OH! News - Keeping Your Mind Over Your Matters

September 2003

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert F. Kennedy

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THIS MONTH'S FEATURES

  • Dr. Susan Sclafani, U.S. Department of Education, Visits MindOH! School
  • The Harris County Department of Education Selects MindOH! for Four Schools
  • MindOH! is Scientifically Based Research
  • MindOH! Aligns With the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant
  • November 18 is Mix It Up At Lunch Day 2003
  • Funding Corner: Tiger Woods Foundation and Christopher Columbus Awards

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DR. SUSAN SCLAFANI, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, VISITS MINDOH! SCHOOL

Johnston Middle School, in the heart of Houston’s inner city school district, received a visit from a U.S. Department of Education official in August when Dr. Susan Sclafani, then Counselor to the Secretary, visited Houston to review the school’s model character education programs. Johnston was one of several Houston schools that participated in a pilot study conducted by MindOH! from September 2001 to June 2003. In August 2003, MindOH! reported real-time quantitative results from the two-year research study on using character education in the discipline process. The Houston Independent School District’s media services television cablecast program, HISD News Today, covered Dr. Sclafani’s visit: http://www.mindoh.com/docs/HISD_News005.wmv. Dr. Sclafani, recently named Acting Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education, met with students who have used MindOH! and said, “...programs that give children a chance to articulate what they're feeling and in this case, to do it at a time when they're finding it very hard to not be emotional about what's happening with them is a very good thing."

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THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SELECTS MINDOH! FOR FOUR SCHOOLS

The Harris County Department of Education (HCDE), a resource in the Houston metroplex, is a nonprofit tax assisted organization dedicated to the equalization of educational opportunity and to the advancement of public schools. HCDE selected MindOH!’s Discipline and Life Skills Series to integrate with existing discipline management processes in four alternative schools. HCDE operates two alternative schools designed to meet the special needs of students, Academic and Behavior Center East and West Campuses (ABC). The Highpoint East and Highpoint North campuses are multi-district cooperatives serving seven participating school districts in east and north Harris County. To learn more about the organization, visit http://www.hcde-texas.org.

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MINDOH! IS SCIENTIFICALLY RESEARCH BASED

Dr. Beth Manke, Associate Professor in the Human Development Department at the California State University, Long Beach, explains how MindOH! is scientifically research based and how the Company’s Discipline and Life Skills Series aligns with language in the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. To read Dr. Manke’s explanation, visit http://www.mindoh.com and scroll down to the “Latest News” section.

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MINDOH! ALIGNS WITH THE 21st CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS GRANT

MindOH! aligns with the criteria for the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant which is due October 30, 2003. All after school activities, including character education and counseling components can be part of the grant. Visit the MindOH! home page at http://www.mindoh.com to download a copy of the grant alignment document. All Title I schools, particularly low performing schools are eligible. Contact MindOH! at news@mindoh.com if you would like support for the application process.

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NOVEMBER 18 IS MIX IT UP AT LUNCH DAY 2003

Last fall, more than 200,000 students accepted the challenge to begin bridging social boundaries in their schools. On Mix It Up at Lunch Day 2002, they stepped out of their comfort zones and sat somewhere new, with someone new.

On November 18, Mix It Up at Lunch Day 2003, students are going to stir things up in their school cafeterias – again. Encourage your students to visit http://www.tolerance.org/teens/lunch.jsp to find out how they can get involved and download free information about Mix It Up at Lunch Day.

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FUNDING CORNER: TIGER WOODS FOUNDATION AND CHRISTOPHER COLOMBUS AWARDS

The Tiger Woods Foundation: The Tiger Woods Foundation focuses on providing opportunities to children and families who are underserved. The following are approved programmatic areas for funding: education, youth development, parenting, and family health & welfare. There are four grant cycles per year, and grants are awarded every quarter. Next grant proposal cut-off date: November 1, 2003. http://www.twfound.org/grants/funding.sps?section=grants&sid=941&lid=1&gra=0.

Christopher Columbus Awards Invite Students to Explore Opportunities for Positive Community Change: Deadline: February 2, 2004

The Christopher Columbus Awards, which are designed to challenge middle school students to explore opportunities for positive change in their communities, have announced a call for entries for the 2003-2004 school year. The program is sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, with support from the National Science Foundation (http://www.nsf.gov/). Program teams consist of up to four students and a coach, who together identify a community issue and use the scientific process to solve it. Finalist teams win an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World, where they compete for U.S. Savings Bonds and the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant to help bring their idea to life in their community. Coaches may be teachers, parents, community leaders, or mentors. Teams do not need to be affiliated with a school to enter. Visit the program's Web site for complete application guidelines. RFP Link: http://www.christophercolumbusawards.com/  For additional RFPs in Children and Youth, visit: http://www.fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_child.jhtml

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OH! News is a free monthly email newsletter distributed by MindOH!, a character education-based company dedicated to providing young people with the necessary tools to develop strong character traits and a healthy self-concept. MindOH! teaches students problem-solving techniques and communication skills, reinforcing universally held virtues such as respect and responsibility. www.mindoh.com
 
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