Listserv Messages

Updates & Reminders

To All District 1 Teachers:

Contents:

     1.  Course Rosters

     2.  SAE Proficiency Award Medals

     3.  Middle School Endorsement Classes

     4.  Student Opportunities

     5.  Agricultural Education Invitational CDE

     6.  Summer Professional Development Opportunities

     7.  State Awards Day

     8.  Ag Facts to Share

1.  Course Rosters

12 out of the 58 schools in District 1 have successfully completed and returned their course roster spreadsheet to me.  Your course rosters are due back to me by the end of the day on Monday, April 3^rd.  Click here to see the list of schools who still need to turn in their rosters (schools crossed out have turned in their rosters).  If you have any questions or need help with this, please let me know ASAP!

2.  SAE Proficiency Award

I have a large supply of SAE Proficiency Award medals to distribute to the schools in District 1.  Click here for a list of the available medals.  I have also attached a picture of what the medals look like.  I don’t have every proficiency award area, but I do have most – plus some speaking contest areas!  These are the ones you would typically receive at your section’s record book judging event.  These are free for the taking, so let me know how many of which medals you need and I will send them to you! 

Speaking of free stuff - Chapter FFA Advisors can order a free set of proficiency /star medals and certificates on the Proficiency Award web page (https://www.ffa.org/participate/awards/proficiencies).  The link is in the lower right-hand corner of the page.  Only a teacher signed in to FFA.org with an Instructor profile can make an order.  If you are signed in as any other type (student, community, state staff) you can’t order the medals.

3.  Middle School Endorsement Classes

Last call for middle school endorsement classes!  If you will be teaching middle school and have not yet completed the coursework to be able to do so, this summer is your last chance! Illinois State University is offering TCH 421 and 423 again this summer. Classes must be completed by the January 1, 2018 deadline.  If this endorsement is not obtained by the deadline, the list of requirements becomes much, much longer.  Unfortunately, due to the state’s financial situation and other circumstances, FCAE will not be providing the middle school endorsement classes.  This is something that you will have to pay for on your own.  If you have any questions on this, please contact Harley Hepner (hhepner@isbe.net) or Jess Smithers (jsmithers@agriculturaleducation.org).

4.  Student Opportunities

1.  Don’t forget to nominate a deserving student for the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award before May 1^st. Awards will be shipped to the school within 15 days.

2.  The Major State FFA Officer Selection Committee is looking for students to serve as members on April 22^nd from 8:30-3:30 p.m. to help determine the ten candidates for state office. Click here to apply!

5.  Agricultural Education Invitational CDE

The FCAE team is excited to announce that we will be hosting a state Agricultural Education Invitational CDE this year at the state FFA Convention!  Click here for more information.

6.  Summer Professional Development Opportunities

1. National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy applications due by March 30th! The 2017 session is tentatively scheduled to be held the week of July 17-21. Click here for more information and to apply!

2. CASE Institute Registration is open! For more information and to register for a CASE Institute, please click here.

3. IAVAT Conference - Find the details for room blocks and register by clicking here.  Workshop registration will be coming out in early May

7.  State Awards Day – Saturday, March 25^th

Click here for details for the State Awards Day on Saturday, March 25^th at the Lincoln Hall Theatre of the University of Illinois.

8.  Ag Facts to Share

According to my Snapple bottles:

Apples, peaches, and raspberries are all members of the rose family.

A pigeon’s feathers are heavier than its bones.

Once cherries have been picked they don’t ripen.