UPDATE INCLUDES: 

OPPORTUNITIES & AWARDS  

• State and National Schools of Character Application Now Open 

• Character.org Forum

• Sponsorship For the Character.org Forum 

• 2023-2024 Webinar Series: Integrating SEL and Character Education into Your Social Studies Classroom 

• Apply For the 2024 Senate Youth Scholarship 
• Grant Opportunities

INSTRUCTIONAL TOOLS & RESOURCES  

• Ideas to Join & Lead on 9/11 Day of Service

• NCDPI On-Demand Webinar: Intrinsic Motivation  
• Gizella Abramson Holocaust Education Act

State and National School of Character Application Is Now Open    Has your school or district cultivated a supportive and caring community? Do you think your staff, students, and the larger community have successfully implemented the 11 Principles of Effective Character? Apply this fall for State and National School of Character to receive valuable feedback for improvement whether you reach School of Character status this year or not. The 2023 School of Character Application deadline is November 10, 2023   If you need funding to apply please contact Justyn Burgess at Justyn.Burgess@dpi.nc.gov   Learn More and Get Started!

Character.org Forum  November 6-7 2023, Washington D.C. REGISTER    ✓ Keynote speakers to inspire you ✓  Celebrate the 2023 National Schools of Character ✓  60+ Breakout sessions on emerging practices and strategies ✓  Networking opportunities with experts and school leaders ✓  Learn from 2023 Promising Practices ✓  Moonlight monument tour ✓  25+ Exhibitor Booths   CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman and his kids are sharing stories built around themes of kindness, character, and the people who've mastered both. He will also be the Forum Keynote talking about how character can transform the world.   Enjoy this lesson in hope and giving back.  Watch Now

Sponsorship For the Character.org Forum 

Are you passionate about character education? The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction invites you to the upcoming Character.org Forum, a platform dedicated to enhancing character education practices and fostering positive school cultures. North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is proud to offer a limited number of educators the opportunity to have their registration costs covered for this forum.

We're seeking educators who are ready to translate their conference takeaways into impactful webinars, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions, bringing about positive change in schools across our state. If you're committed to making a difference, both in your own professional growth and in the broader educational community, apply now for a chance to join us at the conference.

Deadline to apply is September 11, 2023. 

Apply today!

2023-2024 Webinar Series

Integrating SEL and Character Education into Your Social Studies Classroom

September 27, 2023 4-5pm EST 

Are you looking to enhance your classroom experience and empower your students to become more empathetic, responsible, and caring citizens?  Join our 2023-2024 webinar series on integrating Character Education and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into your social studies classrooms. 

The first webinar will focus on Self-Management to discover practical strategies to help your students regulate emotions, set goals, and demonstrate self-discipline. Don't miss this valuable opportunity to create a positive and productive learning environment in your social studies classroom!

Register Now 

2024 United States Senate Youth Program and Scholarship 

Application Materials are now available for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). The USSYP provides an education opportunity for junior and seniors interested in pursing college coursework in history or political science to spend a week in Washington D.C. meeting senators, cabinet members, supreme court justices, and officials from various federal agencies and the white house. 

Two student winners will be selected to represent North Carolina.  These two winners will each attend the Washington Week Program,  March 2-March 9, 2024. 

Deadline to apply October 1, 2023 

Learn More 

Grants

9/11 Day Teacher Appreciation Sweepstake - Deadline: Sept. 7

In appreciation for all the educators that help teach students about the 9/11 National Day of Service, My Good Deed randomly selects three teachers in the U.S. to receive expense-paid trips for two to visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in NYC.

Read more

On-Demand Professional Development: Intrinsic Motivation   Watch this recorded presentation to help you understand:  Strategies to foster intrinsic motivation in students  How to develop a comprehensive, intentional, and proactive approach to character education at your school Register Here  Password: Character1 (Case Sensitive)  Helpful resources included in the professional development include:  Participant Copy of Slides  Reflection Journal  Webinar Evaluation  If you have a topic you would like to know more about regarding Character Education, please email Justyn.Burgess@dpi.nc.gov.

 9/11 Day of Service

It’s been more than two decades since September 11, 2001. Honor and commemorate the sacrifices made that day by remembering the heroes, armed forces, first responders, and countless others’ acts of service to defend our nation’s freedom. On 9/11 Day of Service, Americans of all ages and backgrounds are again invited to join and lead community service projects to honor the lives and service of those we lost on September 11.

The 9/11 attacks generated a renewed sense of patriotism and commitment to protecting our democracy. (In fact, 9/11/01 was a primary election day in New York City!) 4 million people turn 18 each year and become eligible to vote. In many states, you can pre-register if you will be 18 by the next election. 9/11 Day of Service is a perfect time to pre-register or register new, young voters or to organize civic education activities. 

• K-12 Schools:Make your school a civic engagement and voter registration hub with Rhizome, My School Votes. Rock the Vote, League of Women Voters, Learning for Justice, and The Civics Center also have voter registration resources for high schools.
• Higher Ed Institutions:Connect with Students Learn Students Vote, the All In Campus Democracy Challenge, Campus Vote Project, Ask Every Student, NSLVE, or Civic Influencers.
• Check out Rock the Vote’s Democracy Class, Teaching for Democracy Alliance, iCivics Election Headquarters, Learning to Give, Learning for Justice, Generation Citizen, and Civic Influencers for civic education activities to help educate new and future voters.
• Youth Media-Making Toolkit for Educators
• Creative Changemakers
• PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs
• American Press Institute
• Global Action Project’s Media in Action Curriculum
• Generation Citizen’s Write An Op-Ed lesson plan
• Engaging Public Officials Toolkit has tips and templates for you to contact your officials.
• Find Your Elected Officials – League of Women Voters
• Find Your Elected Officials – Common Cause (Includes Facebook & Twitter Profiles)
• Ways to talk to students about 9/11

The links in this newsletter will bring you to third party websites, owned and operated by independent parties over which NCDPI has no control.  Any use of these 3rd Party Websites and any information you provide will be subject to and governed by the terms of the 3rd Party Website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy and security. Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, NCDPI is not in any way associated with the owner or operator of any of the 3rd Party Websites or responsible or liable for the goods and services offered by them or for anything in connection with such 3rd Party Websites. NCDPI does not endorse and makes no warranties, representations or undertakings relating to the content of any 3rd Party Website.