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Commencement, Spring 2005 - May 22, 2005

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

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... the shortest commencement address in history was reportedly delivered by the film maker Woody Allen. He stepped to the podium, recognized administrators, faculty, alumni and alumnae, then turned to the students and uttered two sentences. "We have given you a perfect world. Please do not screw it up."

An equally succinct graduation speech was evidently delivered by the comedian Bob Hope a number of years ago. He, too, began by recognizing the distinguished members of the audience.

Then he said to the students: "As you prepare to leave these hallowed halls of learning, these bastions of knowledge, these citadels of scholarship, I have just two words of advice: Don't go."

quote from a commencement speech by Senator Dodd at UCONN in May 2000 - http://www.senate.gov/member/ct/dodd/general/press/Releases/00/0520.htm

Woody Allen is also often quoted at saying at a commencement speech -

http://www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/commence01/hunt.html

 "More than any time in history mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness, the other to total extinction. Let us pray that we have the wisdom to choose correctly."

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Announcements

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1)  Education Department faculty members -

Please contribute to the annual report by Thursday, May 26.  Also please complete the Department Chair's evaluation by Monday, June 6.  Please see David if you have any questions on the process. 

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2) Other upcoming events -

Commencement – May 22

Eastern Connecticut State University

COMMENCEMENT, 2005

Schedule of Events

Sunday, May 22, 2005
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Baccalaureate Service
Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium, Sports Center

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Light Luncheon for Full-time Undergraduates, Graduate Students, and Guests
Alvin B. Wood Support Services Center Lawn
Rain site: Betty R. Tipton Room, Student Center

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Continuing Education Luncheon for Part-time Undergraduates and Guests
Hurley Hall Dining Room

The Sunday Commencement address will be delivered by a best-selling novelist and poet, Ms. Marge Piercy.

12:15 p.m.
All Graduates begin forming a line at the Foster Clock Tower for Procession for the "Make a Wish" Tradition - Foster Clock Tower

12:15 pm - Graduate students will meet in Webb 110 in order to receive their "Reader's Card" and additional instructions about commencement. Faculty should feel free to come to Webb 110 to congratulate their students and aid them in properly securing their hoods.

12:30 p.m.
Faculty Line-up for "Make a Wish" Tradition
Foster Clock Tower
Line-up: Along sidewalk path from Foster Clock Tower to Student Center Fountain

12:45 p.m.
Chimes will cease and the procession will begin

1:00 p.m.
Graduates line up for Commencement Procession in designated areas

1:15 pm - Graduate students will line-up for the Academic Procession outside of Webb Hall

1:15 p.m.
Faculty Line-up for Academic Procession and Commencement
Faculty Robing Room: Sports Center Conference Room
Line-up: Sports Center Overhang (facing Eastern Road)
Rain site: Sports Center Main Office Corridor

1:45 p.m.
Academic Procession and Commencement Exercises
Windham Technical High School Field
Rain site: Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium, Sports Center

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Final grades due – May 25

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The Education Department 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
 

A message from John Hinchliffe:

"Hi David!

Enjoy your weekly info-mail.  Just finishing my fifth year at Enrico Fermi High School in Enfield, CT. 

We have a position opening up for AP Biology and 10th grade biology by year’s end.  If you have a bio cert student, with general science cert a plus, please have them submit something soon.  Applicants will be very competitive.  Starting pay is among the state's highest.  The Science Department is well run with a great crew to work with and the school is BEST Portfolio friendly.

Please say "hello" to your crew for me, and send my best wishes to Richard for continued good health!

P.S. Tell Hari that I've finally developed my mathematics vaccine, and have received F.D.A. approval for clinical trials following successful LD-50 tests.  Pfizer and I are currently negotiating a marketing strategy to target those out of school for more than twenty years and others with mathematically-compromised immune systems and early-onset dementia--I think that's what it's called.

Old Guy with Beard   :-)=  John Hinchliffe "

posted on 4/18/05

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A message from Joe Pereira relayed by Dr. Ann Gruenberg:

Hello 

Last time we spoke I may have told you that I have secured a position in Avon Ct, at Roaring Brook School Teaching 3rd grade as a long term sub for child rearing leave until the end of the year. I was hoping to start this position at the beginning of April.  I have found myself taking over one month earlier. I have already learned so much. Things couldn't be better!!  I am hoping to fill an open position at this school for the fall and will let you know when I do!!  Thanks for all your help!!

Sincerely,

Joe Pereira

ps: extremely valuable website www.schoolnotes.com for parent teacher communication.  Highly recommended!!

Posted on 3/28/05

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A message from Bethany Champagne, [bethany_champagne@yahoo.com], former Education Department student assistant and near graduate of a graduate program in school counseling:

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Message from Christine Mengel, elementary education teacher candidate, January 2005:

"Hi All,

 I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of you for the wonderful instruction and guidance you have given me through core I and II. I took the Praxis in November for the first time and not only did I walk away from the test feeling confident but my confidence was assured when I found out I did very well and past the tests. So I wanted to thank all of you for your help in this process. Have a wonderful break and Happy New Year!

 Thank you again!

Christine Mengel "

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News from Jessica Bessette shared by Dr. Swaminathan:

"Hi!  I just wanted to tell you that I got a job!!  Starting Monday I will be a preschool teacher in Waterbury.  It's not in a school though, it's in a daycare facility, but I will have my own classroom of 3-5 year olds (although I think right now there are only 3 and 4 year olds).  I am really excited to start, I really have a lot of freedom to teach what I want and how I want, it's a really exciting first teaching job, a really great experience, especially since I have to do most of the planning of what exactly I'm teaching, there is no curriculum to follow or anything.  So I'm really excited to use a lot of the information I got from the core classes @ Eastern.  I'm sure I'll be emailing you (300 times a day!) to ask you questions and get advice, I hope you don't mind!  Just wanted to tell you because I thought you'd be proud :)" 

posted on October 22, 2004

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Dr. Sudha Swaminathan reports that Leslie Labenski has been hired at Andover Elementary in a Kindergarten setting. 

