Superintendent's Memo #080-11
COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education
March 25, 2011
TO: Division Superintendents
FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT: Chesapeake Bay Summer 2011 Academies
The Virginia Resource-Use Education Council (VRUEC), in cooperation with several state, federal, and private agencies, will conduct six Chesapeake Bay Academies during the summer of 2011.
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 provide summer learning experiences 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 and also will have the option of attaining graduate credit at an additional cost to the participant.
The dates and locations for the Bay Academies are as follows:
| June 20 – 24, 2011 Commuter Academy River’s Edge Field Course Rappahannock River Fredericksburg, VA |
July 10 – 14, 2011 Residential Academy Virginia Coastal Ecosystems Field Course Virginia Institute of Marine Science College of William & Mary Wachapreague, VA |
| June 27 – July 1, 2011 Residential Academy Chesapeake Coastal Academy St. Margaret’s School Tappahannock, VA |
August 8 – 12, 2011 Residential Academy From the Mountains to the Ocean State Arboretum of Virginia Boyce, VA |
| June 27 – July 1, 2011 Commuter Academy The Intersection of Life and Land Mary Baldwin College Staunton, VA |
July 11 – August 5, 2011
SOLstice: Summer of Learning – Science Teachers Investigating the Chesapeake Environment |
Teachers interested in attending one of the six Academies can go to the following Web site 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 and geographic representation. 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 May 2, 2011. It is anticipated that all applicants will be notified by May 13, 2011, as to whether they have been selected to attend an Academy.
If you need additional information about the 2011 Chesapeake Bay Academies, please contact Barbara Young, science specialist, Office of Standards, Curriculum, and Instruction, by e-mail at Barbara.Young@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 225-2676.
PIW/BY/as