SIGN UP NOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SECOND ANNUAL CHARACTER'S COOL CONTEST!
The second annual Character's Cool Contest is an opportunity for U.S. secondary school students to help stop school violence by practicing ethical behavior -- and, to win prizes! The Character's Cool Contest is actually three contests in one: students can fill out an online survey to be entered in a drawing to win prizes for themselves, schools with the most participation win prizes, and individuals can enter an essay contest to win cash prizes.
All U.S. middle and high school students (ages
11-18) are eligible to participate. Contest entries will be accepted January 1
through January 31, 2003. The Contest
Web site includes a form where people who are interested in participating
can sign up to receive an email notification when the contest kicks off. To learn more about the contest, please visit
http://www.mindohfoundation.org/contest/.
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NOVEMBER 21ST IS MIX IT UP AT LUNCH DAY!
Mix It Up is a network for teen activists who want to challenge social boundaries in their schools and communities. At many schools around the country, the cafeteria at lunchtime is a social map of the whole school. A map criss-crossed with boundaries.
These boundaries exist for many reasons -- habit, friendship, status, fear, prejudice. The simple space of a cafeteria table is, for many of us, a comfort zone where we can be ourselves with those who know us best. Touch base. Regroup. Let down the guard that classroom pressures often require of us. For others, the lunchroom with all its boundaries is a world with its own pressures -- a world of familiar strangers and rigid expectations.
But, on November 21, students across the country are going to stir things up in their school cafeterias. And you can do it, too.Join more than 200,000 students across the country in breaking down social boundaries -- take a new seat in your cafeteria on November 21st for Mix It Up at Lunch Day! Visit the Mix It Up Web site at http://www.tolerance.org/teens/howto.jsp to receive posters, stickers, an activity booklet and tips for press coverage to promote the day within your school. Teachers can visit the site to download lesson plans and ways to be an effective adult ally for students wishing to participate. Or, email mixitup@tolerance.org.
FURR HIGH SCHOOL: CREATING A CULTURE OF CARING
Dr. Bertie Simmons, principal of Furr High School in Houston, spends more than half of her time during the school day listening to students who have been referred for discipline, and talking with them about character education. At Furr, Dr. Simmons has shifted the typical negative approach to dealing with student misbehavior into a positive approach.
"Kids know when you don't care -- you can't fake it with them. But you care more when you know more. I embrace the philosophy that it's impossible to know too much about a person. It's what you do with what you know that matters. And that's where MindOH! comes in."
Dr. Simmons thinks MindOH! is unique because it gets into the heads and hearts of students. "I've been around education for more than 40 years and I've longed for something like MindOH! that would help me to know what it is that's causing misbehaviors. This is the first time I've bumped up against something that gives me that information."
Read more about Furr High School's success with MindOH! at http://www.mindoh.com/furrhs.asp.
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FUNDING CORNER: DELL COMPUTER'S TECHKNOW PROGRAM
If your district has an urban
population of students who are at risk of missing classes and not graduating,
and is willing to establish and support the comprehensive training program and
develop local community partnerships, it could become one of the 15 Dell
TechKnow districts. Targeting at-risk middle school-aged students, TechKnow
represents a multi-million dollar commitment from Dell, including equipment,
program development, management, and other support. This program is a
partnership with school districts and will require additional commitment and
resources at the local level. For more information, you can visit the TechKnow
Program Web site or contact dell_techknow@dell.com. Second-year
applications will be online in January 2003. http://www.dell.com/us/en/k12/topics/segtopic_seg_nav_001_techknow.htm.
For other MindOH! funding recommendations, visit www.mindoh.com/funding.asp.
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ABOUT OH! NEWS
OH! News is a free
monthly email newsletter distributed by MindOH! (www.mindoh.com). MindOH! is dedicated to
providing young people with the necessary tools to develop strong character
traits and a healthy self-concept. The first company to deliver Web-based
character education combining Flash and Real Media to create interactive
computer modules, MindOH! teaches students problem-solving techniques and
communication skills, reinforcing universally held virtues such as respect and
responsibility.
Please pass this email along to anyone interested
in character education and empowering our nation's youth to practice ethical
behavior. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send email to news@mindoh.com.
OH! News
welcomes contributions and feedback. Click
the following link to participate in our
OH! News Readership Survey: http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?RMYK683WJE6MDVYQNHTBKH1H. For more information, visit MindOH! at www.mindoh.com, the MindOH! Foundation at www.mindohfoundation.org, or email news@mindoh.com.