Felis Anu Nuebu!

Dear SOE Alumni Family and Friends,

Happy New Year! May the year 2009 be a prosperous one filled with much love, joy, peace, happiness, and success!

All the best,

SOE Alumni Association

SOE Alumni Update: UOG-ACEI Sponsors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Island-wide Poster Contest

Pictured L-R: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech, in Washington D.C., Aug. 28, 1963; and President-Elect Barack Obama takes the stage at Denver's Invesco Field.

Image source: AP Photos, abcnews.com

TO THE POINT: UOG’s Association for Childhood Education International is sponsoring an island-wide poster contest in recognition of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration. The contest theme is Fulfilling the Dream. It is open to all school children in K-12 grades.

No person in the entire history of African America has made as great an impact on the nation as did Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – a preacher, civil rights advocate, moral leader, idealist and realist. Since many young people had not yet been born during Dr. King’s lifetime, and may be too young to remember, it is our duty as a community of parents and educators to teach our children of the life and work of Dr. King.

In addition, Barack Obama, will be the nation’s first African American to be elected president of the United States. As America’s 44th president, the 47 year-old junior senator from Illinois now must bear the hopes of an entire race, live up to the expectations of an entire nation and lead the free world in a time of great uncertainty.

In recognition of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration on January 19, 2009, the University of Guam School of Education student organization, Association for Childhood Education International (UOG-ACEI), is sponsoring an island-wide poster contest. The contest theme is Fulfilling the Dream. It is open to all public, private, and DODEA school children in K-12 grades. Posters must be submitted no later than Thursday, January 15, 2009 at UOG’s School of Education, second floor, between 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. See secretary Anita Palomo or contact her at 735-2440, atpalomo@uguam.uog.edu. Late entries will not be accepted.

The goal of the poster contest is to raise, enhance, and broaden awareness and knowledge levels of students about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and about the significance and application of the major tenets of non-violence; and to look toward the future of the nation’s newest president, Barack Obama. The basic requirements for the poster include 9x12 inches (minimum size) to 12x18 inches (maximum size), any art medium, and no tracing. Students must include on the back of the poster their full name, age, grade, teacher, school, and contact number. Criteria include technical skill, creativity, originality, theme adherence, aesthetics, and use of space. The grade levels to be judged include Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade, 6th to 8th grade, and 9th to 12th grade.

An exhibit of all posters will be displayed at the Agana Shopping Center beginning Saturday, January 17-19, 2009 and at UOG’s School of Education and RFK Library. Announcement of all winners will be January 19, 2009 at 12:00 p.m., Center Court, at the Agana Shopping Center.

Happy Holidays!

Dear SOE Alumni Family and Friends,

We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May the year 2009 bring you many blessings filled with much love, joy, peace, and happiness!

Warmest regards,

SOE Alumni Association

SOE Alumni Update: ACEI and PDK-FEGA Coordinate Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive and Clothing Donation

Thanksgiving Donation: The University of Guam Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) and PDK-Future Educators of Guam Association (FEGA) coordinated a Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive and clothing donation to benefit Kamalen Karidat.

Pictured during the donation held on November 26 , 2008 are L-R: Dot Chargualaf; Rev. Frank Tenorio; Tita Tenorio; Ewalani Escrupulo, ACEI Vice-President; Alicia Quintanilla, ACEI President and PDK-FEGA member; Kimberlie Castro, ACEI Secretary; and Vaughn Baisa, ACEI Public Relations Officer.

SOE Alumni Update: ACEI Provides Literacy Activities at Bishop Baumgartner Lunch Program

ACEI Literacy Volunteerism: The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) members and officers volunteered their time to coordinate the Bishop Baumgartner Lunch Program in Sinajana from October 3 to November 14 in an effort to promote literacy through learning opportunities outside of the curriculum. Kindergarten and first grade students had the opportunity to engage in digital storybook Read Alouds of legends, such as Pohnpei’s “Tab to Bat.” Other activities included the use of local books, felt- board storytelling, crossword puzzles, and arts & crafts activities relating to the stories.

Pictured front row L-R: Kimberlie Castro, Treasurer; Mariana Santos, Co-Chair; Ewalani Escrupulo, Vice-President; and Joy Rivera, Member. Back row L-R: Vaughn Baisa, Public Relations Officer; Donna Purcell, Chairperson; Alicia Quintanilla, President; Beauty Letewasiyal, Secretary; and Ria Torres, Bishop Counselor.

