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Words of Inspiration
the collection appears at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/words.html

"Please note: the following speech has spread all over the Internet as "Kurt Vonnegut's commencement address at MIT". The truth is that Vonnegut had never delivered this address. How did this happen? If you are interested,
just click and read my article about this Vonnegut story. (http://www.wesselenyi.com/Vonnegutstory.htm)
 

"Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75^th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen."

Author: Mary Schmich (USA)
First published: July 1, 1997
Copyright: Herald Tribune"

cited at http://www.wesselenyi.com/speech.htm

Announcements

 The Commencement Luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. under the tent on the Support Services Center lawn. I urge you to attend and greet students and parents at that time.  In case of inclement weather, the Luncheon will be held in the Betty R. Tipton Room of the Student Center.

 The reception line for the “Make a Wish” Exiting Tradition will begin to form at 12:30 p.m.  The procession for the tradition will begin at 12:45 p.m.  Please wear your academic regalia for this event.

 The Academic Procession and Commencement Exercises will begin promptly at 1:45 p.m. at the Windham Regional Vocational Technical School soccer field across the street from Eastern's Sports Center.  In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium in the Sports Center.

 The Recessional will begin as soon as the Commencement exercises are over.

Michelle Bibeault – December 2003    
The Effects of Class Web Sites to Increase Home/School Communication

Faculty photo is posted at
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/faculty.html
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The 2002-2006 CSU AAUP-BOT Collective Bargaining
Agreement is on-line at the usual URL:
http://www.easternct.edu/aaup/cba.html

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Alumni News
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/alumninews.html

News from Diana Kimiatek:

News from Sarah Orefice:

I am actually doing great!  Immediately after finishing all coursework in
January, I landed a long-term substitute position at Litchfield High School,
teaching 7th and 8th grade Spanish.  On April 1st, they hired me as a first
year teacher under a DSAP Certification.  I will be at Litchfield until the
end of the year at which point I have the option of staying next year or
looking for another position.  I have been applying to area schools for
positions in Early Childhood Education, where my actual certification lies. 
In addition, I will be beginning Grad. School at CCSU this summer.  I will
be taking up a M.A. in Modern Languages, studying in Spain, and applying for
a cross-endorsement in Elementary Spanish.  I will definitely keep you
posted!  Thanks again.

Sarah Orefice

posted on April 27, 2004

more from Sarah -

Hello, more great news!!  I was asked to be a Student Marshall at graduation
representing Sigma Delta Pi, the National Spanish Honors Society.  I also
got engaged over the weekend and will be planning a wedding for June 2005!!!

posted on May 3, 2004

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News first relayed by Steve Kenton:

Kim Kenney is currently teaching at 9th - 12th grade Mathematics at Grasso Tech.  Mrs. Kenney has an exemplary website posted at http://www.teacherweb.com/ct/grassotech/mrskenney/ . 

She writes that "in addition to using a website as a communications vehicle, I also use powerpoint in my classroom (to give notes).  It is very effective because the kids really like it, so they pay attention.  Also, I can put up a slide and walk around to ensure the kids are on task.  I know that a lot of schools do not have the technology, we do not have smartboards or projectors, so I use a TV."

posted on April 5, 2004

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News relayed by Leah Barbuto from Genny Christensen (Wald):

Hi Leah,

Just thought I would write and say hi!  I am still at Dwight School teaching
Kindergarten Special Ed in Hartford.  I absolutely love it this year!  My

Best portfolio is coming along pretty good, it's a lot of work!  Thank you for
preparing me for my career - I could not have done it without your support.  I
would also like to thank Shirley, Diane, and Anne, if you could pass this
along to them!!

I also thought I would let you know that I got married last Feb. to Rob
before he left for Iraq - he will be coming home this Saturday after 13
months; we are having the official wedding this July so it will be exciting. 
I am starting my masters this fall either at Mitchell College, they started
a new masters program.  I am also looking into Eastern and Central.  I would
like to either complete my masters in Special Ed or Reading and Literacy!
 
Well... Thanks you so much for all you did for me at Eastern.  I will see

you next time you visit my school!!

Thank you Genny Christensen (Wald)

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News from Alyssa (Fresa) & John Gwinnell:

Benjamin Carter Gwinnell was born on Friday, November 28, 2003 at 2:57 p.m. 8lbs3.5oz, 20.5 inches.

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News from Monica Sajkowska.  

I have been teaching 3rd grade since August in Bridgeport CT. 

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Call for Graduate News -

A request from Institutional Research -
Please share news about the plans of graduating seniors.
If they are going on to graduate school, please provide the graduate's name, undergraduate major,
graduate university, location (city, state), field of study and degree program sought, and any information
on scholarships and/or fellowships.
If they have been accepted for employment positions, please provide the graduate's name,
undergraduate major, company, location (city, state), position, salary.
Please email the information to David, who will compile it for the department. Thanks. 

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Other Events
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Faculty members and students from Eastern Connecticut State University participated in a US Department of Education grant to Prepare Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology with ThinkQuest
[ http://www.preservice.org/] and 13 other universities throughout the US. This project's homepage may be found at http://www.preservice.org/ecsu/ or http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/dept/pt3.html.
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Long Term Announcements
Alumni news may be found at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/alumninews.html.
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Planning

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Past surveys of our graduates are available on the WWW -
an analysis of the survey of teacher education program graduates 1996-98
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/survey9698.htm
results of the survey of teacher education program graduates - 1996-1998 -
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/surveyresults9698.htm, and
results of the survey of teacher education program graduates - 1998-2000 -
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/gradsurvey2001.htm
survey of interests in graduate programs -1999,
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/gradinterestsurvey1999.htm
survey of interests in graduate programs - 2001
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/gradinterestsurvey2001.htm
 
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Research and Creativity Activities
chronicling the ongoing progress of the Education Department at Eastern Connecticut State University

also found at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/rca.html

departmental searches pending approval -
full-time tenure track faculty members to start in Fall 2005
in Learning and Teaching and
Reading/Language Arts

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EDU 509 will be offered during the Summer II session. Class members will participate in the United Nation’s Tunza International Children’s Conference on the Environment, held in New London on the Connecticut College campus from Monday, July 19-Friday, July 23. The Conference is expected to have an attendance of 600 children ages 10-13 from all over the world. This is an incredible opportunity to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime event, as this is the first time the Conference will be held in the United States. Plus, you get to work with a truly multi-cultural group of students who will be speaking the three conference languages of English, French, and Spanish.

You will be expected to be on site each day from 8:00 am - 6:30 pm to supervise students, lend a hand in workshop and field trip experiences, and help with the friendship circles (small group debriefing of each day’s events before or after dinner). Individual experiences can be framed here.

To participate, you will need to contact Dr. Jeanelle Bland Day at 465-4532 to let her know you will be signing up for this EDU 509 experience. This will be necessary to allow your entrance to the Conference activities due to tightened security with the international delegates. The deadline for contacting Dr. Day will be April 30, 2004. If you want to design your own experience, the earlier you contact me, the more likely it is that we’ll be able to meet your needs!

Pre-session training will be mandatory. Date of training to be arranged.

Recently acquired media - in the Chair's Office or on the Web

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Please contact David Stoloff at (860) 465-5501, email: stoloffd@easternct.edu if you have any questions or comments on this newsletter. Please invite others to receive this newsletter and be added
to the Education Department e-mailing list by contacting David Stoloff.