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*NEW* Universal's Fall Promotion
Universal Orlando® Resort, in partnership with the Florida Education Foundation, is offering ALL Florida Department of Education employees (in addition to public pre-K - 12th grade school personnel in Florida) an incredible opportunity to experience TWO exciting theme parks, Universal Studios Florida® and Universal’s Islands of Adventure® FREE! It’s their way of saying “thanks” for all you do!
In addition to free admission and discounted guest tickets for the theme parks, you may also get discounted tickets to Halloween Horror Nights® and Blue Man Group. Proceeds of theme park guest ticket sales go to the Florida Education Foundation to support educational initiatives in Florida.
For complete information and details on these amazing offers, visit:
https://app1.fldoe.org/FoundationCoupon/
For more information on this promotion, please email:
Jenna Vetre
Information about the Universal Orlando® Resort can be found at universalorlando.com.
*LAST CHANCE* Walden University Offers “Educator for a Day” Grant
The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University will honor schools and educators across the nation with its campaign in support of the National Education Association (NEA) Educator for a Day program. Walden will award grants for $5,000 to three P–12 schools that host Educator for a Day events as part of the nationwide celebration of NEA’s American Education Week, observed Nov. 16–22, 2008.
Teachers who want to nominate their schools must complete a nomination form that consists of short essay questions about their profession, the importance of teachers’ duties, why their school should receive a Walden Educator for a Day grant and what their school would do with the grant. Three schools will be selected by a panel familiar with the issues currently facing P–12 teachers and administrators. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 20, 2008.
To learn more about Walden University's Educator for a Day grant, please visit http://www.WaldenU.edu/educatorforaday.
The Talking Book / Special Needs Library
The Jacksonville Public Library’s Talking Book/Special Needs Library provides books, magazines and descriptive videos as a free service to school age children and young adults with a disability. Materials are provided through the mail to students and schools as “Free Matter for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.” Books are available from the kindergarten through the high school level. Students and schools are encouraged to register for this free service. If you have any questions or would like to request additional informational materials, contact the library at 904.630.1999 or visit http://www.jaxpubliclibrary.org/lib/talkingbooks.html.
Jacksonville University’s School of Education Open House
On Thursday, November 6, from 5 to 8 p.m., Jacksonville University will hold an open house for the School of Education. Discover three new tracks being offered this spring, including Sports Management and Leadership, the first and only program of its kind in Northeast Florida. Tour their state-of-the-art facility and speak to faculty, students and alumni, as well as representatives from the admissions, student services and financial aid departments. For more information, call Diana Peaks at 904.256.7000 or
dpeaks@ju.edu.
*Last Chance* Awards for Student Volunteers
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial and administered by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, recognizes middle and high school students for volunteer community service. Eligible applicants include any young person in the United States who is in grades 5-12 and has engaged in a volunteer activity that occurred at least partly during the 12 months prior to the date of application. Local honorees are selected in November, and from these winners, two honorees are chosen in each state and the District of Columbia. Out of the state honorees, 10 national honorees are selected and announced at a ceremony in Washington, DC, in May of 2009. State Honorees receive an award of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC, for national recognition events. National Honorees receive an additional award of $5,000. The application deadline is October 31, 2008. Visit the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards website at http://www.prudential.com/spirit/ for program details.
Duval Art Teachers Raise Funds for Art Scholarships
The Duval Art Teachers Association (DATA) will once again hold its annual “Fabulous Florida Flamingo Fete.” The Fete typically is a venue to raise dollars for the Leslie Beddard Scholarship Fund through a silent and live auction of hand-painted furnishings and donated work by local artists. This year’s Fete will boast of an additional method of raising money through raffle tickets for “Painterly Palettes.” Click
here to see the palettes, which have been artistically enhanced by a local artist/art educator. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 25 tickets for $20. The association will be selling tickets at local venues such as the Wednesday Art Walk, or you may purchase tickets through the art teacher at your school, or by calling Jack Matthews at 390.2677.
The Flamingo Fete will take place on Saturday, December 6, 2008 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Genesis Café, located at 8725 S. Old Kings Road near Baymeadows Road.
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