National Center for Safe Routes to School

The National Center for Safe Routes to School is now accepting applications for up to thirty-five $1,000 mini-grants for creative, youth-focused ideas that support safe walking and/or bicycling to school. Eligible activities will occur at an elementary or middle school in Fall 2010 and support the overall goal of Safe Routes to School programs ─ to enable and encourage children nationwide to safely walk and bicycle to school. For more information and to apply, visit http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/news_room/minigrants/index.cfm . Applications are due Wednesday, April 7, 2010, and recipients will be announced by Wednesday, May 26, 2010.

First Coast Girls Initiative

"Bullying Beyond the Backyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying"

A Growing Great Girls Workshop

Keynote Speaker, Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D., joins First Coast Girls Initiative to share how youth peer harrassment has reached new levels with the use of today's technology. Dr. Hinduja will provide the latest data, dangers, warning signs, and prevention strategies of/for cyber harrassment. “This is a unique training opportunity for service providers, teachers and parents in Northeast Florida to gather and gain knowledge of critical information about gender specific girls programming,” said LaTanya Wynn, Vice President of Child Welfare at daniel, Inc. and chair of the First Coast Girls Initiative (FCGI). FCGI is a collaborative effort of more than 30 nonprofit agencies in Northeast Florida helping young women to succeed.



Date: Friday, May 7, 2010
Time: 10:00am - 1:00 pm Lunch included
Location: River City Brewery Co., 835 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL 32207

Workshop Fee:
Registrations received on or before April 20: $50pp
Registrations received after April 20: $55pp

Click here for more information on the Amity Turkish Cultural Center!

FREE MOVIE!! 
Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think, a new documentary film from Unity Productions Foundation, explores the opinions of Muslims around the globe as revealed in the world's first major opinion poll, conducted by Gallup, the preeminent polling organization. What a great way to prepare for your trip to Turkey :)
WHEN: March 30th, doors open at 6:30pm, program & film begins at 7:00pm
A panel discussion will immediately follow the film.
WHERE: Times Union Center, 300 Water Street, Jacksonville, FL
Tickets are $10 ~ students get in FREE with school ID

GOOD NEWS! Due to the overwhelming response to the Community Budget Meeting on Thursday, our next meeting has been moved to Ed White High School. Please consider attending at least one of these very informative budget meetings. Meeting dates and locations are listed below with one change so far - the meeting next Tuesday is at Ed White. Looking forward to seeing you there as advocates for DCPS students!

Be the Change!

The Challenge Day Program is a powerful experiential program for students and adults. The program causes participants to examine and commit to changing their environment/circumstances/self. The Challenge Day program will be held at Sandalwood High School on April 19-22. The program coordinators are still looking for volunteer facilitators. As a facilitator, all that is required of you is to be present for the students to help them through the some of the very emotional things that come out during the day. You can volunteer for 1, 2, 3, and/or 4 days as your schedule permits. For more detailed information, go to the Challenge Day website (http://www.challengeday.org/ ) and look at the video clips. Contact KKeefe for more information or to sign up!

SACAC Camp College & College Fair is almost here!
What: A free college readiness workshop and college fair, including give-aways, activities, breakfast, and lots of valuable information!
Who: Any students interested in learning more about college
Date:
     Camp - Saturday, April 17th
     Fair - Sunday, April 19th
Where:
     Camp - Florida State College of Jacksonville, Downtown
     Fair - Hyatt, Downtown


Here is the link to register:
http://www.sacac.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=99466&orgId=sacac

KTAC – Kids Together Against Cancer

If you know someone whose family is facing the cancer diagnosis of a parent or caregiver, you know how overwhelming that can be. In addition to important treatment decisions, financial insecurity and fears about the future, there are concerns about how to communicate with children. But now there is help.

KTAC – Kids Together Against Cancer – was developed to assist parents and caregivers provide their children with the coping skills needed for this journey. Developed by a team of oncology social workers under the auspices of  St. Vincent’s HealthCare and through the generous support of the Rice Family Foundation, KTAC offers a free five week workshop program with trained professionals for children ages 5 to 17.

To find out more about KTAC, the schedule of the workshops, and how you can register to participate, please click here or call 904-308-KTAC.

ASCA Responds to Public Agenda Report

500+:1, really?!?!
Public Agenda, a part of the Bill & Melinda Gates’ Foundation, published a report indicating students are reporting they are not receiving college information from their school counselors. ASCA responds information about challenges school counselors face including high caseloads and being assigned non-counseling related tasks.

Community Budget Meetings

The District is facing a budget shortfall of $130+ million this year. Come hear the Superintendent and Community Stakeholders discuss this issue and possible solutions.  Advocate for student needs and equity!

• Thursday, March 11 - Sandalwood High School, 2750 John Prom Blvd, 32246
• Tuesday, March 16 - Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology, 7450 Wilson Blvd., 32210
• Thursday, March 18 - Jean Ribault High School, 3701 Winton Dr., 32208
• Tuesday, March 23 - Mandarin High School, 4831 Greenland Rd., 32258

 All meetings begin at 6 p.m.