Volume 80 December 1, 2008 Memphis in May Festival Offers Student Exchange Program to Chile Each year, the Memphis in May International Festival selects high-school students from Memphis to study abroad for a student exchange program. Students apply by filling out an application form, submitting a short essay, and sending in letters of recommendation. The deadline is almost here! Now is the time for students to send in their applications. Friday, December 5 is the deadline for the 2009 Student Exchange with Chile, the country being honored by the festival in 2009.
Applications are also being accepted for Spanish-speaking chaperones to accompany the Memphis in May Student Exchange high school delegates to Chile. Deadline to apply: Friday, December 5, 2008 If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Fennell at (901) 525-4611, ext. 108, or via email at rfennell@memphisinmay.org.
Memphis City Schools to Celebrate Healthy Choices Week Dec. 1-5 During Healthy Choices Week, Dec. 1-5, Memphis City Schools will take the lead in promoting awareness of important community health issues. We will strive to equip our students and community members with resources to make healthier life choices. The following days will be designated with specific focuses on these vital issues: Monday, December 1: World AIDS Day Memphis City Schools plans to work with every school, as well as team up with numerous community agencies, to educate students about the benefits of practicing healthier behaviors. Schools are encouraged to plan a full week of fun, learning, and family and community activities designed to celebrate and inspire healthier living in Memphis.
Annual Health Enrollment Underway Soon The Benefit Enrollment/Informational Sessions will be held at several different locations this year. The dates and times are as follows:
. Please Note: If you do not wish to make any changes to your current benefit options, there is nothing for you to do and no further action is necessary; your existing benefit options will remain in effect for 2009.
Please contact the Office of Employee Benefits (416-5344) for additional information.
Schedule Your Spring Field Trip to Memphis Botanic Garden Today! The Memphis Botanic Garden is offering several entertaining and educational field trip opportunities this spring, and it’s not too early to book them now! Choose from among the following field trips: Eggstravaganza: See what hatches from eggs in the spring besides baby chicks. Students will observe a variety of eggs, color eggs with natural dyes and “plant” a basket. Suitable for grades K-2. Environmental Playhouse: Teach your students to love the earth with a visit to the Greens’ house. This environmentally correct family will teach children earth-saving practices they can do in their own homes. This class includes a variety of hands-on crafts and can be adapted to any grade level. Spring Festival of Flowers: Your students will travel through the garden to take-home-craft and discovery stations. Students may hear The Amazing Flower Story, view a Pollination Puppet Show, and even take home a potted flower! Grades K-2. World of Plants: Travel through the garden to different global regions that feature hands-on crafts and discovery stations. This festival integrates social studies, history and plant science. Students will participate in a Japanese tea ceremony, decorate tribal African masks, plus much more. Grades 2-6
The State Farm Youth Advisory Board has announced a Driver Safety Poster contest with the theme of “Keeping Memphis Safe”. By offering a poster contest, the board is giving high-school students across the city of Memphis the opportunity to help with this worthwhile service project! The purpose of the Driver Safety Poster Contest is to promote pedestrian safety, decrease hit-and-run instances, and prevent citizens from being car-jacked. An additional purpose is to promote the State Farm Youth Advisory Board. For more information about the State Farm Youth Advisory Board, check out the Web site at www.statefarmyab.com Regular size poster board (22” x 28”), with no attachments to poster board. Prizes: Citywide Awards
Memphis City Schools does not discriminate in its programs or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, handicap/disability, sex or age. For more information, please contact the Office of Equity Compliance at (901) 416-6670. Poster Contest Entry Form ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Changes to be Made in 403(b) Annuities Plans In July 2007, the IRS finalized the first significant changes in 403(b) plan regulations in over 40 years. These regulations will transform the current individual participant plan into an employer sponsored group plan, similar to the private-sector 401(k) plans. Effective Jan. 1, 2009, this change will have an impact on all participating employees along with how the plan is designed and administered by Memphis City Schools. Our District has hired an independent consultant to guide us through the process to determine our future investment provider partners. A Request For Proposal (RFP) was issued on October 2, 2008. The RFP process will promote competition and compare services between the various 403(b) investment providers. This process will help us determine the investment provider(s) that will offer our employees high quality investments at a reasonable cost. After the RFP process is completed, the new 403(b) plan and investment provider(s) will be finalized and approved by the School Board. We will then schedule employee group meetings to communicate the changes. We anticipate that these meetings will occur in late fall, early winter. The possibility exists that your current 403(b) investment provider will not be part of the District’s final plan. If this happens, it will not inhibit your right to continue to work with that provider with your current investment assets. Also, there is no requirement to transfer/exchange your existing investment assets into the District-approved provider unless you voluntarily choose to do so. If your current investment provider is not part of the District’s final 403(b) plan, the only requirement will be that any new 403(b) voluntary elective contributions will be directed to the new District approved provider(s). If you have questions, please contact the Office of Employee Benefits and Compensation at 416-5344, or visit http://www.irs.gov/retirement/participant/index.html for more information on the new regulations and other helpful resources, including frequently asked questions and publications about 403(b) plans.
