Trip to Spain Top Award for Writing Contest

The Center for Spanish Studies -- a cooperative institution between the Ministry of Education of Spain, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the University of Washington -- is sponsoring the Eighth Annual Spanish Literary Contest, "Escribo en español" ("I write in Spanish"), with first prize being an "A/D Electronics" scholarship to attend a summer seminar in Spain.

In homage to Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra and his novel El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha (1605), we have chosen this year's topic: "¿No le dije que no eran sino molinos de viento?" ("Didn't I tell you that these were nothing but windmills?") Students are encouraged to further their creative writing skills by writing originals in Spanish about what this sentence means to them, remembering occasions when they found out that something considered important or dangerous was ultimately nothing or another thing.

There are two competitive sections: one for native Spanish speakers and the other for native speakers of other languages. There are also separate sections for prose and verse. Prose should not exceed 800 words and poems should not exceed 60 verses. Additional rules, entry forms and awards are available at http://www.k12.wa.us/Spanish/contest.aspx  Entries must be submitted to spnrectr@u.washington.edu by 1 p.m., March 6, 2006. Prizes will be awarded at the Capitol in Olympia. For further information, please contact Dr. Josefa Báez-Ramos at (360) 725 6008, (206) 221 6571, JBaez-Ramos@ospi.wednet.edu or josefa.baez@mec.es

Local Student Leadership Development Programs Planned

Quincy, Mabton, Oroville, Sunnyside, Highland, Naches and Mt. Vernon School Districts are planning leadership development programs this year. Oroville will be first, Jan. 20-21. Quincy will be in February, followed by Mabton, Mt. Vernon, Sunnyside and a joint Highland-Naches conference later in the spring. If anyone has any questions, they can contact David Rodriguez (david@semy.org) or Pat Eastwood (pat@semy.org) at the Secondary Education for Migrant Youth (SEMY) Office at 509-836-7500.

SEMY works with schools that are willing to institutionalize the award-winning Migrant Student Leadership Program curriculum in order to empower migrant youth to achieve academic success, graduate from high school, and set post-secondary goals. Planning groups are meeting in the districts that have submitted successful applications for SEMY's training and support.

For those interested in the program, SEMY will be presenting a workshop at the January Institute - High School Summit Pre-Conference that will be repeated at the conference - "Tangible Hope - Strategies that Graduate Students Who Are Mobile and/or are Credit Deficient" Educators who are struggling with helping students recover credits, addressing the culminating project requirement, or engaging students in accepting responsibility for their own education will benefit from this energizing and informative workshop.

Registration Deadline for LEAP Conference Jan. 15

Students, educators, parents and others are invited to the 2006 LEAP Education Conference and Legislative Day, Feb. 9-11, in Olympia. Registration deadline is Jan. 15. Gov. Gregoire will be the keynote speaker at the Friday night banquet.

Last year, 450 people attended, including more than 200 students. While at the state's Capitol, students gain the experience of visiting legislators and other government leaders, and talk informally with them at a reception and dinner.

In-depth discussions during the conference will cover WASL trends and future projections, alternatives for increased graduation rates and fewer dropouts, and the new version of the DREAM Act the U.S. Congress is considering to allow undocumented students to secure federal grants and loans and legal status in order to attend collage. There will also be some excellent workshops, with clock hours provided.

For additional information, refer to http://www.leapwa.org/events.htm or contact Ricardo Sanchez, Chair, LEAP Board of Directors at rsanchez@seanet.com, or Norma Cuevas, LEAP Administrative Assistant, at ncuevas@leapwa.org

Advanced Math Instruction Training Set for Jan. 23-25

Advanced training for K-8 math teachers and specialists is scheduled for Jan. 23-25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at ESD 112 in Vancouver, Wash. The BEAM II Workshop, co-sponsored by ESD 112 and OSPI, costs $125, including lunch and snacks. Clock hours and college credit are available for an additional fee. Training will focus on instruction for English language learners, effective instructional models, and family participation strategies. Those interested should contact Myrna Sneed at 360-750-7505 or myrna.snead@esd112.org immediately to register.

Educator scholarships for Spanish immersion program available

Educators throughout the U.S. and Canada (k-20) are invited to register for Spanish Summer Seminars in Spain. The Ministry of Education and Science of Spain, the universities that participate in the program, and the Education Office of the Embassy of Spain co-sponsor the summer courses.

Applications should be submitted online only at http://www.sgci.mec.es/usa/becas/2005/indexeng.shtml by Jan. 31 for the master's courses and by Feb. 28 for the rest of the courses. Applications after the deadline will only be possible if courses are not full. For further information, visit the website.

Boeing/Spain full-tuition scholarships are available for Washington state educators, specifically for Course No. 15, "University of Salamanca: Spanish Language and Culture." Transportation is not included. A personal statement expressing motivation for applying for the scholarship is required. For details, contact Dr. Josefa Báez-Ramos, education adviser for the Embassy of Spain, at Jbaez-Ramos@ospi.wednet.edu