Media

A Word To Our Readers

2012 is already a busy and exciting time for Communities In Schools of North Carolina. If you are new to our Monthly Newsletter, we welcome you, as this is one of the best ways to stay connected with the work of the state office. We encourage you, too, to regularly visit our website for more information to keep students of all ages in school, prepared to graduate and prepared for life. Feedback and any newsletter submissions can be directed to Communications & Media Specialist Rebecca Clendenin. We welcome your input!

Dropout Rate Reaches New Record Low

Fewer students dropped out of North Carolina public schools in 2010-11 than ever before, according to the 2010-11 Consolidated Data Report presented to the State Board of Education on February 2.

"In these tough economic times, it is clear that more of our students are understanding how earning a high school diploma is their ticket to success in higher education, job training and a career," said State Superintendent June Atkinson.

Key dropout rate findings of the 2010-11 Consolidated Data Report show that:

The annual high school dropout rate decreased from 3.75% to 3.43% for 2010-11. A total of 15,342 high school students dropped out in 2010-11 as compared to 16,804 students in 2009-10 (8.7% decrease).

For all grades, the number of students dropping out decreased to 15,773 from 17,346 the prior year.

About 63% of North Carolina school districts experienced a decrease in dropout rates.

"CISNC and its 38 affiliates across the state work to surround students with the support and encouragement they need to stay in school and succeed. Reducing the dropout rate is our first priority in North Carolina, and we are so fortunate CISNC continues to provide thousands of students with much-needed tutoring and mentoring to help them learn and stay in school. North Carolina cannot take the focus off of K-12 education, especially as it pertains to our youth who drop out in the greatest numbers," said Atkinson. "The state’s investment in proven, cost-effective program like Communities In Schools is crucial toward this end. It is imperative that we keep this positive momentum going so all students can graduate and succeed in college, career and life."

Time Is Running Out—Vote Communities In Schools as the Nation’s Top Education Nonprofit!

Show your support for Communities In Schools in AT&T’s "The $80,000 Vote for Education" Contest. Vote for Communities In Schools every day between now and February 14 to help us win the grand prize of $50,000, which we would use to help students stay in school and achieve in life.

Carry the Message of National Mentoring Month Year-Round

CISNC wants to say "Thanks!" to our affiliates for your hard work in promoting the importance of every child to have a caring relationship with an adult during the month of January. We are pleased to have distributed grants in January to our local affiliates to promote National Mentoring Month. Spearheaded by the Harvard Mentoring Project of the Harvard School of Public Health, MENTOR and the Corporation for National and Community Service, this year’s campaign captured the long-term benefits for young people, their mentors and their communities that an investment in quality mentoring can offer. The campaign’s tagline is “Invest in the Future. Mentor a Child.” and should be celebrated throughout the year.

If you participated in promoting National Mentoring Month, please let Communications & Media Specialist Rebecca Clendenin know of any events you held, recruiting campaigns you led or media coverage you earned. We want to celebrate these highlights of National Mentoring Month with our state and national partners and spotlight your great work!

Sponsorships Now Open for Chefs Inspiring Success

Sponsorship opportunities are now open for CISNC's inaugural cook-off fundraiser and kick-off to Triangle Restaurant Week 2012, "Chefs Inspring Success," June 2, 2012. The evening will be memorable with live music, tasting stations, a Parade of Tables and the presentation of the H. Glenn Williams Power of One Awards. CISNC is committed to student success in our state and is achieving that mission every day. As we work to build a stronger state and nation—one where all youth deserve the opportunity and support they need to graduate from high school, prepared for college, career and life—we invite you and your company to join us in this mission by publically pledging your support of the “Chefs Inspiring Success” event and more importantly to one of the strongest nonprofit organizations in North Carolina, Communities In Schools of North Carolina. We all have a role to play in the mission of surrounding students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Click here for more information on sponsorships.

Call for H. Glenn Williams Power of One Award Nominations

Nominations for the H. Glenn Williams Power of One Awards, to be awarded at the "Chefs Inspiring Success" event, are now open. Click here for the nomination form. Please attach a one-page narrative (12 point type, reasonable margins) describing how the nominee has made a powerful difference in the lives of children. Nominees are not required to have been involved with CIS, but should have demonstrated contributions of time and/or resources to educational efforts and children in North Carolina. Nominations must be received by CISNC by March 31, 2012.

