March Content
- Public Listening Sessions with Superintendent Green
- Leadership Training: Systems Thinking, Systems Changing
- STEM and Resource Fair
- Helping Teens Manage Depression Webinar
- Fight the Bite Campaign for 2025
- NC YMCA Youth & Government
- Connect NC PE
- CATCH My Breath Train-the-Trainer Events
- Would You Like to Learn More about Character Education?
- Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund
- Office of Teaching and Learning's External Implementation Guide
- March/April Health Observances
 State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green to Host Public Listening and Learning Sessions Across the State
"State Superintendent Maurice 'Mo' Green’s 'Mo Wants to Know' tour is coming to all eight regions of North Carolina this March and April.
The superintendent is hosting listening and learning sessions with community stakeholders statewide, including the eight public events listed below. All parents, students, educators, school and district staff, public officials and other community members are invited to attend.
- March 17, 6 p.m. – Western Region – Tuscola High School (Haywood County Schools)
- March 18, 6 p.m. – Northwest Region – Hibriten High School (Caldwell County Schools)
- March 24, 6 p.m. – Piedmont Triad Region – Mount Tabor High School (Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools)
- March 26, 6 p.m. – Southwest Region – Harold E. Winkler Middle School (Cabarrus County Schools)
- March 27, 6 p.m. – Sandhills Region – Westover High School (Cumberland County Schools)
- March 31, 6 p.m. – Southeast Region – John J. Blair Elementary School (New Hanover County Schools)
- April 7, 6 p.m. – North Central Region – Northern High School (Durham Public Schools)
- April 9, 6 p.m. – Northeast Region – Northeastern High School (Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools)"
Read the full press release here. We hope you are able to attend your local "Mo Wants to Know" session and have your voice heard!
Regional Training Series
Leadership Training: Systems Thinking, Systems Changing
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Hilton Raleigh North Hills
9:00am-4:00pm
During this engaging simulation, participants will work with realistic experiences to consider new ways of looking at their goals, indicators of success, methods for making system-wide changes, all while having fun! The facilitation experience allows colleagues to participate in a simulated activity that fosters team building and stronger communication. The simulation focuses on the importance of building relationships, continuous communication, developing leadership, and addressing resistance to sustain systems change.
Participants are encouraged to attend the training with at least one other colleague from their district or school, and to come with real world issues/projects/program examples that they would like to work on during the simulation.
This training is open to all current educators and other school staff. Each attendee will need to complete their own registration form.
Lunch will be provided. Stipends and substitute pay are also available to cover time and personnel expenses while away from the classroom.
Register here.
 Calling all STEM Stars! This event is for K-12 Students with Disabilities and their families and friends who are interested in learning more STEM: Content, Educational and Career Pathways with over 70+ tables with hands on activities, led by STEM Professionals, Professors and College Students.
Learn about the latest STEM research and innovation too! In addition, there will be speakers in a separate room every 30 minutes by STEM: Professionals and College Students with Disabilities, on topics such as: pathways to success in college, self-advocacy, supports in the workforce, assistive technologies and much more. The event will also have resources that support students with disabilities on their pathway to success!
Come see how you can become a STEM Star too and help build a diverse, inclusive, and innovative STEM Workforce!
No registration is required! Please come and enjoy the fun and learning.
Contact Information
Catalyst: Creating Opportunities in STEM for Students with Disabilities, Science House, North Carolina State University
jrblumen@ncsu.edu or 919-633-3120
https://ncsciencefestival.org/events/reach-stars-be-star-stem-and-resource-fair-k-12-students-disabilities-family-and-friends
Tuesday, April 29, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM ET/ 4:00 to 5:30 PM PT.
Families for Depression Awareness is presenting a free webinar. In this webinar, you’ll learn concrete tools and techniques to help your teen manage depression effectively. The presenter, Amy Mezuliz, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and author of, “Reversing the Spiral of Depression for Teens: Simple Actions to Improve Mood, Boost Motivation, and Build the Life You Want.” Dr. Mezulis will focus on powerful approaches grounded in evidence-based practices. These aren’t just theoretical concepts, they’re hands-on skills you can implement immediately to support your teen’s mental health.
Register to join us for a live webinar discussion or watch on demand after it airs.
Please share information about the free webinar with your network and community!
Display our Webinar Flyer at your organization or distribute virtually
Download and share our Teen Depression Fact Sheet in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
If you are new to the topic of teen depression or in need of a refresher, please watch Understanding Teen Depression Webinar as a foundation to this upcoming program.
