November 2009 Key Messages

American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA)

$2.1 million remains in the state allocation for Qualified Zone Academy Bonds. Additional allocation is expected in 2010. Go to www.education.nh.gov/recovery for information and application forms.

Contact: Marjorie Schoonmaker, (603) 271-3620, mschoonmaker@ed.state.nh.us

Accountability, Assessment, Curriculum, and School Improvement

A. ACCESS for ELLs ® English Language Proficiency Overview

An overview of the ACCESS for ELLs® English Language Proficiency test will be held in Room 15 at the NH Department of Education on the following dates:

• November 5th (8:30 to noon) - Training/refresher for anyone who is not a new or 2nd year teacher
• December 3rd (12:30 to 3:30) - Training is open to anyone who is eligible and interested

Teachers will still need to take the online training and pass the course before giving the test (this will be done on your own).

You are eligible to be certified as an ACCESS trainer if you are a certified ESOL teacher, a certified teacher in another subject or professional staff member (guidance, speech therapist, etc.). Anyone who gives the ACCESS test must work with ELLs on a consistent basis. If you are in the process of obtaining an Alternate 4 certification or are a certified teacher who is hired as a tutor, you are also eligible. If you are a Coordinator and your staff does not fit any of these categories, please e-mail Susan Morgan at smorgan@ed.state.nh.us.

If you wish to attend one of these sessions, please send an e-mail with your name and the date you will attend.

Contact: Susan Morgan, (603) 271-3719, smorgan@ed.state.nh.us

B. Reading Recovery NECAP Report

Positive results of Reading Recovery endure. The majority of children who reached grade level in Reading Recovery were able to maintain their gains into third grade. NH Reading Recovery Teacher Leaders and Helen Schotanus have released a report showing the performance of former Reading Recovery students on the Grade 3 NECAP tests. For more information and the two page report, go to www.education.nh.gov.

Contact: Helen Schotanus, (603) 271-3841, hschotanus@ed.state.nh.us

C. Requests for Proposals (RFP)

Two RFPs have been posted on the Request for Proposals Web page. Content Specialists to Assist With the Development and Analysis of the State Assessment (NECAP) and Content Support and Technical Assistance to Local School Districts. More information can be found under "Grants" below or on the RFP Web page (www.education.nh.gov).

Contact: Deb Wiswell, 271-3828, dwiswell@edstate.nh.us or Tim Kurtz, (603) 271-3846, tkurtz@ed.state.nh.us

D. State Approved Special Considerations (SASC)

The SASC paperwork and forms have been updated and now delineates six different categories: medical emergency, severe emotional distress, death in the family, enrolling after NH-Alt registration, participating in another state's state assessment system, and NH-Alt student exemption from ACCESS for ELLs ®. Do not use old forms to request an exemption through this process. The new forms may be found by following the Fall 2009 Materials and Information link at www.education.nh.gov. Requests related to the Fall 2009 NECAP Assessment must be completed no later than November 13.

Contact: Tim Kurtz, (603) 271-3846, tkurtz@ed.state.nh.us

E. NECAP Writing

This year, the Grade 5 and Grade 8 writing test was a pilot of new test items. We will produce only item level results that will be used to generate five pre-equated writing tests at each grade level for use over the next few years. Consequently, there will be no student, school, district, or state writing results at grade 5 or 8 this year. Student responses to the common writing prompt at grade 11 will be returned to schools with results this year. Student responses to the common writing prompt at grades 5 and 8 will be returned to schools with results starting with the October 2010 test administration.

Contact: Tim Kurtz, (603) 271-3846, tkurtz@ed.state.nh.us

Certification

A. Administrative Rules

The review and update process for all four core content areas except Mathematics (5-8 & 7-12) are in place. Mathematics has several months left in the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR) process. Updates will continue to be included in key messages. Certification as a Physical Science Educator is being eliminated as a new credential. In the future, teachers of Physical Science will have the option of being certified in Physics or Chemistry. Current educators who hold Physical Science Certification will be able to continue that certification through the usual 3 year renewal cycle.

