More on SB 209: WE NEED YOUR HELP!
at 10:27 am on Friday, 29 January 2010
Today, Thursday, January 28, 2010 the Virginia Senate Committee on Education and Health met to address SB209. SB209 states:
“each institution of higher education shall have policies for course credit for standard and higher level International Baccalaureate courses that are comparable to its policies for granting course credit for Advanced Placement courses.”
If you or your PTSA families have looked up SB209 on the VA Senate website you will find slightly different language the dictates a specific amount of credit. The bill was amended to the more generic language based upon research conducted by the VA State Council on Higher Education.
While this new language will not demand a specific amount of credit for IB students at VA Colleges and Universities, we believe it will inspire a more critical reflection of current credit policies and as a result positive change for our IB Graduates.
Due to time constraints the Senate Committee was unable to vote on SB209 today. While that was very frustrating for the wonderful speakers that woke up quite early this morning for the drive, we believe that this extra week is a gift. Please work with your PTSAs, School Boards (their lobbyist in Richmond), Superintendants, Students and Graduates to mobilize support around SB209.
In regards to today’s meeting, I would like to thank the following people for taking time out of their very, very, very busy schedules to attend the Committee Hearing in Richmond:
Thank you
• Whitney Cataldo, IB Coordinator for Hampton City Schools
• Maureen Ellis, IB Coordinator at Stonewall Jackson HS
• Lauren McCook, Alex Worth and Lauren Camren – UVA Students that received IB Diplomas and missed classes today to address the committee
What do we need from our membership now:
1. Take Advantage of this Extra Week and
a. Please solidify a statement of support of SB209 from your school board President and ask him/her to utilize your school district’s lobbyist to speak on behalf of SB209 at next week’s Virginia Senate Committee on Education and Health’s hearing (Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. in Virginia Senate Room B).
i. Brian Bassat has worked with the Prince William County School Board to mobilize their lobbyist in Richmond…I believe one other coordinator has also mobilized a lobbyist!
b. Work with your PTSA President to organize parents and students around SB209. It is extremely important that they call both their VA Senator and VA Delegate to express how important the passage of this bill is to your school community.
i. An Easy Way to Find Contact Information for Your VA Senator and Delegate: http://www.votesmart.org/mystate_summary.php (just type in your zip code)
c. Please contact any university leaders/professors/faculty that you know recognize the power and importance of an IB Education. Please encourage them to actively support SB209. Any university leaders that are willing to speak next Thursday would be a great help.
February Scholarship Newsletter
at 10:24 am on Friday, 29 January 2010
Dear All, Please click the link to learn about MORE SCHOLARSHIPS!!! Senior Scholarships Feb 2010
Bring Connecticut to Henrico!!
at 10:22 am on Monday, 25 January 2010
Here is what he would look like! Go to the NBC12 site and vote!
Career Day at Science Museum of Virginia
at 6:22 pm on Sunday, 24 January 2010
The following Contestsare being Sponsored by The Richmond Joint Engineers Council, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Society of Civil Engineers FOR CAREER DAY AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM OF VIRGINIA ON SUNDAY FEB. 28TH careerday2010
My name is Tony Marotto and I am running the Egg Drop Contest at the Science Museum on this day. I want to pass this information on to you as a personal appeal for your school students to get involved in the contests and the Career Day itself. Please pass this on to teachers and students from 5th grade to 12th grade. This is a great way for students to learn about engineering and have a day of fun at the Science Museum.
Tony Marotto
Designer
VSC Fire & Security, Inc.
10343-A Kings Acres Road
Ashland, Virginia 23005
Phone: 804-459-2200
Fax: 804-459-2201
Direct 804-459-2266
Email: AFMarotto@vscfs.com
Helpful Site for Chem Students
at 9:03 am on Saturday, 23 January 2010
One of our students found this site. She says, “It’s basically the chem syllabus for SL and HL, and if you click on it it gives you notes for each topic and subtopic. If you want even more detailed infromation, you click more, and it usually gives you diagrams and more in depth information. Also, on the top left hand corner there’s a dropdown menu called quicktest, and you can quiz yourself on all the topics. I actually found the website last year, when studying for finals, but they were just building the site, and all the topic werem’t uploaded yet. It seems that everything is done now, though. I just thought it would be really helpful for everyone during midterms and IB Exams! “
http://ibchem.com/IB/ibsyllabus-2009.htm
More Congrats
at 2:05 pm on Friday, 22 January 2010
Congratulations to Mr. Victor Ripley on accepting a football scholarship to The United States Military Academy (West Point) February 3, 2010- The signing ceremony will be February 3, 2010, at 8:15 am.
Congratulations
at 10:18 am on Friday, 22 January 2010
Congratulations to the Academic Team. They took first place at the district competition last night and will now move on to regionals on February 13th.
Congratulations to Teresa in being honored by Dominion in their 20th Annual Stong Men and Women Leadership in Education initiative. See the news release: 2010 SMSW release 01-21-10 final and read Teresa’s entry: Teresa Danso, Henrico student
Senate Bill 209
at 9:38 am on Friday, 22 January 2010
Please read the attached information concerning Senate Bill 209 which “would require ’each institution of higher education shall have policies for course credit for standard and higher level International Baccalaureate courses that are comparable to its policies for granting course credit for Advanced Placement courses.’”
Letter_To_Graduates1212010, Letter_To_Parents1212010, Senate_of_Virginia_Contact_Info
For additional information, please visit the IBMA site: http://www.ibmidatlantic.org/VB209.html
Festival at the Hindu Center
at 8:58 am on Friday, 15 January 2010
A festival will be held at the Hindu Center on Springfield Road this Sunday, January 17, 2010. Proceeds of this event will be dedicated to a memorial in honor of our student, Priyanka, whom we lost in November. Students from our program will be performing. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults.
VCU 2010 Arab Film Festival
at 8:38 am on Friday, 15 January 2010
Let’s Journey to the rich heritage and intricate traditions of Arab culture & foster open-mindedness and tolerance between
The Arab World and the U. S.
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Invites you to join them in promoting Arab and American mutual respect and understanding by launching
The VCU 2010 Arab Film Festival
Sunday, January 31st, 2010
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm VCU Student Commons
Please RSVP Mayda Topoushian by January 28th 2010 mtopoushian@vcu.edu
You will be receiving an e-mail with specifics
Sponsored in part through a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education to the VCU School of Business and the VCU School of World Studies.