Shows Available at Craigmont Planetarium Since 1974, the Craigmont Planetarium has provided a view of the night sky unavailable from few other locations in the Memphis area. No matter the weather, stargazing at Craigmont is always fun and exciting. Craigmont's star theater seats up to 130 people and offers several shows just for students, as well as for members of the community. The theater is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. by reservation. Education is the focus at the Planetarium. Craigmont provides programs of both current and seasonal interest, including interdisciplinary astronomy programs for the entire community. The staff easily relates to students of any age and can tailor programs for your group. All of the planetarium programs are correlated to the Tennessee Science Content Standards.
Elementary School Programs Our Place in Space is a program designed for primary grades. During the program, students help animal characters solve a crossword puzzle. In the process, students learn why we have day and night, what makes the sun appear so big, and why the sun seems to move across the sky. Students invent star pictures, and travel through the solar system and beyond to learn about "our place in space". There is a Study Guide available for this show. The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket is a program for primary and intermediate grades. Two very imaginative children build a rocket from a large cardboard box and then with the help of a talking library book explore the solar system. They travel into the stormy clouds of Jupiter and fly through the rings of Saturn. They land on Venus, our moon, Mars, and Pluto, and fly past Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune. This is an exciting, interactive program for students. Study Guide available. Moon Witch isa program for primary and intermediate grades. All around the world, people have imagined seeing all sorts of strange things and faces in the moon. This planetarium production examines the nature of the moon and its changing appearance in the sky. On Halloween we meet Billy and Diana, a brother and sister who are trick-or-treating. Diana notices that no matter where she goes, the moon seems to follow her. Back home, Mom and Dad explain about the moon’s appearance and motion. Diana goes on to share her new knowledge of the moon with her teacher and classmates and demonstrates why the moon goes through faces or phases.
Middle-School Program Solar System Adventure Tour is a program for intermediate and middle-school grades. As members of the crew of a spaceship traveling through space, students obtain information about planets, moons and other parts of our solar system. The mission requires crew members (students) to use science and mathematics problem-solving skills to help make decisions which ultimately determine the fate of the mission and the crew.
High School/Adult Program Lunar Odyssey has something for everyone. In this elaborate multimedia presentation, you will go back in time, looking at moon mythology as well as historical events leading up to space travel. The show pays tribute to the first moon landing missions and to rocket pioneers who made space exploration possible. Then, as space travelers, viewers revisit the Moon in the future as tourists. See what hotel accommodations on the Moon might be like in one-sixth of Earth's gravity. Learn the origin of the Moon and explore cultural legends, too.
Shows for All Ages Star Finding is a live program designed for all ages. Participants learn about constellations by creating their own dipper shapes in the sky. Planetarium workers discuss the historical and practical uses of constellations and, finally, learn how to use a star map to locate objects visible from our own backyards. Throughout the program, participants observe and locate heavenly bodies in the current night sky including constellations, planets, and the moon. Memphis Skies, another live presentation, helps viewers learn how to identify the planets and stars currently making up the night sky and how to find the cardinal directions using celestial signposts. Viewers are also taken on a guided tour of the constellations and the ancient myths that string together their component stars.
Holiday Season Program The Star of Bethlehem uses science and historical events to describe the theories of the appearance of the “star”. Planetarium technology explores possible astronomical explanations for the Star. Viewers can decide for themselves whether a blazing comet, an exploding or shooting star, a major eclipse, or a conjunction of planets might explain the reported event.
Coming Soon High School/Adult Cosmic Catastrophes investigates the sort of disasters that could befall the Earth from space. It is widely accepted that large asteroids hit the Earth in the past. Evidence suggests that this type of event might have caused the extinction of many life forms on Earth including the dinosaurs. Cosmic Catastrophes also investigates the greenhouse effect, fluctuations of the Sun, and the comet that hit Jupiter in 1994.
