DoDEA Pacific June 2016
CCR Implementation Plan and Strategies A world-class education for Military-Connected Students
hrough a contract with the Council of Chief State School Officers, DoDEA is in the process of implementing CCR strategies and plans. The plan includes six strategies that will focus on curriculum resources, support for special populations of students, professional learning, data management, a comprehensive assessment system, and communications. More to come in school year (SY) 2016-17! New Curriculum Resources Professional Learning DoDEA has adopted curriculum resources for grades K-5 mathematics (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s [HMH] Go Math!), grades 6-8 mathematics (EngageNY: The Story of Ratios), and for literacy grades 6-12 (HMH’s Collections). These resources provide the comprehensive, coherent and aligned curriculum resources that will support teachers in implementing College and Career Ready Standards. An important next step will be to provide the professional learning necessary for teachers to successfully implement the resources in their classrooms. • Grades K-5 Math: Teachers will have access to an eLearning course to become familiar with the new resources prior to the start of next school year. A stipend will be provided to teachers for completing the voluntary course on their off-duty time. • Grades 6-12 Math: Teachers will use a one-day self-paced module to become familiar with the EngageNY curriculum and the identified high school math tasks. The time for this session will occur at the start of next school year. • Grades 6-12 Literacy: Eligible teachers will have a one-day session on the new resources that will occur on the early-return day prior to the start of next school year. Click here to read the full story.
Congratulations to the DoDEA Pacific graduating class of 2016 s a service to the military communities in Europe and the Pacific, Stars and Stripes publishes the Graduation Tabs annually. These Tabs include the names of all Department of Defense Education Activity schools students in that year’s graduating class, as well as photographs and stories supplied by the students throughout the school year. The Graduation Tabs are distributed through Stars and Stripes’ daily editions throughout Europe and the Pacific. Click on the images below to view the graduating tabs.
Japan 2016
Korea 2016
Guam 2016
Okinawa 2016
Watch our DoDEA Pacific high school graduations online. Click here to see each school’s video link.
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U.S. Naval Hospital Summer Travel Support ach of our locations in the Pacific make for an ideal starting point for travel throughout Asia. Many service members, family members and DoD civilians will take advantage of this and utilize leave to travel, both abroad and stateside. USNH Okinawa would like to disseminate this information regarding pre-trip health care preparations, travel health, and other relevant information before travel season begins. Summer is near and vacation is just around the corner! You have your bags packed, your passport is ready, but do you have a TRICARE Overseas Pacific (TOP) Country Specific Wallet Card? If not, here’s a link. Print out this wallet-sized card that includes all the vital TRICARE contact info you may need while traveling, which can also be a great tool for those with insurance other than TRICARE. http://www.tricare-overseas.com/ContactUs/default.htm Before you take that well-earned holiday vacation, head to http://www.tricare.mil/FindDoctor/Traveling/BeforeYouTravel.aspx and use the checklist to prepare, just in case you need care when you’re traveling. From updating your personal information to finding a network pharmacy where you’re traveling (just in case), this site has it covered.
TRICARE documents which can provide medical information for everyone in the Pacific Always remember to bring any U.S. medical reports back with you. Find out more at http://www.tricare.mil/Home/FindDoctor/Traveling Need Prescriptions When Traveling? You should get your prescriptions filled before you travel. But, if you need a prescription filled while traveling, you can: • Go to a military pharmacy if one is nearby. You should call them first to see if they stock your prescription. • Find the closest network pharmacy, which are available in the U.S. and U.S. Territories. • If a network pharmacy isn’t available, you can visit a non-network pharmacy. • Use home delivery if you’re taking a long vacation. You can arrange for any regular prescriptions to be filled via home delivery. Take the TRICARE Overseas Program Passport with you when you travel to keep important health care information at your fingertips. You can download a copy at http://tricare.mil/~/media/Files/TRICARE/Publications/Misc/O_Passport.pdf .
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Some tips while traveling xercise vigilance when in public places or using mass transportation. Be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places. Follow the instructions of local authorities, especially in an emergency. Monitor media and local event information sources and factor updated information into your travel plans and activities. Be prepared for additional security screening and unexpected disruptions. Stay in touch with your family, have a plan if you are separated and ensure they know how to reach you in the event of an emergency. You are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate via the U.S. State Department’s STEP Travel Registration website at https://step.state.gov/step/ if traveling to a foreign country. U.S. citizens without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. Additionally, during emergencies, you are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. As the U.S. State Department continues to develop information on potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its Consular Information Program documents such as the Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts/Warnings and Country Information at http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/worldwide-caution.html
Computer Crime Investigative Unit (CCIU) Cyber Crime Prevention Flyers provide recommendations to strengthen your cyber security posture and prevent computer crime before it occurs. To see a full list of these flyers please
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PACIFIC HIGHLIGHTS DoDEA Pacific Japan District student selected as 2016 U.S. Presidential Scholar
he 2016 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, and for the first time 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education. The 17-year-old Yuuta Kendall, a native of Sasebo has been selected as a 2016 U.S. Presidential Scholar., Japan said his father, Richard Kendall, and older brothers were the biggest influences in his life.