Contact: Judith Fillion, (603) 271-3855, jfillion@ed.state.nh.us

B. Educator Information System

The staff at the Bureau of Credentialing are in the process of testing the next modules of the online system. This includes the teacher assignment module and the module that will allow the Institutes of Higher Education to recommend their new graduates on line.

The teacher assignment module will enable the districts to enter the Personnel Action Forms (PAFs), In Process of Certification forms (IPCs), and other credentialing forms. As soon as this is ready to be moved into production, the districts and schools will be notified and a training schedule will be announced. We look forward to an eventual paperless process.

Contact: Dr. Denise Littlefield (603) 271-4196, denise.littlefield@ed.state.nh.us

C. Teacher Loan Cancellation Program (Stafford & Perkins Loans)

The Teacher Cancellation Low-Income Schools Federal database has been updated for the 2009-10 school year. Please share the following Web site with your teachers so they can search and see if their particular school qualifies for loan forgiveness. https://www.tcli.ed.gov/CBSWebApp/tcli/TCLIPubSchoolSearch.jsp.

Contact: Ron Leclerc, (603) 271-3876 or rleclerc@ed.state.nh.us

Data Issues

A. BOY 2009-2010 (Beginning of Year)

Districts are in the process of cleaning up data and certifying the BOY data. As soon as your district has submitted all Free and Reduced data, please certify, sign and send/fax the "Public Fall Enrollment Sign Off Report" located on the BOY Reports page. Also on the BOY Reports page are three other reports requiring the Superintendent's signature and submission. They are the "Fall Enrollment of Special Education Students in Nonpublic Schools," the "High School Dropouts," and "High School Completers" reports. All of these reports are due to the Bureau of Data Management by December 1, 2009.

B. EOY 2008-2009 (End of Year)

The Bureau of Data Management has nearly completed the review process for the EOY Data for 2008-2009 (five districts have outstanding reports due). Please ensure that the EOY is certified and that the Determination Report is correct. The Determination Report is located under the Analysis Tab on the Reports section of the i4see workbench. Please print, sign and send/fax to the Bureau of Data Management by November 15, 2009.

C. Other Data Issues

Please be sure that the Real Time Entry and Withdrawal for High School Students is now in progress. i4see Contacts will be notified by e-mail of any students who withdraw to transfer to a public high schools in their SAU.

Bureau of Data Management Fax number: (603) 271-3875

Contact: Sandy Hyslop, (603) 271-2831, shyslop@ed.state.nh.us

D. FERPA and Performance Tracker

The NH Department of Education reminds school administrators to communicate with i4see coordinators, insuring that the "legitimate educational interest" standard is met when educators have access to student level data.

Contact: Ginny Clifford, (603) 271-3455, vclifford@ed.state.nh.us

Funding Issues

A. School Building Aid

Please submit Form A24F and any other missing documentation as soon as construction projects are complete. We cannot make the final payment on any project with missing documentation.

Applications for new projects are due by December 31st.

Contact: Marjorie Schoonmaker, (603) 271-3620, mschoonmaker@ed.state.nh.us

Grants and Requests for Proposals
ALL RFPs can be found on the Department Web site at www.education.nh.gov

A. Content Specialists to Assist With the Development and Analysis of the State Assessment (NECAP)

The Bureau of Accountability is seeking individuals with specific content expertise and experience with the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) to work with other content specialists from Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island on all aspects of NECAP test development and review in mathematics, reading, and writing. Depending on specific qualifications, a candidate may apply for and be assigned to more than one area stated in the RFP. Proposals will be read beginning on October 23. Any proposals received after this date will be considered until the positions have been filled.

All questions about this Request for Proposals (RFP) should be submitted in writing, by e-mail or fax (include your fax number) to Tim Kurtz, Fax (603) 271-7381, tkurtz@ed.state.nh.us.

B. Content Support and Technical Assistance to Local School Districts

The Division of Instruction is seeking individuals with specific expertise and experience to work with schools and districts in New Hampshire as a part of the Statewide System of Support in order to improve student achievement. We are seeking proposals for multiple individuals to provide technical assistance and specific content support to school districts regarding State priorities: Proposals will be read beginning on October 2. Any proposals received after this date will be considered until the positions have been filled.

