COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 12

August 23, 2006

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE/SECONDARY

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Linda M. Wallinger Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	Spotlight on Earth Science Symposium

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is pleased to announce the Spotlight on Earth Science Symposium on September 18 and 19, 2006, at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.  This one-and-a-half day event will offer a program that is aimed at informing schools about:

best practices and effective strategies for teaching Earth science, including the role of technology in the classroom;

curricular and assessment issues regarding the structure of Earth science learning experiences; and

Earth science teacher preparation and development, and the status of the Earth science teacher shortage in Virginia.

The symposium will be hosted by the Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) grant project, Virginia Earth Science Collaborative (VESC). The VESC is directed by the Mathematics and Science Center in Richmond, VA, and is a statewide initiative with several partner universities and over 70 school division partners.  A second MSP grant, Innovative Teachers in Earth Science in Tidewater (ITEST) is under the direction of Portsmouth Public Schools with the Virginia Space Grant Consortium is providing a key role in the partnership. This project is regional and partners include six school divisions in superintendents Region Two. Both projects have been continued for a second year of funding and will contribute to this symposium.

Each school division is invited to send one or two representatives to the symposium. Information regarding registration, directions, and hotel accommodations can be found on the attached forms. Lunch and dinner on September 18, and breakfast and lunch on September 19 will be provided.   Lodging for participants who must travel seventy-five miles or more will be provided for the evening of September 18.  To receive this lodging, eligible participants should call The Holiday Inn in Harrisonburg at 540-433-2521 by September 1, 2006, and indicate that they are with the JMU Geology Department.  There are a limited number of rooms available, so participants are encouraged to make their room reservations as soon as possible.

For additional information, please contact Eric Pyle (pyleej@jmu.edu), associate professor, Department of Geology and Environmental Science, James Madison University at (540)568-7115 or Paula Klonowski (Paula.Klonowski@doe.virginia.gov), science specialist, Office of Elementary Instruction, at (804) 371-0249.

LMW/PK/rt

Attachments

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/principals_memos/2006/ems012a.pdf

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/principals_memos/2006/ems012b.doc