Superintendent's Memo #039-10

COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education

February 19, 2010

TO: Division Superintendents

FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT: Four Chesapeake Bay Summer Academies

The Virginia Resource-Use Education Council (VRUEC), in cooperation with several state, federal, and private agencies, will conduct four Chesapeake Bay Academies this summer.

The VRUEC has been awarded a federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) grant to support the participation of science teachers in each Academy. The week-long experiences vary depending on the location, but all are a summer learning experience for middle and high school science teachers and are designed to closely support the implementation of the Science Standards of Learning. The Academies will provide instruction that integrates classroom and field teaching demonstrating meaningful field investigations. Printed materials and hands-on resources supporting the science standards content and skills will also be included. Special emphasis is being given to provide instructional resources that will support the science standards related to watersheds and the Chesapeake Bay in sixth-grade science, Life Science, Earth Science, and Biology.

There is no cost for selected participants to attend the Academies. School divisions are encouraged to provide teachers with stipends and travel reimbursements; however, this is not a requirement for the program. Participants may be eligible to receive up to 40 points for licensure renewal from their school division.

The dates and locations for the Bay Academies are as follows:

June 21 - 25, 2010 Residential Bay Academies Chesapeake Coastal Academy St. Margaret’s School 444 South Water Lane Tappahannock, VA 22560		June 27 – July 1, 2010 Virginia Coastal Ecosystems Field Course Marine Science-Eastern Shore Lab 40 Atlantic Avenue Wachapreague, VA 23480
August 9 – 13, 2010 From the Mountains to the Ocean The State Arboretum of Virginia 400 Blandy Farm Life Boyce, VA 22620		July 12 – 16, 2010 Drive-In Bay Academy Wildlife in the Bay Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area Charles City County, VA Games and Inland Fisheries

Teachers interested in attending one of the four Academies can go to the following website for application information, a brief description, and an agenda for each of the Bay Academies http://www.vanaturally.com/bayacademy.html. Applicants will be selected based on subject areas taught, geographic representation, and prior attendance in a B-WET funded Bay Academy. Priority will be given to individuals who have not attended an Academy in the past; however, all eligible teachers are encouraged to apply. The deadline for applications is April 2, 2010. It is anticipated that all applicants will be notified by May 1, 2010, as to whether they have been selected to attend an Academy.

If you need additional information about the 2010 Chesapeake Bay Academies, please contact Paula Klonowski, science coordinator, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, by e-mail at Paula.Klonowski@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 371-0249.

PIW/PK/yba