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A message from Ms. Leah  Barbuto -

Joan Culpin was just hired as a third grade teacher in Columbia, CT.
posted on August 20, 2004.

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Good news from Robyn McKenney, MS in Ed Tech program graduate  –

I just wanted to share my great news with you!  I have been offered a job as a K-8 Technology Integration Coach.  I am very excited about this opportunity and feel that my work at Eastern was invaluable in preparing me for this role (especially the thesis).   Some feedback I received was how pleased they were with my understanding of constructivism, project (problem-) based learning, ISTE standards, assessments, and learning environments.  I wanted to share that with you because I feel it speaks directly to your program.

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Another message shared by Dr. Fred Ashton –

Once again, I am pleased to share more good news for the Vocational Technical School System and for ECSU: Mary Schlehofer will be appointed to a teaching position in the English Department at H.H. Ellis Technical High School in Danielson, CT.  Mary did her student teaching here at Windham Tech this past spring semester with department head Jan Marie Weston and she did an outstanding job. 

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A message shared by Dr. Fred Ashton -

"More good news for Windham Tech, ECSU, and new graduate David Carter:  David has been appointed to a math position at Windham Vocational Technical High School.  David finished the year for us in a long-term substitute position that he started just after he finished his student teaching and he did a great job.  We are looking forward to him starting the year with us.  His content knowledge and pedagogy are strong and he is a most welcome and valued addition to the teaching faculty!"

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A message shared by Dr. Ann Gruenberg from Cara Ravetto -

I took a long term sub position at the Borough Elementary School for a teacher on maternity leave with the expectation of continuing in the fall for her. As the last few days of school arrived one of the teachers in decided not to renew her contract and resigned, thereby creating an open position. After all was said and done, the position ended up being for first grade. I interviewed for it and was offered the job! I am very excited because I wasn't expecting anything in the district to be open! I was fully prepared to sub for the next year. Now reality sets in as I prepare to set up my classroom and plan the curriculum! My fellow colleagues seem very nice and the principal is very supportive. Hope all is well at ECSU and I plan to return in the spring to complete my Capstone. Take care!

Cara Ravetto

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News from Dr. Fred Ashton:
Scott Hill just emailed me.  He has accepted a 4th grade position at Sweeney School.  Scott was in last semester's student teachers' seminar with me.  He is a fine student and will be a great first year teacher.

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News from Dr. Bland Day:
I heard from Rosemary Humes that Cary Langley and Chad Johnson have taken science teaching positions at the Norwich Free Academy. Cary is teaching biology, and I believe that Chad's job is in General Science.

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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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ECSU - ThinkQuest for Tomorrow's Teachers Projects

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

Searches and Opportunities
for job announcements at Eastern CSU - http://www.easternct.edu/depts/personnel/jobs.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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Recommendation from Diane Reale, OnlineCSU instructor, to subscribe to Edutopia:

"You may already be familiar with Edutopia, but I recently received an invitation to a free magazine subscription from them, in the mail, so I thought I would send the link along to you....(re: exemplary programs in K-12 schools)....thought your faculty and students might be interested.

http://www.edutopia.org/foundation/foundation.php

Diane"

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Reference from Walter Diaz, Director, Career Services:

Teaching Jobs at SchoolSpring.com

Description: Free educator job search. Apply online, get email job alerts, find 1000s of teaching jobs from dozens of sites with the SchoolSpring SuperSearch. Apply to any job, anywhere with SchoolSpring PLUS!

URL: http://www.SchoolSpring.com

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Looking for an internship, co-op or full-time job? Then check out our new on-line system-eRecruiting at http://eastern.eRecruiting.com

Walter Diaz
Director
Career Services
Eastern Connecticut State University
83 Windham Street
Willimantic, CT  06226
Phone: (860)465.5244
Fax:(860)465.4440
Email: diazw@easternct.edu
University Web Page: www.easternct.edu
Department Web Page: www.easternct.edu/depts/career/

 

Announcement from Robin Shefts, Career Counselor, Career Services:

"I discovered this website recently which I wanted to share with you, faculty and students. http://careers.education.wisc.edu/projectConnect/MoreInfo.cfm

Project Connect is a national cooperative resource between school districts and universities to assist with teacher/education staff employment efforts on the internet.  If you are not familiar with Project Connect, it's worth checking out!"

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For Connecticut teaching opportunities, please visit http://ctreap.net .

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Alma Exley Scholarship Program

This scholarship program supports and encouraged persons of color who are committed to a career in public school teaching.  A scholarship award of at least $1,500 a year for two years will be granted to an individual who has been admitted to a teacher-preparation program in a Connecticut College or university.  For more information and an application, please contact David Stoloff in the Education Dept, Webb 129 or visit http://www.almaexleyscholarship.org .

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

1) Thank you, Ann, and colleagues in the Education Department for enriching the Education Department Chairs office with

Mitch Albom's The five people you meet in heaven. 

2) Also available in borrowing for holiday reading -

Cambre, M. & Hawkes, M. (2004). Toys, tools & teachers: The challenges of technology. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Education.

3) Ordered for the Curriculum Library -

Comparative guide to elementary and secondary schools:  2005.  Millerton, NY:  Grey House Publishing.

ACPA & NASPA (2004), Learning Reconsidered:  A Campus-Wide Focus on the Student Experience.  Washington,  DC: ACPA - Advancing Student Affairs, Engaging Students and NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.  and other materials from President Carter's Advance on August 17 & 18, 2004. 

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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.