All questions about this Request for Proposals (RFP) should be submitted in writing, by e-mail or fax (include your fax number) to: Ellie Riel, Fax (603) 271-7381, eriel@ed.state.nh.us.

Hearings

There are public rulemaking hearings, Wednesday, December 9, 2009, in the State Board Room at the Department of Education, 101 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301. The hearings are scheduled as follows

• 11:00 a.m. - Ed 315, Home Education
• 11:30 am. - Ed 507 and 612 Math for Middle and High School Teacher Certification and Teacher Preparation Programs
• 12:00 p.m. - Ed 403-405 Nonpublic School Approval
• 12:30 p.m. - Ed 1100 Standards for Education of Students with Disabilities

Deadline for written comments is December 23, 2009

Contact: Mary Mayo, (603) 271-3189, mmayo@ed.state.nh.us

Innovations

A. Real World Design Challenge

New Hampshire will participate in the Real World Design Challenge, an aerospace engineering competition that will give New Hampshire students the opportunity to solve a "real world" aviation design challenge. In this year's challenge, teachers and teams of 3-7 students compete to design a plane that is the most fuel efficient. State winners are invited to compete in the National Challenge in Washington, DC. Participation in the challenge is free and teachers may have as many teams as they like. Each team gets up to four mentors in science, math, engineering and aeronautical design and professional engineering and collaboration software valued at $1 million. For more information go to www.realworlddesignchallenge.org. This site also includes access to team registration. Click on Coaches/Teachers to get to the login page to sign up a team. The registration deadline for teams is November 16th.

Contact: Ed Taylor, (603) 271- 3886, etaylor@ed.state.nh.us

NH High School Redesign

A. Board Examinations/Move On When Ready Meeting

Marc Tucker, Executive Director of the National Center for Education and the Economy, will be presenting to interested Superintendents and Principals regarding the possibility of piloting board examination systems in NH schools on Friday, November 6, 2009 at Southern New Hampshire University. To register, contact Michelle Gauthier, Michelle.Gauthier@ed.state.nh.us.

Contact: Paul Leather, (603) 271-3801, pleather@ed.state.nh.us

B. Consequences of Dropping Out of High School

The Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University released a report, Consequences of Dropping Out of High School: Joblessness and Jailing for High School Dropouts and the High Cost for Taxpayers - 22% Daily Jailing Rate for Young Black Men Who Drop Out of High School. This report outlines the extremely difficult circumstances that these young people ages 16 to 24 face after dropping out of high school, and demonstrates the high price paid by both these young adults, American taxpayers, and our society as a whole. In addition to their sharply higher rates of incarceration, the report showed that these young adults face very bleak economic prospects, which will make it difficult for them to change course and finance future schooling and training. The complete report and an Executive Summary can be found at www.clms.neu.edu/publication.

School Approval Standards

This section applies to both public and nonpublic schools

School approval checklists with health inspection forms are due to the Department by December 1, 2009 for public and private schools whose approval expires June 30, 2010. Public schools please remember to submit a Plan of Studies if you are a high school and an Instructional Time Schedule if you are an elementary or middle school.

Minimum Standards reminder: Ed 306.35 requires a comprehensive career education program throughout all areas of the K-12 curriculum in public schools.

Contact: Marie Morgan, (603) 271-4125, mmorgan@ed.state.nh.us
Leslie Higgins, (603) 271-3759, lhiggins@ed.state.nh.us

Special Education

A. Professional Development

Section 504 and IDEA: Similarities and Differences will take place on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the NH DOE. This workshop will provide teachers, counselors, education specialists, administrators, and other school personnel with relevant and timely information they can use regarding the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA). Discussion will focus on the similarities and differences between Section 504 and the IDEA. Topics include: Eligibility, Section 504 or Special Education?; Implementing Accommodation Plans or IEPs?; Discipline under Section 504 and IDEA; and Implications of recent amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the IDEA for Section 504 and special education.

Contact: Barbara Raymond, (603) 271-3791, braymond@ed.state.nh.us

Professional Development

A. Career Development Supporting Student Course Planning Team Training: Manufacturing

The purpose of this training is to match the Career Technical Instructors at Secondary schools and Postsecondary institutions in a career area - manufacturing - to design a plan of study to assist students in understanding the courses they need to take in high school to best prepare for college. Dual credit options for students will also be identified and expanded. Key participants include (but are not limited to) high school guidance counselors, secondary and postsecondary instructors. This event will take place all day, November 20, 2009, in the Walker Building. Room 100, 21 South Fruit Street, Concord, NH.

