Number 10

Summer Food, Summer Moves Resource Kit

Summer Food, Summer Moves is a fun, hands-on resource kit designed to get kids and families excited about healthy eating and physical activity during the summer months. The kit is designed for use by summer meal site operators and focuses on using music, games, art, and movement to motivate kids and families to choose more fruits and vegetables, choose water instead of sugary drinks, get enough physical activity every day, and to limit screen time.

Check out the resource kit and download assets here.

Number 9

NCVPS to Offer Edvantage Tutoring

Another exciting and highly beneficial semester of Edvantage Tutoring is being offered by North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS). Visit NCVPS' website to learn more and review the list of curriculum areas offered.

There is a $35/hour fee for tutoring and all tutoring slots are available in 30-minute increments.

Please take a few moments to complete the 2023-24 NCVPS Edvantage Tutoring: Districts/Schools Partnership questionnaire and submit the form by or before August 11, 2023. School/district participation is first-come, first-served, and based upon partnership form date submission.

Please contact April Cooper with additional questions.

Number 8

Center for Safer Schools to Hold Annual Summit

"The Center for Safer Schools (CFSS) will hold its annual RISE Back to School Safety Summit from July 31-Aug. 2, 2023, at the Gastonia Conference Center in Gastonia, N.C.

RISE – the CFSS’ signature event – focuses on the Resiliency, Information, Support and Empowerment needed when supporting children and adolescents in schools and communities. The training offers a range of sessions covering the issues of bullying, suicide, critical incidents and other vital information about trauma and victimization among children and adolescents, and how these various dynamics impact school climate and school safety. Scheduled trainings include child abuse prevention, gang awareness, human trafficking, School Risk Management Plans and suicide prevention."

Read the full press release here.

Number 7

Order Free “Open to Care” Behavioral Health Campaign Materials from NCDHHS

To support teens and families, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCHHS) has launched a new behavioral-health focused media campaign, "Open to Care," to help reduce stigma related to mental health and supports. Schools and community-based organizations serving middle and high school youth are encouraged to order and distribute free "Open to Care" materials by Friday, July 28. Available materials include posters, flyers, buttons, and stickers to encourage teens to be open to care and let them know that help is always available. All "Open to Care" campaign materials are available in English and Spanish.

The most powerful step we can each take to support our mental well-being is to simply talk to someone. At ncdhhs.gov/OpenToCare teens can find tools they can use to support their mental health, including advice on when to reach out for help and who to go to.

Number 6

NCVPS to host Webinar for District Leaders August 2 and August 3

Save the date for Leveraging NCVPS: A Resource for NC District Leaders! Discover how to utilize the programs and resources offered by NCVPS, the NC state-led virtual school. NCVPS is known for high-quality instruction and QM-certified courses, but some may not be as familiar with their intervention program, Partnership Course Program, Peer Tutoring Center, flexible funding, or their whole-class enrollment option when there has been teacher loss. NCVPS staff will share how to partner with NCVPS as a solution to NC district and school enrollment needs.

Register for August 2nd 10-11 a.m.
Register for August 3rd 10-11 a.m.

Number 5

NC Superintendent Touts State's 'Unique' Approach to Post-pandemic Learning Recovery

"North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt testified before Congress on Wednesday, touting the state’s approach to post-pandemic learning recovery.

Truitt called the state’s approach 'unique' in that it involved student-level data collection on what learning suffered the most and state-level guidance for districts on learning recovery programs that work best.

'A scattershot approach of investing in things that may or may not work [was] not a viable option,' Truitt said.

Truitt’s remarks mirrored remarks she’s made to state lawmakers and other state education leaders but were delivered on a higher, national stage Wednesday during the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce."

Read the full story here.

Number 4

Coming Soon: New Electronic Health Record Functionality in PowerSchool

At the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, NCDPI will launch a new customized Electronic Health Record Module within PowerSchool.

This functionality will be available to:

• School nurses
• School counselors
• School social workers
• School psychologists
• Other designated PSU staff

New features include the ability to document student physical and behavioral health, interventions, and evaluations. Additionally, this information will travel with a student if they transfer to a different PSU.

These additions will be free to all PowerSchool users with a goal of statewide adoption by the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. Initial training will take place for identified users beginning in August of 2023.

More detailed information on this topic was shared with superintendents, school social workers and school counselors this week. 

Number 3

Healthful Living Draft 1 Surveys Now Open

NCDPI seeks public input on K-12 Healthful Living standards. Participate in surveys by selecting the links below.

• K-5 Health Education
• 6-9 Health Education
• K-9 Physical Education

Surveys will close September 18.

Number 2

Portrait of a Graduate Rubrics, "I Can" Statements and Suggestions for Use in the Classroom Available on August 9

As of August 9th, Rubrics, "I Can" Statements, and Suggestions for Use in the Classroom for each durable skill by grade band (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) will be available!

These resources were crafted in a grassroots effort, similarly to the Portrait, by more than 120 teachers and administrators across the state. As a reminder, the Portrait was created by statewide design teams and revealed by Superintendent Truitt in October 2022. The Portrait identifies seven durable skills that, when combined with academic rigor, will prepare students for success after high school and better prepare them for success in a rapidly changing world.

Learn more about the Portrait and review existing resources here.

Number 1

Truitt Testifies at U.S. House Hearing

"State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt testified today on North Carolina’s approach to COVID-19 pandemic recovery at a hearing convened by the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education.

Truitt highlighted North Carolina’s Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration (OLR), which the state education agency created in 2021 to support local school districts and charter schools in their pathway towards recovery."

Read the full press release here.