tank of gas?

The Speed Art Museum in Louisville is presenting “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness: American Art from the Yale University Art Gallery,” through the rest of the calendar year. Upcoming themes related to the event include:

· Quills and Calligraphy, Sept. 13

· Costumes and Historic Clothing, Sept. 27

· Decorative Miniatures or Toy Furniture, Oct. 11

· Life and Liberty Art family Day, Oct. 25

· Campaign Posters, Nov. 4

· Book Making, Nov. 8

· Family Portraits, Nov. 22

· Cartooning, Dec. 13

· Art in Motion Family Day, Dec. 27

For more information, contact Kirsten Popp.

Links in this issue:

http://oapd.kde.state.ky.us/exc08/exc.htm