Friday, November 16, 2007

FUNdraising Fridays

To all Inspired Students, Teachers, and Schools,

This week’s exciting opportunities include teacher funding for the addition of Science and Math endorsements, a free set of classic books for school libraries, and a chance for students to participate in a Web site development contest. In addition to these opportunities, awards are available for students who are taking action against global poverty and schools who are instilling students with strong values.

~Mike

Opportunities for Students

Oracle Education Foundation’s ThinkQuest International 2008

Deadline: April 2, 2008

The Oracle Education Foundation has announced the opening of ThinkQuest International 2008 and is inviting students and teachers from around the globe to take part in the international project learning competition.

ThinkQuest is open to students between the ages of 9 and 19 and their teacher-coaches worldwide. Students are encouraged to team with peers in other regions to develop Web sites on educational topics. The program is designed to help participants develop important skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, self- direction, problem solving, and technology skills.

Qualifying entries will be published in the ThinkQuest Library. Winners will receive prizes from the Oracle Education Foundation, including laptops and $1,000 school grants for the top five teams in each age division, travel to the annual ThinkQuest Live event for the top three teams in each division, and digital cameras for the team that receives the Global Perspectives Award.

Students and educators interested in participating should visit the ThinkQuest Web site.

Global Action Awards for Global Poverty Efforts

Deadline: January 31, 2008

NetAid, an initiative of Mercy Corps, is accepting applications for the Global Action Awards. The awards honor high school students in the United States who have organized and led a project that has impacted people in poor countries, or raised awareness about global poverty in their own communities.

The awards celebrate young people who have shown great leadership in areas such as preventing disease, alleviating hunger, protecting the environment, promoting human rights, and improving access to clean drinking water, health care, or education. Projects may involve organizing advocacy campaigns, raising funds, volunteering, or using media and technology to involve others in the fight against global poverty.

Guidelines and application materials are available at the NetAid Web site.

Opportunities for Teachers

The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) Funding

PESB has funding available to support teachers to add the following endorsements: Secondary Mathematics, Any Secondary Science area, and Middle Level Mathematics/Science. Funds may be used to pay for PRAXIS II exams, university supervision for the pedagogy assessment, and in some cases, tuition for a limited amount of coursework. Priority will go to teachers currently teaching in secondary math or science without an endorsement, or those whose district would provide the opportunity to teach in one of those areas if an endorsement was earned.

Apply by emailing Mea Moore at PESB: mea.moore@k12.wa.us

For more information on Pathway I and II and endorsement requirements go to the PESB Web site under Quick Links select “Add an Endorsement”.

NOTE: The October 12th deadline referred to in the bulletin has been removed.

Opportunities for Communities and Schools

National Endowment for the Humanities We the People Bookshelf Program

Deadline: January 25, 2008

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in cooperation with the American Library Association Public Programs Office is accepting applications for the fifth We the People Bookshelf program.

Each year, NEH identifies a theme important to the nation's heritage and selects books that embody that theme to build the We the People Bookshelf. The theme for the 2007-08 Bookshelf is "Created Equal." The program will provide three thousand school (K-12) and public libraries across the United States with a set of classic books related to the "Created Equal" theme.

Any U.S. public library or K-12 school library in the United States and its territories is eligible to apply. School libraries include public, private, parochial, and charter schools. Libraries with collections that circulate to the general public and offer reading-based programs for the general public are eligible to apply. A library system or school district may apply on behalf of its member schools or branches.

Visit the NEH Web site for details about eligibility and instructions for completing the online application.

K-12 School Awards

The Character Education Partnership (CEP) recognizes K-12 schools and districts throughout the U.S. demonstration outstanding character education initiatives that yield positive results in student behavior, school climate, and academic performance. Although winners may differ in method, content, and scope, all emphasize core ethical values such as honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring.

Eligible applicants include public and private schools. The deadline for applications is December 3, 2007. Approximately 10 winners will be awarded $20,000. For further information, go to the Character Web site.

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