4empowerment^® e-Newsletter
July 30, 2004

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

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Contents:

1. 4e Website Update
   
2. Contests and Competitions
   
3. Resources to Share
   

Expert Spotlight: Rachel Muir, entrepreneur and executive director
When Rachel was 26 years old, she launched Girlstart with $500 and a credit card, determined to empower girls in math, science, and technology. Since then, Rachel has presented at conferences around the country and is a proud recipient of the Oprah Winfrey's Use Your Life Award, as well as several other prestigious honors. Read our Q&A session with Rachel and get her advice on what makes a successful entrepreneur!

Literacy and Language Arts
Doyle Valdez, Steve Amos, and Dr. Pat Forgione • Celebrating July 4th in a neighborhood parade, the President of the Austin ISD School Board, President of 4empowerment, and Superintendent of Austin ISD march together to remind everyone to "Keep Reading"! Check out their photo.

E-SET Video: Water Testing Fun!
IPC (Integrated Physics & Chemistry) students from San Antonio's John Jay High School participate in technology-rich active learning through the Empowering Science Education through Technology program. Check out their video!

Student Poll: Girl Empowerment in Science, Technology, and Engineering
Women hold only 12% of the nation's lucrative science, engineering, and technology jobs. Why? Tell us your opinion!

Quiz: Famous First Lines of Novels
Have you been doing your summer reading? • 'It was a pleasure to burn.' See how many famous first lines of novels you can identify! Go to the 4empowerment website and click on the quiz.

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!

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.)

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.

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.