Contact: Mary Laturnau, (603) 437-3510, NHMfgIT@gmail.com

B. Career Development Supporting Student Course Planning Team Training, Culinary Arts

The purpose of this training is to match the Career Technical Instructors at Secondary schools and Postsecondary institutions in a career area - culinary arts - to design a plan of study to assist students in understanding the courses they need to take in high school to best prepare for college. Dual credit options for students will also be identified and expanded. Key participants include (but are not limited to) high school guidance counselors, secondary and postsecondary instructors. This event will take place all day, December 11, 2009, at the White Mountain Community College, Berlin , NH.

Contact: Kevin Shyne (603)449-3406 kshyne@ncia.net

C. Common Assessments Conference

The NH Department of Education plans to host a day-long workshop "Building Common Assessments" on Wednesday, December 9th, at Church Landing at Mills Falls in Meredith. Karen Bailey from PerformancePLUS will present this follow-up to July's Assessment Literacy event. Online registration is available at the Seacoast Professional Development Center Web site (www.spdc.org). Participant cost will be $40.

Contact: Ginny Clifford, (603) 271-3455, vclifford@ed.state.nh.us

D. Math-in-CTE Project Continues Sustain Professional Development

Math-in-CTE offers year-long professional development for mathematics teachers and Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers working together to develop and enhance math learning in an applied context for CTE students. Teams of Math teachers and CTE teachers will continue to develop mathematics lessons for Culinary Arts, Marketing, Building Trades and Automotive Technology when they meet again in Concord on November 6th and 7th.

Contact: Patricia Tormey, (603) 271-3893, ptormey@ed.state.nh.us

E. Performance Tracker Training

On December 7 and January 14 there will be beginning level Performance Tracker Training at the New Hampshire Department of Education in Concord in room 15 from 1:00 p.m. -3:30 p.m. The training will be hands on. Attendees should bring a laptop to work on, as well as their Single Sign-in usernames and passwords. Please register online at www.surveymonkey.com.

Contact: Lisa Kaim, (603) 271-8049, lkaim@ed.state.nh.us or Karen Matso, kmatso@comcast.net.

For sign-on problems contact Mike Cote, mcote@ed.state.nh.us, (603) 271-2775

Resources

A. Achieving Graduation for All: A Governor's Guide to Dropout Prevention and Recovery

A new report from the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) addresses the alarming rate at which students in the United States drop out of high school. This report identifies the root causes of the high school dropout problem and offers a comprehensive action plan for states to curb dropouts, help youth succeed, and strengthen state economies. Currently, one in five students drop out of high school, and dropouts cost the United States more than $300 billion each year in lost wages and increased public sector expenses. For more information or a complete copy of the report go to www.nga.org and click on "The Center for Best Practices."

B. School Age Care Materials Available from Family Resource Connection

The Family Resource Connection (FRC) at the NH State Library received a donation of over 50 books, videos, kits, etc. from the NH Child Development Bureau for use by Child Care Providers to help with developing School Age Programs. Topics include best practices in the areas of appropriate play, behavior, and discipline, as well as suggestions for the best use of space for different ages and activities. For more information, or to receive a free copy of the School Age Care Title Listings, you may call the FRC (toll free in NH) at 1-800-298-4321, or e-mail: FRC@dcr.nh.gov. There is no charge for NH residents to borrow materials from Family Resource Connection. FRC has a collection of over 5,000 titles, which can be viewed online at /www.nh.gov/nhsl/frc.

Other

Blue Ribbon Schools Program

The NH Department of Education (NH DOE) is seeking nominations for Blue Ribbon Schools. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. The program recognizes schools that meet either of two assessment criteria.

High performing schools: Schools, regardless of their demographics, that are in the top 10 percent of schools in their states as measured by the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) in both reading and mathematics.

Dramatically improved schools: Schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds and have dramatically improved student performance to high levels in reading and mathematics on the NECAP.

