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SEL sessions at the 2020 Safe Schools Conference

Schools often focus on physical safety alone. The 2020 Safe Schools Conference will host presentations that show the critical value of pairing a focus on positive school climate and culture with programs to ensure physical safety. Don’t miss these featured sessions…

Trauma Stewardship sessions at the 2020 Safe Schools Conference

Schools around the country have done fantastic work as a whole with planning for the COVID-19 health crisis. The 2020 Safe Schools Conference is presenting several sessions providing support and technical assistance for the current health crisis, how to plan for the post COVID-19 world, and how to assist school communities with stress, trauma and social emotional wellness. Don’t miss these featured sessions…

Cybersecurity sessions at the 2020 Safe Schools Conference

Cybersecurity of our education system is an increasing concern amidst rapid transformation of the past year. While technology provides critical remote learning opportunities, IT infrastructures and budgets are overwhelmed, and some learning platforms and districts have been vulnerable to cyber incidents. Join experts at the 2020 Safe Schools Conference for the no-cost cybersecurity resources, the latest research and best practices schools and communities can use immediately. Don’t miss these featured sessions…

We All Need Help Sometimes

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the opportunity for us to recognize the truth in that statement: “We all need help sometimes.” The indefinite nature of the pandemic — its length, its pervasiveness, its capacity to infect people — has caused mental and physical stress for many individuals. They wonder: What will be impacted today? When will we be “back to normal”? Will we ever return to the way it was or will there be a new normal? If so, what will that look like? Should we postpone this event? When will we be able to hold a place-based gathering safely?

Everybody's Kids Fall 2020 edition

This edition of Everybody’s Kids offers educators research-based recommendations for designing curriculum and instruction that builds English learners’ language proficiency while improving their literacy skills and academic content knowledge. Our classrooms are highly diverse, and educators are facing increased challenges teaching English learners during the pandemic. Curriculum needs to be flexible enough to minimize barriers while simultaneously maximizing learning opportunities for all students. ELs bring a wealth of knowledge and experience into the classroom, and educators must additionally take students’ funds of knowledge into consideration when planning curriculum (Gay 2010). Strategies for developing curriculum and instruction, lesson planning resources for virtual learning, and tips for aligning structural and instructional practices to promote academic success among ELs are included in this issue.

Virtual Engineering Design Challenges

Three-part webinar series by Technovation | Oct. 29, Nov. 19 and Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. EST

Are looking for a way to step up your STEAM game in a fun and active way with your kids? Join Technovation for their three-part webinar series and become an expert in leading virtual engineering design challenges. Get ready for hands-on building and help your students think like engineers to build solutions to any sort of problem.

Center for Safe Schools Offers Bullying Prevention Programs, Training and Free Resources

Nationally recognized organization continues to lead bullying prevention and school safety efforts; announces major conference

HARRISBURG, Pa., October 8, 2020 — As the nation observes Bullying Prevention Month this October, the Center for Safe Schools is proud to offer free online resources as part of its ongoing commitment to serving schools, communities, parents and students in Pennsylvania and beyond. In addition, the Center will convene experts in December for a virtual conference.

Over one in four children in the U.S. report experiences with bullying, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Bullying is an important public health issue known to have negative effects on children’s physical and emotional well-being, social development and learning.

Million Girls Moonshot Engineering Practice Support Equity Three-Part Webinar Series — Sept. 22, Oct. 13 and Nov. 10

Develop activities and projects focused on fostering an engineering mindset in youth in equitable ways that encourage engagement and participation of girls and other underrepresented youth. Help youth envision their potential as engineers and problem-solvers, and spark interest, affiliation and identities. Register for one or all three!

Creating Connection: Family History and Children

Connection. Feeling connected to loved ones and the world around them is crucial for children’s well-being and healthy emotional development. Connection occurs when caregivers empathize with children’s experiences, support children’s ideas and interests and encourage curiosity.

Million Girls Moonshot Comes to Pennsylvania! State’s Afterschool Network Joins Nationwide Effort To Close the Gender Gap in STEM

The STEM Next Opportunity Fund announced a multi-year grant to PSAYDN as part of the Million Girls Moonshot. The Intel Foundation and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation have joined STEM Next Opportunity Fund and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to launch the Million Girls Moonshot. The effort is designed to engage one million school-age girls in the United States in STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — learning opportunities over the next five years. The organizations will provide grant funding and in-kind resources to Mott-funded afterschool networks in all 50 states to increase access to hands-on, immersive STEM learning experiences. The first-year Pennsylvania grant, just awarded, is for $55,500.

Keynote Speakers announced for 2020 Paving the Way to Educational Success conference

This virtual event Oct 13 through Oct 15, 2020, is a unique opportunity is a unique opportunity for school district foster care points of contact, homeless liaisons, child welfare agency points of contact, child welfare private providers, shelter staff, educators, school social workers, pupil services personnel, school counselors, and any other professionals to deepen knowledge and practice for working with students experiencing homelessness and students in foster care.

Shine Your Light

Center for Schools and Communities and Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) are gearing up for the 21st Lights On Afterschool on Thursday, October 22, 2020 by getting the word out! Now more than ever, afterschool programs are rising to the moment to keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic — and Lights On Afterschool shines a national spotlight on their impact! Join us for a Lights On celebration like none other!

When you register your event as an official Lights On Afterschool celebration, you will receive an event starter kit, which includes 10 free posters to help you promote your event, and make you eligible for cool prizes each week.