Camp Challenge Applications Due April 15

The North Carolina Bankers Association and CISNC are partnering once again to bring Camp Challenge, a financial literacy and leadership development summer camp, to rising CIS 6th, 7th and 8th graders. The Camp Challenge staff, along with their stakeholders, has been so impressed by CIS and our students that they have granted us three weeks this summer:

July 8 - 13, 2012

July 15 - 20, 2012

July 22 - 27, 2012

These three weeks are open to CIS students only at a cost of $10 per child. There will be about 100 student slots for camp each week, which means that 300 CIS students will have the opportunity to grow and develop their leadership skills and expand their horizons. Please spread the word about Camp Challenge with staff who interface with middle school students and families. This is truly a life changing experience, as can be seen in the July 2011 "Overcoming Obstacles" video. Click here for the 2012 Camp Challenge application packet. Applications are due April 15, 2011. Any questions can be directed to Field Services Specialist/Youth Development Trainer Christopher Capel.

Now Open: The Communities In Schools Publications Resource Center

The national office of Communities In Schools is pleased to announce the launch of the Publications Resource Center, which can be accessed from CISnet. Through the national office's new partnership with GraphTec, Communities In Schools state offices and local affiliates can now order professionally designed publications at the click of a button. You can get annual reports, general brochures, posters and other marketing materials right when you need them to enhance your communications and fundraising efforts. Some products are easily customizable, and more will be offered in the future. To access this easy-to-use resource, simply log on to CISnet, click the Toolkit tab at the top and then select Publications Resource Center. It will redirect you to the site. For general questions about publications and availability, contact National Office Director of Publications Maureen Salamat.

Take Action: Complete This Survey to Help Stop Kids from Going Hungry This Summer

The N.C. DHHS’s Division of Public Health, CISNC, United Way of North Carolina, Food Banks Central & Eastern North Carolina and No Kid Hungry North Carolina need your help to feed more kids in need this summer. We are working together to expand the number of sites serving federally-reimbursed summer meals through the Summer Food Service (SFSP) program that DHHS administers. As someone serving your community, you may be working with the kids who most need help. Please take five minutes to complete this short survey by Friday, February 17. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Leila Babb, Summer Food Service Program Assistant with North Carolina DHHS, at 919-707-5755.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Releases New School Meal Nutrition Standards

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released updated nutrition standards for school meals. The first update in more than 15 years, the new standards will help schools provide healthier breakfasts and lunches for millions of students. In part, they will help ensure that school meals include more fruits and vegetables, more whole-grain breads and pastas, and more low- and non-fat milk. They also set limits for fat and sodium. Click here for more information about these important changes.

AmeriCorps Grant Peer Reviewers Needed—February 22 Deadline

The N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service is looking for individuals to serve as peer reviewers for the 2012-13 AmeriCorps grant applications. This review process helps the Commission select the most highly qualified applications for AmeriCorps funding. The peer review date will be scheduled for late March 2012. Please contact Ray Riordan by February 22 if you are interested or know anyone else who would be interested in being a peer reviewer. Please consider any possible conflicts of interest in your decision.

Golden LEAF Foundation Scholarships Available—March 1 Deadline

Information and applications for the 2012-13 Golden LEAF Scholarship Program are now available online. A total of 215 awards will be offered to first-time recipients to assist with tuition for the 2012-13 academic year. The awards are valued at $12,000 ($3,000 per year for up to four years) for students attending a qualifying North Carolina college or university and are funded by a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation. The Golden LEAF Scholars Program is administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA). Click here for more information, or call toll-free at 866-866-CFNC.

PBS STEM Video Game Challenge—March 12 Deadline

UNC-TV received a grant to promote the National PBS STEM Video Game Challenge and is partnering with Franklin County Schools (FCS) and the N.C. Cooperative Extension. Click here for details related to the PBS STEM Video Challenge and the prizes that will be awarded. Entries will be accepted through March 12, 2012.

The Great American NO BULL Challenge 2012—March 14 Deadline

The Great American NO BULL Challenge is the first, student-led National Video Contest and Teen Video Awards show that brings awareness to the issue of cyberbullying in America. The goal of the NO BULL Challenge is to join America's students, educators, counselors, organizations, communities and corporate partners together in an effort to enable real change at the student level. The NO BULL Challenge is the largest, youth-led national campaign in America's history to combat cyberbullying. They use the power of social media to inspire 25 million middle and high school students to build each other up, instead of tear each other down.

How can you get your affiliate involved? Beginning January 15, students in 6th-12th grade will have two months to create a 2-5 minute video with an anti-bullying theme. Students will submit their video to the NO BULL Challenge no later than March 14 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Beginning March 15, each student will rally their friends, family, educators and community to vote for their video. To learn how Communities In Schools is participating in this campaign network wide and to get the official contest rules, please contact National Office Field Operations Specialist Ashlee Crabb. Click here to learn more about this campaign.