Fight the Bite Campaign for 2025
Fight the Bite is a poster artwork contest that encourages students grades K-12 to fight the bite of ticks and mosquitoes, and to prevent vector-borne diseases. Winners will be announced in late April, and winning posters will be displayed in schools, public health departments, and state government buildings throughout North Carolina. Artwork will also be featured on the Division of Public Health website. The official announcement and directions for the Fight the Bite contest has been attached. Please distribute this information widely to any applicable parties. All entries are due by 5pm on Monday, April 7. You can view 2024’s winners at the following link: https://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/cd/vector/contest.html If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
And remember….
Fight the Bite!
Emily C. Herring, DVM
Public Health Veterinarian
Division of Public Health, Communicable Disease Branch
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Applications in English and Spanish are available at: NC DPH: Fight the Bite Contest Winners
 NC YMCA Youth & Government
Youth and Government is a nationwide civic program that prepares high school students for moral and political leadership.
Youth and Government empowers high-school students by giving them the opportunity to learn about and experience government policies firsthand with a goal of understanding how to be changemakers and improve their communities. Students can join Youth & Government through a local delegation found in their high school or local YMCA. The program is offered August - February.
How to Advocate for Teen Civic Engagement:
- Join a local delegation as a participant or volunteer club advisor.
- Begin a delegation club at your school or local YMCA.
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Sponsor a student scholarship to attend the state or national conference.
For more information about NC YMCA Youth and Government, contact Hannah Elder.
To stay up-to-date with all of our latest information, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Connect NC PE
This series is designed to provide strategies and resources for elementary physical education teachers. Sessions will provide an opportunity to connect and share with other educators.
Our speaker will be Chris Walker. Chris Walker has over 28 years teaching experience at the elementary level.
Additionally, he has served as the lead physical education teacher for Orange County Schools and is on the local SHAC (School Health Advisory Council) as the physical education liaison. Chris is the past president of NCSHAPE and currently serves as the Convention Chair. He was named the Orange County Schools Teacher of the Year in 2017-18. Chris is also the 2022 NCSHAPE Elementary TOY. He is an OPEN National Trainer and has presented in many school districts, states and internationally on various topics
Attendees will receive contact hours for each session.
April 24th 4:00-5:00
Register Here
CATCH My Breath Train-the-Trainer Events
CATCH My Breath is the only evidence-based youth nicotine vaping prevention program for grades 5-12 that has been proven to substantially reduce students’ likelihood of vaping. The vape education program’s effectiveness was published in a peer-reviewed journal and the program is listed in SAMHSA’s Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series.
CATCH My Breath Train-the-Trainer
Participants who complete this training and pass the open-book exam will be certified to facilitate the teacher in-service training within the community they serve.
CATCH My Breath Implementation Training
Participants who complete the in-service training will be trained to implement the CATCH My Breath program within their community.
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Would You Like To Learn More About Character Education?
Are you eager to create a culture of character in your classroom, school, and district using the 11 Principles of Character Education? NCDPI has professional learning opportunities to assist your school or district with your character education journey. If your school or district is interested in hosting a Character Education Professional Learning Opportunity, please take a moment to complete this survey to help our NCDPI team understand your needs. Contact Justyn Burgess, State Coordinator for Character Education, if you have questions.
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Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund
The "Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund" is a program of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), in partnership with PBS North Carolina (PBS NC), that provides reimbursements to public schools throughout North Carolina to engage in enriching, experiential field trips at DNCR's 100+ locations around the state!
The Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund will help ensure students from all regions of the state have the opportunity to engage in memorable educational experiences while cultivating a deeper understanding and appreciation of North Carolina’s rich history, culture, arts, science and natural resources. By providing financial support through reimbursements for schools to visit DNCR locations around the state, the Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund empowers students to connect to what it means to live in and love North Carolina, ultimately helping to cultivate our state’s future leaders and innovators.
Learn more and apply here.
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Resource: Office of Teaching and Learning's External Implementation Guide
The External Implementation Guide is a repository for all North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSOS) stakeholders. This repository provides a variety of resources for supporting administrators, educators, and parents during the implementation of the current Standard Course of Study for each content area. The range of resources offers users an opportunity to determine their own specific needs and find materials that suit them.
This Canvas repository can be accessed with or without a Canvas account. Browse through resources to help you learn, plan, instruct, review, and inform yourself or others.
Find the implementation guide here.
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March / April Health Observances Include:
- March is Women's History Month
- March is National Nutrition Month
- March is National Kidney Month
- March is Brain Injury Awareness Month
- March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
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- April 7 - 13 is National Public Health Week
- April 2nd is National Walking Day
- April 7th is World Health Day
- April 10th is National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD)
- April 21 - 25 is Every Kid Healthy Week
- April 22nd is Earth Day
- April is Minority Health Month
- April is Autism Awareness Month
- April is Alcohol Awareness Month
- April is Defeat Diabetes Month
- April is IBS Awareness Month
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