COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 101

April 18, 2008

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	2008 Watershed Science Standards Institute

The Virginia Resource-Use Education Council (VRUEC), in cooperation with several state, federal, and private agencies, will conduct a week-long professional development institute for upper elementary and middle school science teachers. The institute will focus on water and watersheds. 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 25 science teachers in this institute.

The institute will be held July 28, 2008, through August 1, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Louisa County Middle School in Mineral, Virginia. The institute is designed to closely support the implementation of the Science Standards of Learning relating to water and watersheds in grades four, six, and life science and to provide detailed training, field experiences, print materials, and hands-on resources supporting the science standards content and skills. Special emphasis is also being given to provide instruction on how to conduct a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE).

Individuals completing the institute will receive a variety of nationally recognized curricula including educator’s guides for Project WET K-12, Healthy Water Healthy People, Project WILD Aquatic, and Energy and Society from Project Learning Tree. Participants will also be awarded a $250 micro-grant for implementing a MWEE in their classroom.

There is no cost to teachers to attend the institute. Participants have the option of enrolling in a three-credit graduate course in life science from Virginia Commonwealth University at a cost of $300.

For more information on this institute, go to the Virginia Naturally Web site at www.vanaturally.com/pdf/watershed_workshop.pdf. To register for the institute go to www.vanaturally.com/ssi08_registration.doc. If you need additional information about the 2008 Watershed Science Standards Institute, 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.

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