SOE Alumni Update: GPSS ELL/ESL Standards Cadre 2008 Presents at UOG's 21st Annual Regional Language Arts Conference

Members of the GPSS ELL/ESL Standards Cadre 2008 presented the Guam English Language Proficiency Standards at the University of Guam’s 21st Annual Regional Language Arts Conference held November 14 and 15 at the University of Guam and Holiday Resort & Spa. The theme of the conference was Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas: Empowering English Language Learners. The cadre’s presentation titled Guam English Language Proficiency Standards (GELPS) introduced the English Language Standards that were developed for social, intercultural, and instructional purposes; language arts; mathematics; science; and social studies. The standards were developed to address the needs of GPSS English Language Learners, close the achievement gap for ELLs, and help ELLs attain English proficiency, or do the same for CHamoru Language Standards. An introduction of the Enhanced Assessment Grant (EAG) Project was also introduced to demonstrate the close relationship between the Standards and the EAG.

Cadre members who presented were Rosa Salas Palomo, Project Director/Coordinator of the Guam ESL Certification Plus Project; Zander David Refilong, Program Coordinator; Gene Dydasco, Education Specialist with the Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL); Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, ESL Teacher/Coordinator with the Guam Public School System (GPSS) & adjunct professor for the Language and Literacy, TESOL, and Instructional Technology Programs & Department of English and Applied Linguistics at the University of Guam; Keith Juarez, Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) teacher with GPSS; and Guadalupe (Faye) Camacho Kaible, school program consultant with GPSS. Among the audience members who attended the presentation were Maydelene C. Ganan-Flores and Risa Jade S. Miguel, administrative staff of the Micronesian Language Institute; Menang Diaz, GPSS State Program Officer; GPSS teachers Bobbie Manibusan, Dawn Maka, Cynthia Manibusan & Vina Johnson. Cadre members not pictured are Dr. Margo Gottlieb, LN494/G Instructor & Illinois Resource Center; Lucia C. Leon Guerrero, GPSS School Administrator; Chamoru teachers Teresita C. Flores, Cecilia C. Bermudes, Marilyn R. Perez, Roy M. Leon Guerrero, Jocelyn T.Santos, Rufina F. Mendiola; June E. Taitano from GPSS Special Education; Kirk S. Drygas from Project Hatsa; Dr. Jose Q. Cruz from the Guam Education Policy Board; GPSS ESL teachers, Lois Taitano Gumataotao, Lorena M. Montague, Priscilla C.T. Perez, Melissa R. Pablo, and Marife G. Fernandez.

SOE Alumni Update: Using Internet Tools to Enhance ESL Instruction

Graduate students enrolled in ED638: Teaching with the Internet presented at the University of Guam’s 21st Annual Regional Language Arts Conference held November 14 and 15 at the University of Guam and Holiday Resort & Spa. The theme of the conference was Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas: Empowering English Language Learners. The students’ presentation titled Using Internet Tools to Enhance ESL Instruction explored web sites aimed at enhancing ESL and content area instruction, writing, collaboration, professional development, instructional technology, website designing, blogging, and assessment.

Pictured L-R: Paul Sekine; Ceferino Duarosan Jr.; Dr. Kate Mastruserio Reynolds, conference keynote speaker and associate professor of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages in the departments of foreign languages and curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, instructor; Kate Pappano; and Gregory Mamay.

SOE Alumni Update: Jumpstarting Reading Comprehension for English Language Learners

University of Guam School of Education professors presented at the university’s 21st Annual Regional Language Arts Conference held November 14 and 15 at the University of Guam and Holiday Resort & Spa. The theme of the conference was Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas: Empowering English Language Learners. The professors’ presentation titled Jumpstarting Reading Comprehension for English Language Learners introduced the reader’s schema and its importance in comprehending, learning, and remembering ideas in stories and text.

Pictured L-R: Dr. Kate Mastruserio Reynolds, conference keynote speaker and associate professor of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages in the departments of foreign languages and curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, Dr. Catherine Stoicovy, Dr. Kelle Murphy, and Professor Julie Fee (sitting) from the University of Guam.

SOE Alumni Update: Language and Literacy Presentation

Language and Literacy Master of Education students enrolled in the ED643 Literacy Assessment course completed the semester on December 1, 2008 with a presentation of their online LiveText Portfolio and Diagnostic Case Report at the University of Guam’s School of Education Literacy Center. The course focuses on using a range of formal and informal assessment tools and methods to diagnose and assess individual learners’ reading and writing development, to guide instruction, and to involve the learner in self-assessment.

Pictured L-R: Lorna Gonzalez; Kate Pappano; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, instructor; Lucille Linder; and Ceferino Duarosan Jr.