Summer Arts Program Available for Middle School Students Are you a middle school student looking for something to do this summer? Come join us for an artistic experience you will never forget! 2009 (Students must be entering sixth, seventh, or eighth grade in fall of 2009) June 15-26, 2009 This program will include daily visits to participating Arts Memphis arts agencies. Students will work with guest artists at each location. Imagine what it will be like to learn theatrical production, how to forge metal, experience works of art, write and record music, and discover the connection between hip-hop and ballet. What a great way to spend part of your summer! If you are interested in attending, obtain a registration form from your For more information, contact Jenny Davis, 416-3434. Portraits of Rhythm: Summer Drum-Line 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, contact Kyle Lee, Director of Percussion Studies, at 416-2169.
Arkansas State University Offers Online Degree Opportunity Arkansas State University invites you to attend an informational session to learn more about the school’s online Master's degree program. Two information sessions will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at the TLA Auditorium. The first session will begin at 3 p.m. and will be followed by a 5 p.m. session. For more information, please call (866) 621-8096 or visit www.astate.edu/academicpartnerships .
Methodist Employee Assistance Office Relocates The Methodist Employee Assistance Program office has relocated to White Station Tower, 5050 Poplar Avenue, Suite 1118. The office’s phone number remains 683-5658 or 800-880-5658.
Memphis City Schools’ Mental Health Center to Offer Memphis City Schools’ Mental Health Center would like to offer parents the opportunity to register their middle school children for a summer program, Camp Treetops. This camp is offered to middle school students who have witnessed or experienced violence in their homes or communities. Students will learn skills on coping with adversity and stress, non-violent problem solving, pro-social communication, and cooperation. Maximum enrollment is 25 students per site. There will be one camp in each of the four geographical regions. The camp leaders are all licensed mental health professionals employed by Memphis City Schools. This camp is free of charge, with breakfast, lunch and snacks included, but transportation is not provided. This is the fourth year of operation for Camp Treetops, and the program has grown and become stronger each year. The camp offers a therapeutic climate that is both warm and accepting, and each child is given unconditional, positive encouragement. The camp is designed to be fun, and most of the learning is done through therapeutic activities that interest middle school students. Schools, dates and times for the camp are: Wooddale Middle School (Southeast Region), June 8-18, 8:30 a.m..-12:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, (four days/week). Douglass Middle School (Northeast Region), June 8-18, 8:30 a.m..-12:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, (four days/week). Hamilton Middle School (Southwest Region), July 6-16, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.., Monday through Thursday, (four days/week). Humes Middle School (Northwest Region), July 6-16, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, (four days/week). If you believe you have a child who can benefit from this camp, you may obtain a registration form from your middle school’s guidance office or at the Bond Administration Building at 2930 Airways Blvd. 38116. For additional information, call Ginni Potts or Ethel Masey at 416-5600. ________________________________________________________________________
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. Airborne Teacher Trust Fund. Elementary and middle school teachers can apply for grants ($200 to $10,000) to fund “art and music programs that their schools are unable to fund”. To obtain additional information and to apply online, visit: http://airbornetrust.com/programoverview.aspx . Deadlines: July 31 and October 31.
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.
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MLGW Offers Resources to Schools The information and programs detailed in this brochure will be good not only for this school year, but also for the next couple of years and for the foreseeable future. MLGW encourages Memphis City Schools teachers to take advantage of its educational programs and resources. Your students represent the future of our community, as well as a resource for future MLGW employment. Should you need more MLGW School Programs & Resources brochures or have any related questions, please contact MLGW’s Community Relations area at 528-4820 or commrelations@mlgw.org.
Children
The following teaching materials are available in PDF format:
Informational Materials for Teachers Only: Please Note: Only two examples of each of these educational “teacher-only” Please Note: To order teaching materials in PDF format, send an e-mail to Other online resources for energy conservation teaching materials and classroom activities include:
School children love the Terminator, an MLGW lineman who interacts with kids as he teaches them about electric safety. Dressed in his lineman equipment, the Terminator resembles a superhero and offers a positive role model to kids. His advice on electric safety can help kids develop safe habits related to electricity and electrical equipment. He’s all about safety and saving lives! • Energy Conservation–Save energy and resources, save the planet! Students learn about the importance of energy and water conservation and how they can educe energy waste around the ome. Your students will learn steps they can take that help preserve the environment while saving their families money on utility bills. • Electricity, Gas and Water Safety– Prevent accidents through safe practices. Students learn how to be aware of situations involving utilities that pose potential hazards, and how to handle these situations if they occur. Being knowledgeable about carbon monoxide, electrical and natural gas safety, and emergency preparedness can help students–and their families–prevent accidents, injuries or even save a life. MLGW Safety department employees are available to present these programs. saving energy. Concepts for the labs are aligned with existing curriculum as outlined in the Tennessee curriculum standards for language arts, math, science and social studies. To reserve a free Energy IQ Lab, contact the Children’s Museum at 458-2678. MLGW-provided Teaching Resources Classroom activity materials for your students: Please Note: These classroom activity materials are limited to 50 of each item per • Utility Careers–Learn about the interesting and rewarding careers in utilities Students observe the water treatment process, tour the Water Quality Assurance Laboratory and learn how water makes it from the underground aquifers to their faucet. Tours of Sheahan Station are limited to one tour per day for a maximum of 40 students. At least one adult chaperone is required for every 10 students. All visitors require personal identification. Sheahan’s staff is also available for presentations in school classrooms or assemblies. To set up Sheahan Water Pumping Station tours or in-class presentations, arrangements must be made three weeks in advance. Call MLGW’s Community Relations area at 528-4820. Requesting a speaker or presentation for your school group is easy. To schedule a presentation, contact MLGW Community Relations by phone at 528-4820 or fill out the Speaker Request form on the MLGW Web site under MLGW in the Community at www.mlgw.com/schoolprograms . Tell them the topic you would like for them to present, along with the date, time, school location, teacher’s name and class, and a daytime contact number. Important: For the best availability of speakers, dates and times, please give a month’s advance notice when requesting a speaker or program. Our programs are presented at no charge to Memphis and Shelby County schools requesting our speakers. • Informational Brochures: From activity books to home energy inspection forms, your students can learn about energy conservation, the environment, natural gas and electric safety, and more. For an order form, call Community Relations at 528-4820. A list of available materials follows this section.
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. |