4empowerment^® e-Newsletter
December 2, 2004

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

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Contents:

1. 4e Special Announcements
   
2. Website Features
   
3. Contests and Competitions
   
4. Resources to Share
   

Don't Miss it! SXSW High School Student Film Contest
Submission Deadline: December 15, 2004 • Do your students want to try their hand at producing a "short film" (<5 min)? Have fun and make it a class project. For the first-time ever, SXSW is hosting a "short film" contest for Texas high school students! Check out the contest guidelines here. Help us get the word out and forward to all who may be interested. Log in and participate in SXSW forums under 4e General Forums. PRIZE FOR the FIRST 5 entrants who upload their film entry to the 4e-zine beginning December 16th. Email us for the code to upload.

Winner of the E-SET Thanksgiving Holiday Login Contest!
Johnny in Mrs. Corporon's Class at Palacios Junior HS • We're pleased to announce the newest winner of our holiday login contests. Johnny will be receiving a Galileo thermometer and a $25 Blockbuster Gift Certificate. Stay tuned for our next holiday contest scheduled for the Winter Break.

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Nominate your favorite students to be profiled on the 4e website!
Check out our spotlight on Kyle, Jillian, and Derrick! Send us your own student nominations! If chosen, their achievements will be highlighted and published on the 4empowerment® website, along with a photo and interview.

Need Fall Reading Suggestions? See our "Literature Circles"!
Check out our 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 today! (Log in to post messages under "Student Forums")

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.

Don't Miss It! SXSW High School Student Film Contest
Submission Deadline: December 15, 2004 • Do your students want to try their hand at producing a "short film" (<5 min)? Have fun and make it a class project. For the first-time ever, SXSW is hosting a "short film" contest for Texas high school students! Check out the contest guidelines here. Help us get the word out and forward to all who may be interested. Log in and participate in SXSW forums under 4e General Forums. PRIZE FOR the FIRST 5 entrants who upload their film entry to the 4e-zine beginning December 16th. Email us for the code to upload.

Win Free College Tuition! St. Edward's University Student Ad Contest
Submission Deadline: December 15, 2004 • The motto at St. Ed's is 'Learn To Think.' St. Edward's University is offering an advertising contest for Texas high school students! Check out the contest guidelines here.

Peterson's Persuasive Essay Writing Contest
Submission Deadline: December 31, 2004 • Peterson's is sponsoring an essay contest for sophomore and juniors in high school to hone their persuasive essay writing skills in preparation for the ACT and the new version of the SAT tests. Grand prize is a $5,000 scholarship with 61 runner-up prizes. For more info, click here.

2004-05 Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition for Students
Submission Due Date: February 1, 2005 • Think germ warfare and outbreaks are interesting? How about the health issues of body piercing as researched by the 2003-04 second place winner from California? This is your chance to conduct original research and compete! Submission Guidelines.

Call for Essay Submissions: Solve an Environmental Problem
Winners Selected Monthly • Do you have a creative plan to stop pollution? Have you found a way to encourage recycling in your neighborhood? Share your idea to solve an environmental problem or describe a current solution. Submit your essay for possible publication in Teen Ink.

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Teacher Tool Kits by Texas Parks & Wildlife
Introduce your students to the ecosystems and unique cultural traditions found throughout Texas • Discover the extensive cache of educational materials available on the Texas Parks & Wildlife's website. While you're there, be sure to check out the webcasts in which our programs have participated.

Texas Beyond History
Learn more about the history of Texas through archeological research • Check out historical information about Texas presented as part of a collaborative public education project and hosted by the College of Liberal Arts at UT Austin. Learn more at their website.

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.

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.

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