4empowerment^® e-Newsletter
November 6, 2003

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2003 Texas Parks and Wildlife Webcast: "From Sea to Shining Sea"
Friday, November 14 @ 9am-11am CST • Broadcasted nationally and live via satellite and web, with over 50,000 viewers already registered and featuring students from our Empowering Science Education through Technology program! Tune in.

Family History Night at CC Winn Campus, Eagle Pass ISD
Tuesday, November 11 @ 6-8 p.m. CST • Teachers Debra McBeath and Sandra Riojas, students, and parents will be participating in a special event at their campus on Tuesday evening to explore how technology can facilitate genealogical research, as part of the Making the Connections program. Keep an eye out for digital photos from this special event on our website.

November Water Testing Day
Wednesday, November 19, 2003 • As part of an effort to capture a big picture of Texas water quality on a specific day, science teachers participating in the statewide Empowering Science Education through Technology (E-SET) program will be taking their students out to selected field sites for hands-on activities including water quality testing, biomonitoring, and garbology. Check out the data they've already collected this year!

Stellar Students Sought!
Nominate your favorite student to be featured for Student of the Month by 4empowerment®. Your student's achievements be highlighted and published on the 4empowerment® website, along with a photo and interview. Send us your nominations!

New Interfaces
We've been working on revamping our data entry and published data pages to make it easier for you to use. After November 8th, check out the revised data entry process (login needed) and easier-to-select published data pages (publicly accessible)!

Showcase Your Student Work on 4e-zine!
Our unique 4e-zine, an online digital magazine, allows students to showcase all types of media from short stories to "spoken word" poetry to short films. Click on the purple tab above or here to enter the 4e-zine.

Featured Writer: Elmer Kelton
4empowerment salutes Elmer Kelton for co-winning the 2003 Texas Book Festival Bookend Award. The Award honors Elmer for his lifetime contributions to Texas literature. Check out our curriculum guide to Elmer's western novel, The Time It Never Rained.

Power Poll: Plumb Your Mind
Journal writing can be an excellent way to relax and capture your ideas. What do you usually write down in your journal? Reveal your thoughts by casting your choice into our November Power Poll.

SXSW Web Awards: Student Category
Final Submission Deadline: December 19, 2003 • Students, enter now for a chance to win the SXSW Web Award in the Student Category! Learn more!

Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition for Students & Teachers
Submission Due Date: February 6, 2004 • Fascinated by health trends and studies? This competition may be for you! Epidemiology is the scientific method used to investigate, analyze, and prevent or control a health problem in a population, such as influenza, obesity, E. coli, and even causes of premature death by SIDS or automobile accidents. Who should apply: Teachers who have developed innovative curricula incorporating epidemiological methods, and students conducting original research applying epidemiological principles. Submission Guidelines.

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
Annual Event • To enter the international fair, students must first participate in regional fairs affiliated with ISEF. For information on how get on the road to winning Intel's international science fair, visit here first. Then check out Intel's Educational pages for more info on the big event.

Texas Book Festival
November 6-9 @ Austin, TX • Come check out featured authors, poetry readings, special panels, book signings, remaindered books, and much, much more at Texas's big book event. Teachers plan for your students to submit their compositions to the 2004 Texas Book Festival 3rd annual writing contest (details TBA). Click here for festival schedule and special events.

Free Aquatic Toxicity Testing Course for Teachers
November 9-13 @ Austin, TX • At its upcoming 24th Annual Meeting, the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North American (SNA) will be offering an environmental education short course targeted towards junior and senior high school educators. Sign up now!

TAGT's 26th Annual Conference
November 20-22 @ Houston, TX • Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented (TAGT) is holding its annual professional development conference for educators and parents at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. Visit http://www.txgifted.org/conferences/conferences.html for more info!

Texas Commission on the Arts’ (TCA) Young Masters Program
Do you have an especially motivated 8th-12th grader who aspires to become an accomplished artist? The TCA has developed a program which funds especially dedicated young artists to participate in advanced art training programs. Be sure to visit http://www.arts.state.tx.us/ or call (512) 936-6564 for details about this program. Applications must be postmarked by December 15, 2003.