Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Please help …

by jimae

Hello,

I hope this letter finds you well today! I am training for my second race with Team In Training, and I am writing to ask you to assist me in raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

On October 17, 2010 I will be running the Nike Women’s Marathon and Half Marathon to celebrate our fundraising efforts and to continue to raise awareness of the need to blood cancer research. This season I am running on behalf of my friend, Chris, who was diagnosed with Hodgekin’s Lymphoma just a few months ago. Thanks to past fundraising, research, and awareness of the need to find a cure for blood cancers, Chris was able to receive the medicines, therapies, and treatments that he needed to fight his battle with cancer. Today his cancer is gone and he is finishing his fight with his last radiation treatments. Soon we will be able to celebrate his victory!!

But, sadly not everyone can share in our excitement. Did you know that blood cancers are the second most fatal form f cancer, second only to lung cancer? In the 1960’s, the childhood Leukemia survival rate was 4%! Today it is 87%! However, it is still the leading cause of cancer-death in patients under the age of 20. We need all the help possible to get to a 100% survival rate! Please help! With your donation, you will be able to say that you helped get one step closer to changing this statistic, and finding a cure for blood cancers!

I strongly encourage you to consider making a donation and being a part of this opportunity. My fundraising goal for this season is $1,900. Can you be one of my 19 personal sponsors and donate a minimum of $100? Can you help me raise money to find a cure for blood cancers?

All donations must be accounted for by Saturday, September 25, 2010.

Please take a moment to visit these two sites;

My personal fundraising page at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sac/nikesf10/jwilson.

Giving Back – my personal and training blog at: www.jimae.wordpress.com

I want to thank you for being such a great support and influence in my life! I am excited to share this adventure with you! I still have many, many training miles to go before I cross my finish line, on October 17, but your support will surely help me get there faster! I would be truly honored if you would make a donation to support our fight to find a cure for blood cancers. If you have any questions, or would like to email me, please feel free to contact me at jimae@wilsonfotografie.com.

Sincerely,

Mae

Jimae S. H. Wilson

First day back The Education Report

The Education Report

First day back

By Katy Murphy
Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 11:21 am in elementary schools, students
2 Comments »

I visited Reach Academy in East Oakland (Cox campus) this morning for our annual back-to-school feature. There’s something timeless about seeing kids lined up behind signs with their teachers’ names — and the parent peering through the classroom door, seeing how his child has settled

In East Oakland, kids return to a new school

By Katy Murphy
Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 9:07 pm in buildings, elementary schools
No Comments

Here’s a glimpse into the first day of school at Reach Academy, an elementary school on the old Cox campus that was completely rebuilt with construction bond money.

Alabama schools turn to bank loans to operate - Aug. 31, 2010

Alabama schools turn to bank loans to operate

By Scott Olster, associate editorAugust 31, 2010: 5:32 AM ET

FORTUNE -- Alabama schools have been having a rough time of it, and it only looks like it's going to get rougher. The Cotton State recently came in last place in the federal Department of Education's Race to the Top grant competition. And a steadfast global recession combined with the Gulf Coast oil spill this summer have put a severe strain on the state's tax receipts, the primary source of revenue for Alabama's education system, forcing several school systems to take out private loans just to make it through the year.

Five school districts have already borrowed against lines of credit they have with local banks to fund basic school operations, and 25 additional

Monday, August 30, 2010

No further cutbacks for Portland schools this fall | OregonLive.com

No further cutbacks for Portland schools this fall

Published: Monday, August 30, 2010, 7:52 PM Updated: Monday, August 30, 2010, 7:59 PM

Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian
Follow

Story tools

The superintendent and school board of Portland Public Schools plan to spend $6 million from reserves, rather than cut more teachers, freeze employee pay or eliminate school days, in the face of continuing state budget woes.

Robb Cowie, the school district's communications director, said this evening that Superintendent Carole Smith, school board co-chairs Pam Knowles and Trudy Sargent and board budget chairman David Wynde all have committed to spend down the district savings account by another $6 million. That means that, altgother, the district will spend $25 million more than it will take in to operate schools in 2010-11.

Board members had said for months they prefer to make long-term cuts than to put off hard choices and allow unsustainable spending levels for another year. But with the latest drop in state

PowerPoint: The World According To Huberman - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

PowerPoint: The World According To Huberman Thanks thanks thanks to the reader who sent along this fascinating (yes!) PowerPoint presentation from the principals' meeting at UIC last week. So much interesting information in there (like results from the Scantron pilot and school safety data ...

Jobs: IFF Needs You [image: mike-giant-sharpie-300x300.jpg] The Illinois Facilities Fund is looking for a VP for policy development -- that could be you (PDF). Any other good jobs out there? Not everyone can be a classroom teacher, obviously.

12,000 Oregon students fail reading test they must pass to graduate | OregonLive.com

12,000 Oregon students fail reading test they must pass to graduate

Published: Monday, August 30, 2010, 7:13 PM Updated: Monday, August 30, 2010, 8:05 PM

Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian
Follow

Story tools

Ross William Hamilton/The OregonianEducators say the desire to earn a high school diploma was a powerful motivator when sophomores took the state reading test this spring. A record high 71 percent passed.

This year, knowing their diplomas depend on it, Oregon high school sophomores made unprecedented gains in reading, with a record 71 percent of students passing the state reading exam.

Still, 12,000 Oregon students will begin their junior year next week at risk of failing to graduate.

They must pass the state reading test or its equivalent by senior year to get a diploma.

Students who reach the halfway point of high school unable to read well probably will require extra reading classes and instruction targeted to their skill level if they are to improve enough to earn a diploma, said Julie Anderson, Oregon's reading and writing specialist.

Staff in the office of Oregon schools Superintendent Susan Castilloare phoning every district's superintendent this week to alert them how many of their students have yet to pass and the importance of helping

Listen to us, teachers tell Arne Duncan in Albany | GothamSchools

Listen to us, teachers tell Arne Duncan in Albany

by Maura Walz

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan (right) and NYSUT President Richard Ianuzzi listen to a teacher at a roundtable at NYSUT's Albany headquarters today.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan (right, blue shirt) and NYSUT President Richard Ianuzzi listen to a teacher at a roundtable at NYSUT's Albany headquarters today.

ALBANY, N.Y. — Teamwork was the watchword as U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan took his national

Remainders: Taking a long, personal view on student success

by Philissa Cramer

Tracking down South Bronx students eight years later, with disappointing results. (Robert Pondiscio)
A kindergarten teacher’s son was murdered by one of her former students. (Baltimore Sun)
An inspiring story about a student who tried, failed, and tried again. (Pissed Off Teacher)
A historical argument for why translating memos to parents is a really good idea. (Tablet)
Unpacking the New York Post’s high school rankings. (Leonie Haimson)
Budget documents suggest the city is cutting funds to lower class size. (Norm’s Notes)
The Economic Policy Institute finds issues with score-based value-added evaluations. (Answer Sheet)
Race to the Top and the problem of trying to do too much at once. (Sara Mead)
Why D.C.’s mayoral primary is “a caution for overcaffeinated fans of mayoral control.” (Rick Hess)
What teachers really want: Well-rested students. (Dan Willingham)
D.C.-area schools are growing more diverse, maybe because of the recession. (Washington Examiner)
Or maybe because schools are actively recruiting white families. (Washington City Paper)
And congratulations to Elizabeth! She’s writing a book based on “Building a Better Teacher.” (Russo)

Latest News and Comment from Education