Monthly Archives: October 2017

Making Connections 2017: Registration Coming Soon!

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Making Connections 2017Our annual ACPS Making Connections professional development day will be Monday, November 6. Like last year, we will have a variety of presenters in locations across the county. Teachers will sign up for one morning session from 8:30 to 11:30 and one afternoon session from 12:30 to 3:30. Lunch will be provided and available for teachers at their morning session. Sign up for these sessions will open on Friday, October 20!

Presenters and facilitators for Making Connections for Equity and Access currently include: Continue reading →

Do Fewer Walls Make for Better Schools?

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CityLab“Schools across the world have been experimenting with more open layouts—and teaching techniques that suit them—since at least the 1950s. But such efforts, even in Finland, have not always proved successful because open-plan schools can suffer from distractingly high levels of noise. So how has Finland learned from the problems of the past to create a more effective model?” Keep reading Why Finland Is Embracing Open-Plan School Design in CityLab »

Lifelong Learning Through Environmental Sustainability

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Superintendent's BlogGuest Blog by Lindsay Snoddy, Assistant Director for Environmental Health and Safety, Albemarle County Public Schools

“Environmental stewardship has a long history in Albemarle County Public Schools. The School Board formalized an environmental management policy in 2006 and honors their commitment to support programs for continual improvement. A program that began its focus on environmental compliance quickly grew to include sustainability and unique offerings for project-based learning, leading first to Crozet Elementary and then Stony Point Elementary School receiving US DOE Green Ribbon School Awards. Individual recognition of these schools was followed by the entire division being honored in 2017 with a district-wide US DOE Green Ribbon Schools District Sustainability Award.” Keep reading the October 2 Superintendent’s Blog post »

Design for Change Challenge: Submission Deadline Extended to May 18

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Design for Change USADesign for Change USA has launched their 2017-18 challenge! Design for Change is a global movement of young people who are changing the world!

How does it work? Any group of young people (K-12) with an adult mentor (teacher, parent, youth leader, or coach) dreams up and leads social change projects in their own schools or communities using the Design for Change methodology—Feel. Imagine. Do. Share. The deadline for teams to implement and submit their projects is May 18, 2018. Continue reading →

Upcoming PD Opp: Getting to Know ArcGIS Online

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ACPS PDGetting to Know ArcGIS Online | October 26 & November 2 | 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Are you interested in GIS and GPS applications in your classroom? If so, you are in luck! ACPS is offering a free Level I introductory workshop to occur over two evenings, facilitated by Chris Bunin, a leader in K-12 GIS integration. Teachers who complete this Level I training will be invited to stipend support Level II workshops that will provide opportunities to develop GIS lessons.

Course Description: Continue reading →

Important Notice to Albemarle County Voters

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Albemarle County LogoA General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, for the offices of: Governor of Virginia, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Attorney General of Virginia, Virginia House of Delegates, and Board of Supervisors and School Board members for the Rio, Jack Jouett, and Samuel Miller Magisterial Districts. To see the choices that will be on your ballot on November 7, visit the Voter Registration website and click on Current Ballot.

Read the County’s September 28 news release »

Culturally Responsive Teaching PD Sessions – Oct. 16 & 26

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DiversityAttention Instructional Coaches, Diversity Resource Teachers, Equity Teams, Teachers, and Administrators! ACPS is pleased to announce two upcoming Culturally Responsive Teaching professional development sessions on October 16 for elementary educators, and October 26 for middle and high school educators. Sessions are limited to the first 30 registrants, so don’t delay—RSVP today! Continue reading →

Say Something Week: Oct. 16-20

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Say SomethingDid you know that when it comes to threats of violence or suicide, most are known by at least one other person BEFORE the incident takes place? Imagine how much tragedy could be averted if these individuals said something?

During the week of October 16-20, 2017, thousands of middle and high schools and youth organizations from across the U.S. will participate in Say Something Week. Continue reading →