The school must have made AYP in the most recent year and not have been in school improvement in the last 2 years. If you believe your school qualifies, please contact Helen Schotanus at 271-3841 or hschotanus@ed.state.nh.us. Nominations are due to the U.S. Department of Education (USED) by November 19, 2009. Once the Secretary receives the nominations from the NH DOE, the USED invites the nominated schools to submit applications for possible recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools. More information can be found at www.education.nh.gov.

NH Excellence in Education ("ED"ies) School of Excellence Award for 2010

How would you and your school like to be awarded $2,000.00 and be recognized around the State of New Hampshire for the excellence you do? McDonalds is proud to partner with the "ED"ies to award each elementary, middle, and secondary School of Excellence $2,000. It is the intent of the "ED"ies Committee to provide a process that honors exemplary practices and excellence at the Elementary, Middle, and High School levels throughout the Granite State. Applications are due no later than December 4, 2009. For more information go to www.edies.org/application_info.htm.

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)

Nominations are now being accepted online for the 2010 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. To apply, teachers must first be nominated for the award. Teachers may nominate themselves or someone else (e.g., principals, teachers, parents, or other members of the general public) may nominate them for this award. Once nominated, teachers will receive an e-mail with a login and password to access the online application. This year teachers of grades K-6 will be eligible, and again in subsequent even years. Teachers of grades 7-12 will be eligible in 2011, and subsequent odd years.

The PAEMST is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th-grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Awardees are recognized for their contribution to teaching and learning and their ability to help students make progress in mathematics and science. In addition to honoring individual achievement, the goal of the award program is to exemplify the highest standards of mathematics and science teaching. Please consider nominating a K-6 teacher in the area of mathematics or science today. For more information or to nominate a teacher go to www.paemst.org. Nomination deadline is April 1, 2010. The application deadline for elementary school teachers (Grades K-6) is May 1, 2010.

Contact: Jan McLaughlin, (603) 271-3856, jmclaughlin@ed.state.nh.us (for Science)
Contact: Christine Downing, 863-2414 x2103, cdowning@newport.k12.nh.us (for Mathematics)

Opportunities to Honor Fellow Mathematics Educators

The New Hampshire Teachers of Mathematics (NHTM) provides opportunities to recognize outstanding mathematics educators throughout the State of NH. The three distinct awards include:

The Richard C. Evans Distinguished Mathematics Educator Award - The intent of this award is to highlight creativity and innovation in the teaching of mathematics to all students. The recipient of this award will have five or more years experience and represent Dr. Evans' philosophy, passion, and knowledge of mathematics education. Nominations for this award are due by December 15, 2009.

The Richard H. Balomenos Memorial Award - This award is presented annually to a NH mathematics educator who has shown outstanding or meritorious service or leadership to the mathematics education community on a statewide basis. Nominations for this award are due by January 1, 2010.

The Fernand J. Prevost Mathematics Teaching Award - This award is given to a beginning teacher in his/her first, second, or third year who exemplifies the characteristics Dr. Prevost brought to his teaching. Nominations for this award are due by January 15, 2010.

For more information or further details about any of these awards please visit www.nhmathteachers.org and click on the Awards & Scholarships Button, or contact Christine Downing at 863-2414 x2103, cdowning@newport.k12.nh.us.

Believe and Achieve Scholarship Program

This is the fourth year the New England based company has been able to provide individual $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors bound for college. The Believe and Achieve Scholarship program is open to students who live within 30 miles of any Cumberland Farms retail convenience store. The scholarship program is also open to children of Cumberland Farms employees. While the initiative takes academic performance into account, the award also considers the student's financial need. Information about the program, including entry criteria and deadlines, is available online at www.cumberlandfarms.com/doinggood as well as in all Cumberland Farms store locations.

Catalyst for Change Awards

The Nellie Mae Education Foundation is seeking applications from organizations across New England that are working to personalize students' educational experiences. The Foundation is interested in learning more about a student-centered personalized focus predicated on youth development principles and innovative notions about what, when, and where students learn and by whom they are taught. They believe there are many models throughout the region that have been successful at transforming the lives of underserved and other learners and we want to learn more about those models. Up to twelve applications will be awarded a one-time grant of $50,000. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, please go to www.nmefdn.org/Grantmaking/Guidelines.aspx. The deadline for submissions is 12 p.m. on November 23, 2009.