Congratulations to CIS of Carteret County on Achieving National Accreditation

Please join CISNC in congratulating our newest affiliate—CIS of Carteret County—for achieving National Accreditation by demonstrating compliance with all Communities In Schools Total Quality System (TQS) standards. North Carolina now boasts 18 accredited affiliates—and more in the pipeline! Thanks to all of you have worked so hard to reach this important milestone.

Congratulations to the Mid-Year PLC Graduates

Congratuations to the mid-year graduates of our Performance Learning Centers around the state. The Charlotte PLC held graduation at the Bojangles Arena on January 30. Twenty-one smiling students were awarded diplomas by CMS Principals with remarks from Interim Superintendent, Hugh Hatteabaugh. Fuller PLC in Fayetteville had 24 winter graduates. The graduation ceremony will be May 22 at 4 p.m. at Seabrook Auditorium on the Fayetteville State Campus. Pictured at right are Durham Performance Learning Center's graduating scholars. We are so proud of our most recent graduating class! The world is now yours...take flight and soar high!

Check out CIS of Caldwell County's New Website!

CIS of Caldwell County is proud to present its newly developed and professionally redesigned website. Feel free to share any feedback you may have with Executive Director Debbie Eller. Go Caldwell!

Job Announcement: Three Project READS Facilitators

CIS of Durham is seeking three READS Facilitators. These temporary positions will be responsible for implementing a large-scale, multi-strategy research project that aims to minimize the summer reading loss of elementary school students. Duties include coordinating implementation and data collection activities associated with the project. Position requires effective communication and organizational skills, and the ability to coordinate projects/events, multi-task and work well under pressure to ensure successful outcomes. Bachelor level degree and/or experience with project/event coordination is required. Spanish speaking skills and experience working in schools and with parents is a plus. A driver’s license and transportation is required. This is a contractual position, full to part-time, that begins in March and ends in October 2012. Interested individuals should email a cover letter and resume to Project READS Manager Kirsten Aleman by February 15.

CIS of High Point "Dancing With the High Point Stars"—March 10

CIS of High Point is thrilled to announce its star-studded 2nd Annual Signature Fundraiser “Dancing with the High Point Stars” event, Saturday, March 10, at 6 p.m. at Showplace 211 E. Commerce Ave. Click here to purchase tickets to this fun event.

Upcoming National Webinars

February 29, 1 - 2 p.m. - How to Market Your Affiliate

Join Donna Wotkyns, Director of Development with Communities In Schools of Houston, Mary Campana, Chief Development Officer with Communities In Schools of Central Texas, and Mordecai Scott, Alumni Network Specialist with Communities In Schools, to discuss strategies to best leverage your Board of Directors, site coordinators, programs and Communities In Schools students and alumni to promote your affiliate.

March 2, 3 - 4 p.m. - Maximizing on the Communities In Schools—BoardSource Collaborative: A Tutorial

Join members of the Communities In Schools national office staff and Donna Weiss, National Board Member and CIS of Los Angeles Board Chair, to discuss how to use the BoardSource membership services recently provided to the Communities In Schools network.

To register for these or any other upcoming webinars, please visit Communities In Schools' WebEx Event Center and click on “Register” next to the topic that interests you.

24th Annual At-Risk Youth National Forum—“Connecting the Dots of Collaboration”

February 19 - 22 - Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC

The 24th Annual At-Risk Youth National Forum is designed to enhance the leadership skills of all adults who are seeking to strengthen interventions among school, community and families, especially to assist those in at-risk situations. This year's forum is sponsored by CISNC, the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network and the University of North Carolina - Wilmington Watson School of Education.

To register, click here.

Upcoming Friends for Youth Webinar

Februrary 28, 10 - 11:15 a.m. PST

The "Learning from Mistakes: Strengthening Youth Safety with Research-Based Screening Practices" webinar will take a closer look at red flags during the application and monitoring process—and talk about how to use recommended tools to your advantage to uncover more information. Click here to register.

"Building A Grad Nation" 2012 Summit

March 18 - 21, Washington D.C.

The "Building a Grad Nation Summit" is the premier event of Grad Nation, a growing movement of dedicated organizations, individuals and communities working to end the high school dropout crisis and prepare young people for college and the 21st century workforce. Addressing these critical issues requires all sectors of our communities working together in new, more coordinated ways. The Summit brings together community groups, educators, local and state leaders, nonprofit organizations, businesses, youth and others to share progress and inspire action. Building on the success of the first Summit in 2011, the 2012 summit will bring together hundreds of participants on March 18-21 in Washington, DC to share progress and inspire action. Millions of others will be engaged through online outreach and media coverage. The theme will be the strong connection between quality education and thriving, economically sound communities. Click here for more information and to register.