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DCPS 2008-09 United Way Campaign: Live United
On September 11, 2008, the district officially kicked off its annual United Way campaign. All non-school based employees should receive their personalized pledge forms with the payroll distribution today. This year, the campaign will run through November 14, 2008.
Campaign Rallies will be announced at all administrative buildings in the near future, and all employees are invited to attend, submit their completed pledge forms and enter to win some great prizes. Pledge forms may also be returned to your Building Principals or your Employee Campaign Coordinators (ECCs), or to my office at 1701 Prudential Dr., 5th Floor, Facilities Division.
Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals has noted that much of the United Way giving is returned directly to our schools. United Way’s Achievers For Life, Early Learning and Full Service School initiatives help prepare our students for academic success.
Everyone is strongly encouraged to consider giving through the payroll deduction option on your pledge form. Just check the appropriate amount or write in what you wish to give, sign and date your pledge and it will be deducted each pay period. Just a small amount each pay period can make a big difference in the lives of a great many people in our community.
Together, we can make a difference; in our schools, our city, and throughout Northeast Florida. This year, more than ever before, we need to Live United.
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.
Free Flu Shots available for DCPS Employees
Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSFL) have engaged Maxim Health Systems to provide flu shots for active employees and their dependents at several worksites throughout Duval County.
Flu shots for active employees and covered dependents (spouse and children) in the DCPS Blue A and DCPS Blue C plans will be paid by BCBSFL as a part of the Wellness benefit. Employees and dependents will need to show their BCBSFL medical insurance card and a picture identification to get the on-site flu shot at no cost. Flu shots for employees and dependents not covered by the DCPS plans will be provided at a cost of $24. Flu shots will be available for all active employees as well as spouses and children ages 9 and older.
Click
here to view the schedule.
Jacksonville’s First Go Green Expo Set to kick off with a Two-Day Event
Global GreenUp, LLC has released the detailed planning of the first-of-its-kind green-living and sustainability showcase being held October 18 and 19 at the Morocco Shrine Auditorium, 3800 St. Johns Bluff Road.
Jacksonville Green Expo is scheduled to kick-off its inaugural two-day event by hosting a breakfast at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 18 with a celebration honoring local companies, sponsors, exhibitors and attendees for their partnership and contribution to the growing environmental and sustainability awareness in Jacksonville.
Global Greenup is looking for adult and student volunteers to help with the events. All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt (while they last) and a community service hour certificate. Click
here for more event information and advanced volunteer registration.
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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