“My father taught me the importance of athletics in acquiring the competitiveness and people skills needed for academics,” said Kendall. “People skills, he stressed, was what would push me further in this world.”
click here for full story
DoDEA Pacific Director Ms Lois Rapp recently announced the selection of the 2016 DoDEA Pacific Volunteer Excellence Award winners.
he annual DoDEA Pacific Volunteer Excellence Awards program recognizes significant volunteer contributions to the DoDEA mission of educating, engaging and empowering each student to succeed in a dynamic world. Nominees are considered through a formal and competitive selective process with winners named to the following categories:
• Individual Volunteer: provided exceptional service and support to their community school(s) • Military Individual, Unit, or Command: provided exceptional service and support to their community school(s)
The selectees for school year 2015-2016: Individual Volunteer Excellence Award (Area-level): Roland Quitugua (Guam District) Andersen Elementary School volunteer Individual Volunteer Excellence Award (District-level): Crystal Butterworth (Okinawa District) Stearley Heights Elementary School volunteer Individual Volunteer Excellence Award (School level): Kimberly Brooks (Korea District) Seoul American High School Parent Teacher Organization Apparel Co-Chairperson and President Military Individual, Unit/Commander Excellence Award (Area-level): US Navy Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Fred Turner (Okinawa District) III Marine Expeditionary Force click here for full story CURRENTS Vol. 007 June 2016
PACIFIC HIGHLIGHTS DoDEA Pacific Director promoted to Senior Executive Service epartment of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Pacific Director of Student Excellence, Ms Lois J. Rapp, was promoted to the Senior Executive Service by DoDEA Director, Mr. Thomas M. Brady on April 20 at Torii Station, Okinawa. click here for full story
Dr. Bloom named DoDEA Japan District Superintendent
loom is a career educator with extensive teaching and administrative experience. He joined DoDEA more than 30 years ago as a special education teacher with his first assignment at TorrejĂłn Air Base, Spain.
Bloom went on to hold a number of positions in DoDEA including Assistant Principal and Principal in DoDEA Europe, Special Education Coordinator and Chief of Curriculum in DoDDS Mediterrean, Chief of Curriculum for DoDEA Pacific and Superintendent of the Okinawa District in June 1996. Four years later, he joined the DoDEA Pacific Area Office in Okinawa where he served 10 years as Deputy Director of DoDDS Pacific before being selected as the DoDEA Pacific Guam District superintendent in June 2010. click here for full story
DoDEA Pacific Director, Ms Lois J. Rapp has named current DoDEA Japan District Acting Superintendent Mr. Jim Journey as the Community Superintendent for the DoDEA Guam District. ourney is a career educator with extensive teaching and administrative experience. He joined DoDEA nearly 27 years ago teaching third and fourth grade as well as special education for 15 years before making the transition to principal in Japan and Okinawa. Mr. Journey believes that communication is vital to the success of any operation.
click here for full story
Smithsonian American Art Museum holds DoDEA art contest he Smithsonian American Art Museum recently selected four DoDEA Pacific art contest winners out of 60 worldwide submissions in the fourth annual DoDEA schools art competition. DoDEA students and teachers, along with Smithsonian American Art Museum staff, voted on the submissions to select the winners for the elementary (Grades 1-5) and high school (Grades 9-12) levels. Each winner and the two honorable mentions are featured on the museum’s website. click here for full story p. 6
Our Graves Are All the Same GOLD: Kayla Haven E.J. King High School
CURRENTS Vol. 007 June 2016
PACIFIC HIGHLIGHTS DoDEA Pacific Mathlete participates in 2016 National MATHCOUNTS-competition oseph Cates-Beier from Yokosuka Middle School earned the opportunity to compete on a national stage after becoming one of the top four best “Mathletes� in the 2016 Department of Defense Dependents Schools MATHCOUNTS State Competition. Cates-Beier, who placed second in the individual ratings, was on the DoDDS team comprised of the top four individual student finalists in the DoDDS state competition to attend the 2016 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition in Washington D.C. May 7-10. Teams of four sixth- through eighth-grade students were formed at each DoDEA school around the world for the event.
Click on the video to see his interview.
DoDEA Pacific News Package: Kadena ES under construction
DoDEA Pacific Broadcast: 2016 Far East Honor Music Concert p. 7
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DoDEA Pa
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Dr. Chas Kelker Chief of Staff/Deputy Director of Operations Mr. Lawrence Torres Acting Public Affairs Officer
Mr. Christopher Provan Visual Information Specialist Ms. Diana Lopez Hansen Web Content Manager Contact us: PublicAffairs@pac.dodea.edu
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LOOKING AHEAD August
14-18 DoDEA Pacific Leadership Summit, Tokyo 23 Reporting date for non-administrative educator personnel 26 Women’s Equality Day 29 Back-to-school day for students! Begin First Quarter and First Semester
September
5 Labor Day (Federal Holiday) 8 International Literacy Day 11 Patriot Day 11-17 National Arts in Education Week 15 Sep - 15 Oct National Hispanic Heritage Month 12-16 Far East STEMinars at Tsukuba University, Tokyo 17 Citizenship Day 16-22 Constitution Week
Media & Trend Watch
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DoDEA Announces 2017 Teacher of the Year
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Good to Know
There IS an app for that
AFN Pacific now offers live streaming to desktops across the Pacific and to mobile devices in Japan and South Korea. You can even listen to your local AFN affiliate! http://www.afnpacific.net/afn360.aspx
Facebook YouTube
Twitter Web Site
Faith Middle School 8th grade English Language Arts teacher Kelisa Wing click here for full story
Caletha Ellis Named as One of the Top History Teachers in the Nation for 2016 Ellis was recently recognized by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History as one of the top history teachers in the Nation. click here for full story
Feedback is welcome and encouraged! Please send us any suggested improvements or information you would like to see in future editions: PublicAffairs@pac.dodea.edu
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CURRENTS Vol. 007 June 2016