PHOENIX - The perfect blend of old and new – that is the attitude Acacia Elementary School projects... (read more)
Story: Phoenix's Acacia Elementary School has 'Old Fashioned Feel,' while Meeting Modern Challenges On Way to 2010 AEF A+ School Rating

TUCSON - Graduation is always a time for students and their families to celebrate. But there may be some hand-slapping and congratulatory hugs happening amongst administrators and teachers inside the Sunnyside Unified School District (SUSD) this year as well after the district met a major academic milestone of having 800 students graduate... (read more)
Story: Tucson's Sunnyside Unified School District Achieves Major Academic Goals for 2010 Including Record Graduating Class

FLAGSTAFF - Schools across Coconino County are using $400,000 in grant money to study outdoor environments using geographic information systems and geospatial analysis... (read more)
Story: Major grant helps students investigate outdoor environments

TUCSON - Tucson's Basis Charter School has managed to once again land itself in the top 10 of Newsweek's best high schools in the country.... (read more)

Story: Area schools make Newsweek rankings

Afterschool Awards of Excellence Accepting Nominations

Recognize the innovative and positive contributions of afterschool programs, staff and leaders for the children and youth of Arizona. Nominations must be received by Wednesday, June 30th.

Guidelines and nomination forms are available on the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence website at www.azafterschool.org, or contact Caitlin King at 602.496.3308 or caking@azafterschool.org.

Winners will be recognized at the Spotlight on Afterschool Awards of Excellence Luncheon, Wednesday, October 13th, 2010 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.

ASBA Summer Leadership Institute

Quality leadership and advocacy for children in public schools.

Refresh and refine your leadership skills for the year ahead at the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) Summer Leadership Institute, July 22-24, at the Little America Hotel in Flagstaff.

http://www.azsba.org/events/index.cfm?action=daily&cdate=7-22-2010

View/download details on speakers, sessions, schedule and hotel reservations http://www.azsba.org/docs/SummerLeadership2010Flyer.pdf

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Proudly Announces The Barnum Award Program

The Greatest Show On Earth® Celebrates Children Who Give Back to Their Community with Medals and Grants Totaling More Than $150,000

In conjunction with a two-year celebration of the 200th anniversary of P.T. Barnum’s birth, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® is pleased to announce the launch of The Barnum Award, which honors the spirit of the founder of The Greatest Show On Earth® and his inspirational contributions to society by identifying and celebrating children who give back to their own communities in creative, fun, and innovative ways. Nominations can be submitted online at www.thebarnumaward.com http://www.thebarnumaward.com/ .

The Barnum Award program is designed to recognize and support children ages six to 14, who have created social good and enriched their local community through their own inventive and pioneering actions. Award recipients in more than 75 cities throughout the United States will be chosen by a panel of distinguished local luminaries, and will receive award medals and grants to fund future local service projects. Nominees will be judged on the impact of their accomplishments, creativity and innovation, and their inspiration to others relating to their cause. Nominators are required to be over the age of 21, and must fill out a short questionnaire about the child they feel is making a difference in the community.

The Barnum Award debuts as our nation’s leadership asks people to identify needs in their community and engage in meaningful service to create change.

Three award recipients will be chosen from participating cities where Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performs. The Gold Barnum Award Recipient will receive a medallion and a $1,000 grant, the Silver Barnum Award Recipient will receive a medallion and a $750 grant, and the Bronze Barnum Award Recipient will receive a medallion and a $500 grant. Grants are to be used to fund future community service endeavors. Additionally, all three award recipients will be honored at a pre-show award ceremony during the opening night performance of The Greatest Show On Earth® in the show city selected on the nomination.

For more information about The Barnum Award and how to nominate a child who is making a difference in your community, visit www.thebarnumaward.com

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will be in Phoenix, June 23 - 27, 2010. For more information log on to www.ringling.com

The Bauder Endowment for the Support of Physics Teaching

The Frederick and Florence Bauder Endowment for the Support of Physics Teaching was established to support special activities in the area of teaching physics.

Activities that the grant can support include:

Providing grants for the development and distribution of innovative apparatus for physics teaching
Providing funds to obtain and or build and support traveling exhibits of apparatus
Providing funds for local workshops. Up to $500 will fund local workshops for teachers who spread the use of demonstration and laboratory equipment
Providing support for grant projects, provided the Bauder Fund recommends such projects and the AAPT Executive Board approves them.

Only AAPT members may apply. Applications must be received by July 1 for consideration at the Summer Meeting.

Application materials are available online http://www.aapt.org/Programs/grants/bauderfund.cfm as a PDF or can be requested from:

Programs Dept.

AAPT

One Physics Ellipse

College Park, MD 20740-3845

E-mail: programs@aapt.org

PTA Healthy Lifestyles Grants

Help PTAs find resources to support good nutrition and regular physical activity in their communities— promote PTA Healthy Lifestyles. This national program addresses our nation's childhood obesity epidemic and emphasizes the important role families can play in keeping their children healthy and ready to learn.

The 2010 PTA Healthy Lifestyles Grants awards of up to $1,000 to local units that will participate in this coming November's PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month.

The grant application will be available mid-May at PTA.org/HealthyLifestyles. All applications are due by 5:00 p.m. EDT, Friday, September 10. That means you have plenty of time to encourage your units to apply.

Ask your friends and colleagues to log onto www.azschoolsmakeadifference.org and sign up to receive our weekly newsletter. They will be one of the first to hear about good things happening in public education around the state.

We are looking for impressive stories about how Arizona's teachers, students and schools are making a difference every day. Log onto www.azschoolsmakeadifference.org and submit your stories.