Grant Opportunities Available to Teachers Looking for a grant opportunity to bring new resources into your classroom? Here are several upcoming application opportunities. Prior to submitting your application, complete the district's Grant Proposal Brief and e-mail it as an attachment to the district's Grants Office (grants@mcsk12.net), sending a copy to your principal. The form for the brief is available online at http://www.mcsk12.net/aboutmcs_fpgg_gs.asp . For more information, contact the Grants Office at 416-4257. American Immigration Law Foundation Teacher Grant Program. The American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF) will award grants of $100 to $500 to fund K-12 grade-level projects that provide education about immigrants and immigration. To obtain additional information including application guidelines, visit: http://www.ailf.org/teach/grants.shtml . Deadline: Nov. 28.
Field Trip Opportunities Available at Malco Theatres As the journey of a new school year continues, think about Malco Theatres when booking your field trip adventures! Bring classroom lessons to life and expand curriculum concepts with an “edutaining” movie field trip! Special early-morning shows are available for groups of 50+. Upcoming features include: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Rating TBA): Through Nov. 27 All release dates are subject to change without notice. More information about the films is available at www.movies.yahoo.com or www.imdb.com. For more information about field trip opportunities at Malco Theatres, e-mail Karen Scott at Karen@malco.com or call 761-3480, Ext. 117.
Assistance Available to Potential Home Buyers Teachers who live and work in school districts where they are most needed can build better futures for our children. The Teachers Community Assistance Program (TCAP) helps to make this goal a reality by offering up to $10,000 financial assistance to Memphis City Schools Teachers who purchase homes within the Memphis City Limits. To be eligible for TCAP, you must first meet these minimum qualifications: 1) You must be a full-time, state-certified, K-12 classroom teacher, employed by Memphis City Schools for a minimum of two years; and 2) The property being purchased must be a single-family dwelling (including condos, townhouses, and zero-lot lines) and must be located within the designated boundaries of the city limits of Memphis, Tenn.; and 3) You may not own any other property at the time of the purchase or during the five-year period of affordability; and 4) Maximum sales price may not exceed the FHA 203(b) mortgage limits for Shelby County, Tenn. If you meet the above qualifications, you may begin the process of securing a mortgage. You will need to contact a bank or mortgage company to secure the financing for your first mortgage. While we cannot refer you to a lender, we can provide you with a list of lenders that have accepted the TCAP program guidelines. Your lending professional will guide you through the qualification steps. Next, although not required, you may want to consult with a real estate agent to help you locate a home that meets your requirements and that is in the price range you can afford. Once you have found your home and secured your financing, your lending professional will submit your information to the DPA office to help you with the remaining financing needed to complete your home purchase. The DPA program will provide assistance for down payment, eligible closing costs, and prepaid items. The assistance provided is based on the following: 1) Property being purchased must remain your primary residence for a five-year period of affordability. A lien will be placed on the property and a portion of the assistance will be repayable if the five-year period of affordability is not satisfied. You may not sell, lease, rent, refinance, or otherwise convey title during this five-year period without repaying some or all of the assistance received. You will receive a deferred payment loan (DPL) with no monthly payment obligation that will reduce 20 percent each year on the anniversary date of the note; 2) Maximum funds you may receive will not exceed $10,000 per household; 3) You are required to make a minimum investment of $100 towards the purchase; 4) You must remain a full-time, state-certified K-12 teacher with Memphis City Schools during the five-year period of affordability; 5) The lien will be released after you have satisfied the terms of the five-year period of affordability. For more information, call the City of Memphis Housing and Community Development Office at 576-7474 or 576-7466.
Tax Credit Available to First-Time Home Buyers A special tax credit is available to first-time home buyers. The maximum credit amount is $7,500, and it is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit. The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period. For more information, visit www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com . BrokerNetwork’s Dallas Palmer will also provide teachers with a $500 gift card at closing, when you use Palmer as your agent. For more information, contact Palmer at 270-9979 or 767-1818.
Discount Available for First-Time AAA Members Memphis City Schools employees, this could be the most valuable card you’ll ever carry. Everyone knows they can count on AAA for fast, expert emergency road service. But there’s so much more to AAA membership:
Vacation Planning
Financial Services
Show Your Card & Save® Discounts
Entertainment
Join AAA and enjoy exclusive services and members discounts year round. The money you save can more than cover the cost of your membership! Memphis City Schools employees new to AAA may receive a $5 discount on their membership, and both new and existing members get 50 percent off new Associate Memberships for immediate family members. For more information, contact the Memphis AAA, Attention: William Hess, 5138 Park Ave, Memphis, TN 38117; e-mail Whess@aaasouth.com; or call 680-7573. ______________________________________________________________________________
Apartments Offer Discounts to MCS Teachers, Staff The Village of Sycamore Ridge Apartments is offering a five-percent discount on apartment rentals to Memphis City Schools teachers and staff members. The apartments are located at 1945 Everetts Folly, near Sycamore View and Raleigh LaGrange roads.
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