Green Education Foundation (GEF) Green Thumb Challenge

This program is calling on schools and youth groups from across the nation to plant 10,000 indoor/outdoor gardens in the spring of 2010. Participation is free and will provide schools with environmental lessons, activities, and projects that can be seamlessly integrated into science, math, language arts, social studies, and creative arts curricula. GEF's newly designed Web site (www.greeneducationfoundation.org) provides teachers across the country with unlimited access to a multitude of free standards based environmental lessons, activities and resources. Those who sign up by December 15, 2009 will have the opportunity to win gardening kits which include gardening tools, gloves and seeds, as well as become eligible for a $5,000 grant.

Letters About Literature 2010

The Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library is pleased to once again be coordinating Letters About Literature in NH. This national writing competition for readers nine years of age or older in grades 4 through 12 is sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in partnership with Target Stores. Students are asked to write a personal letter to an author, explaining how his or her work changed their view of the world or of themselves. Young readers can select authors from any genre-fiction or non-fiction, contemporary or classic. Letters must be mailed by December 12, 2009 with the required entry coupon. For more information, visit www.nh.gov/nhsl/bookcenter/programs/letters.html.

Young Minds Digital TimesT Film Competition

This competition invites filmmakers from all over the world to show their skills. The competition features two tracks: Young Filmmakers "Doing Good" and Young Filmmakers Freeform. In the "Doing Good" Track, students are invited to enter music videos or public service announcements interacting with the Students' Education Proclamation and calling attention to the needs of 21st Century learners. In the Freeform Track, students can enter films on any topic in seven different categories: documentary, short film, animation, music video, one take wonder, non-moving movie, and comedic creation. Competition registration runs through February 19, 2010 with films due by March, 19, 2010. More information can be found at www.youngmindsdigitaltimes.com.

11th Annual National Survivors of Suicide Day

On Saturday, November 21, 2009, hundreds of local conference sites will simultaneously watch a 90-minute broadcast produced by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. On this broadcast, a diverse panel of survivors and mental health professionals will address the questions that so many survivors face. "Why did this happen? How can I cope? Where can I find support?" For more information go to naminh.org/frameworks.php

You may also watch the Webcast online from your home computer. Register by going to www.afsp.org.

New Hampshire Teachers of Mathematics (NHTM) Annual Conference

The annual NHTM conference will be held on April 6, 2010, at SERESC in Bedford, NH. The theme of the conference is 4-6-10 Fun with Numbers. In addition, NHTM is looking for presenters for the conference. For further information about this event please visit www.nhmathteachers.org. Then select the conference link followed by NHTM Annual Spring Conference. The chair for this conference is Barbara Boschmans who can be contacted at bboschmans@plymouth.edu.

Stars Workshop

A professional development workshop will be held at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord on November 18th from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The workshop will investigate the characteristics common to most stars in the universe, including how they are born, their size, color, shape, temperature and luminosity. Particular attention will be given to our star, the Sun, and how it is being studied. Teachers and educators receive a 10% discount on memberships to the Discovery Center. Membership benefits include 10% off teacher workshops, 10% discount in the Science Store, and more. The Discovery Center is New England's premier air and space science center, offering 21st Century interactive exhibits (permanent and traveling), simulation experiences, an observatory, an expanded NASA Educator Resource Center, world-renowned planetarium, special event spaces, science store and a café. The Discovery Center honors NH space pioneers Christa McAuliffe and Alan Shepard. More information on workshops, programs, and events is posted online at www.starhop.com. For more on memberships, call Dinah Martell at (603) 271-7827 x113.

New Hampshire TechFest 2009!

NH TechFest '09 will be an all-day extravaganza of enlightening science and technology demonstrations, hands-on activities, music, games, and entertaining lectures. The main event will be an apple-tossing Trebuchet contest, featuring teams of middle and high school students from throughout New England.

This event is being held on November 14, 2009, at Pinkerton Academy in Derry from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and is open to all middle and high school students, their parents, and teachers. For more information or to pre-register go to www.nhtechfest.org.