Refresher Welding Training for Teachers

Save the Date! A training for instructors who teach welding classes will be held June 24 at the Lakeview High School in Cottonwood. Participants will learn to troubleshoot equipment, read basic blueprints, learn welds used by industry, tour local businesses who do business around the world, and learn more about career opportunities for their students.

More information will be coming out soon.

FREE Tech Prep College Credit

The Southern Minnesota Tech Prep College Credit Certificate Request Project represents the cooperation of 8 Carl Perkins Consortia and 17 post-secondary campuses across southern Minnesota. This project provides students in participating high schools the opportunity to earn college credit for classes they take in high school. These credits are earned at no cost to the school district or student and can be redeemed at a variety of post-secondary campuses upon admission to the school. The certificates are generally for entry-level college courses and allow students to get credit without taking the course if they have successfully completed the requirements while in high school. Click on the link to view courses available for Tech Prep College Credit or to establish an account to request certificates. www.lifetimeoflearning.com/techprep/

Program Approval For All CTE Programs

In order for school districts to access Carl Perkins Career and Tecnical Levy funds, all CTE programs must be approved by the Minnesota Department of Education. The necessary forms can be found at http://www.lifetimeoflearning.com/CarlPerkins.htm. To be eligible for Carl Perkins and CTE Levy funds, programs must have their forms turned into to the MDE office by December 1, 2009.

Culinary Skills Challenge 2009

On March 25, 2009, approximately 250 students in grades 9-12 from 18 high schools throughout southwest Minnesota cooked, baked, designed, garnished and learned new culinary trends and techniques at the 5th annual Culinary Skills Challenge at Southwest Minnesota State University. In addition to the competitions, a variety of seminars were offered throughout the day covering topics such as: food science, cake decorating, nutrition, place setting, and other culinary-related areas. Restaurant owners, professional chefs, food science educators, and registered dietitians were among the many presenters.

To view more pictures of the event, visit our website: http://www.lifetimeoflearning.com/

Nominate Your Students as Academic All-Stars!

It is time to nominate your students as Academic-All Stars! Please take this opportunity to provide testimony to the outstanding teaching and learning taking place in our schools through the selection of 2009 student “Academic All-Stars.”

All Minnesota K-12 teachers, principals and academic challenge coordinators are invited to designate their studc All-Stars,” who are then eligible to attend the 2009 Gathering of Champions. This free annual celebration and recognition of student excellence is sponsored by the Center for Academic Excellence and its educational partners.

Consider the top 2-5% of your students from the following three categories:
· Students who are consistent top academic performers
· Students who have shown significant improvement in achievement or have overcome barriers to academic achievement
· Students who are local, regional, or state champions in an Academic League challenge.

Visit: http://www.mncae.org/ – click on “Gathering of Champions” to nominate your students!

Junior Achievement Teaches Valuable Money Lessons

Fifty-six percent of teens believe the best source of useful information about financial matters is their parents or guardians. However, many parents hesitate to discuss money management with their children - they may feel awkward talking about money or are embarrassed about their own financial missteps. Junior Achievement has developed twelve free, lessons to help parents and other adults discuss and learn about financial literacy basics with young people.

April is Financial Literacy Month and now, more than ever, it is important to give children the guidance and information they need to be financially literate. Junior Achievement- $ave USA parent lessons help parents discuss and learn about these and other important money-management issues with their kids.

The lessons cover budgeting, the importance of saving, understanding credit, and more. The lessons are available online at http://www.jaum.org/ and downloadable for free.