4empowerment^® e-Newsletter
May 26, 2004

Welcome to the 4empowerment^® e-newsletter. Click, collaborate, teach, and learn.

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Contents:

1. 4e Website Updates
   
2. Events and Program Updates
   
3. Contests and Competitions
   
4. Resources to Share
   

Conversations with Stephen Harrigan on 4e discussion boards till May 31st!
Log into the 4empowerment website and jump onto the busy discussion board called "Conversations with Stephen Harrigan," the acclaimed Texas author who wrote the historical novel The Gates of the Alamo and was a historical consultant for the Alamo movie out now. For newly installed curricula activities for Harrigan's book, click here.

Last Chance to Celebrate Texas Writers' Month, May 2004
Featuring the works of James Michener and Stephen Harrigan • Celebrate Texas authors this May during the annual celebration promoted by Texas Writers Month. Harrigan's Gates of the Alamo is the "One Book/One Texas" selection this year. Read more about Harrigan in the 4empowerment Expert Spotlight section.

Nominate your favorite students to be profiled on the 4e website!
Check out our new profiles on Kyle, Jillian, and Derrick! Your student's achievements will be highlighted and published on the 4empowerment® website, along with a photo and interview. Send us your nominations!

Student 4e-zine Feature: "Sad Daisy" by Serah (John Jay Science & Engineering Academy)
The 4e-zine features this month a photo by Serah from John Jay Science & Engineering Academy at San Antonio's Northside District. She is a student of Ann Still, an English teacher participating in the Making the Connections TARGET grant program. Check out more of Serah's photography and poetry, only on the 4e-zine!

Student Poll: "To be called a Texas author, one must be born in Texas. Agree or Disagree?"
How well do you know your Texas authors? Take our Texas Writers Month survey now!

Quiz: In honor of Texas Writers Month, May 2004
Name the author of Hold Autumn in Your Hand, the first book from Texas to be awarded a National Book Award. Were Molly Ivins or James Michener actually born in Texas? You can test your knowledge of Texas authors in our quiz. Go to the 4empowerment website and click on the quiz now!

Encourage Your Students to Submit their Creative Work to the 4e-zine
Our unique 4e-zine, an online digital portfolio, 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.

Need Summer Reading Suggestions? (See our "Literature Circles"!)
Check out our new forum for literary discussions on classic and modern literature. If you are a teacher or student in a 4e-related program, join our Literature Circles (located under "Teacher & Student Forums") today! (You need to log in to post messages.)

Happenings for teachers in the MC and E-SET programs
4empowerment shares kudos on the exciting lives of science and English/language arts teachers across Texas.

English/Language Arts Teachers: In Austin, Kibbie Jensen and Jill Jeffery are hitting the books again ... Kibbie will be pursuing a Masters degree in Creative Writing at Texas State University-San Marcos and Jill will be pursuing a new chapter in her life at New York University. In Brownwood, Connie Lindsey will be participating in the prestigious Pearl of Concho Writing Project Institute and the Verizon Summer Instructional Technology Institute, both held at Angelo State University.

Science Teachers: FAREWELL and BEST WISHES to our dedicated teachers who are retiring this summer after 30+ years in the service of education: Joey Bolner, Glenda Overfelt, Cynthia Radle, and Rolando Ramon. We will most especially miss Mrs. Overfelt, who has been with the 4empowerment programs since inception. Glenda - Thank you for your leadership and boundless energy for teaching, as reflected in your motto: "Think globally, act locally... we all live downstream."

HEB Excellence In Education Award Winners!
Birdville High School (Haltom City), Moody High School (Corpus Christi), & Del Rio Freshman (Del Rio) • Congratulations to stellar educators in three of our participating schools for their HEB recognized Excellence in Education: Birdville High School's Daniel Dukes (teacher) - the Rising Star Secondary Education award; Mr. Conrado Garcia (principal) - High School Principal award; Alice Lopez (teacher) - Leadership Secondary Education award.

More Contests and Competitions!
Online resources • Check out 4empowerment's index of contests and competitions for everyone - students, teachers, schools, districts, and the general public.

Take a Ride on the Floating Classroom
Sign up your class for an adventure on the R.V. Karma. • Jointly sponsored by the Texas Cooperative Extension and the Texas Sea Grant College, the R.V. Karma is a 57-foot boat designed to educate landlubbers about the fascinating underwater universe of the Texas coast. To learn more, click here! Be sure to check out this link too.

Educational Trips to the Aquarena Center
Grades PreK-12, Year-Round • Looking for hands-on learning and educational trips for your students this spring? Take them to the longest continuously inhabited site in North America and home to five endangered species. Learn about aquatic species, dig through archeology, and explore the unique habitat created by the San Marcos Springs. Click here to learn more about the educational programs at the Aquarena Center in San Marcos, TX.

TCEQ's Environmental Science Resources
Check out environmental science lesson plans at the website of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

New Learning Resources for Science & Language Arts: U.S. Dept of Education
Explore Mars, the brain, Rothko's work, and more • Visit the U.S. Department of Education's periodically updated website often for lesson plans and materials in a variety of curricular areas.

ReefNews: Up-to-Date Information about Oceans and Shorelines
Access current events and a thorough archive • This news source is designed as an educational tool for students of all ages with an interest in coral reefs, oceans, and shorelines.