http://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-travel-overseas-trip-focusing-apprenticeships-aerospace-and-climate
Inslee will depart Nov. 6 for the first leg of his trip – a four-day study mission to Switzerland to learn more about the country’s highly-successful apprenticeship system. The Swiss model is considered to be the gold standard for apprenticeship and contributes to the country’s consistently low rate of youth unemployment. Approximately 45 delegates are participating in the study mission, representing some of Washington’s most innovative and successful businesses and philanthropic, academic and government organizations.
Inslee first announced the study mission at the launch of his Career Connect Washington initiative earlier this year. More than 740,000 job openings are expected in Washington state in the next five years and most will require some sort of postsecondary degree, certificate or credential. Inslee sees apprenticeships as an enormous opportunity to help high school students find a pathway to these good-paying jobs while also providing employers a flexible, well-trained workforce. Beyond the traditional apprenticeship programs many associate with construction trades, Washington state is home to a growing number of innovative programs such as the registered aerospace youth apprenticeship program in Tacoma and a tech apprenticeship program in Seattle. Inslee’s vision is to create a cohesive system that gives students opportunities to train for jobs in industries such as health care, advanced manufacturing and IT.
The study mission was developed with the support of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Washington STEM, and former United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Suzi LeVine and her husband, Eric LeVine. The delegation will hear from international experts, students and parents, and visit several companies and organizations to learn about their much sought-after apprenticeship programs.
Inslee will then travel to Bonn, Germany for COP 23, the annual United Nations climate change conference. Inslee, who earlier this year joined California Gov. Jerry Brown and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in launching the U.S. Climate Alliance, is attending COP 23 at the invitation of Fiji Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, president of this year’s COP. Bainimarama extended the invitation to Alliance states in June. Inslee will attend meetings in Bonn from Nov. 11-14. The Alliance as well as the Pacific Coast Collaborative are hosting panel discussions, and the governor will be part of several events highlighting the importance of subnational leadership on climate and ocean acidification and states’ roles in fulfilling U.S. commitments to the Paris climate agreement.
He will then make a one-day trip to Italy’s Umbria region where he will meet with government and business leaders about opportunities in aerospace. His visit will include a meeting with President Catiuscia Marini and Perugia Mayor Andrea Romizi.
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OUR SCHOOLS REPORT CARD
US DEPT. OF EDUCATION BLOG POST: Longest Serving Sergeant Major of the Army to Highlight ED Veterans Day Program
Blog post 11/ 6/ 17
https://blog.ed.gov/2017/11/26304/
Here at the Department of Education, autumn is more than back to school. In addition to all the back to school activities, we also host significant events each year tied to our nation’s history. Veterans Day is one of them and is observed at the Department each year close to November 11.
2017 marks the centennial of the U.S. entry into World War I and Veterans Day originated from that war. November 11 marks the date of the armistice that ended hostilities in 1918.
In fact, President Woodrow Wilson signed the following proclamation to commemorate the first Armistice Day, held on November 11, 1919: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”
ED’s 2017 Veterans Day Program
This year’s Veterans Day program theme is “Military members serve with their hearts – We honor them with our thanks.”
The program will be held on Thursday, November 9 at 10:00am in the LBJ Auditorium. The keynote speaker this year is Kenneth O. Preston, who retired as the 13th Sergeant Major of the Army and was the longest-serving Sergeant Major of the Army. According to the U.S. Army web page, “There’s only one Sergeant Major of the Army. This rank is the epitome of what it means to be a Sergeant and oversees all Non-Commissioned Officers. The Sergeant Major serves as the senior enlisted advisor and consultant to the Chief of Staff of the Army.”
In that position, Sgt. Maj. Of the Army Preston served as the Army Chief of Staff’s personal adviser on all Soldier and Family related matters, particularly areas affecting Soldier training and quality of life. Throughout his 36-year career, he served in every enlisted leadership position from cavalry scout and tank commander. SMA Preston holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from TUI University and has earned numerous medals and awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, and the Bronze Star Medal.
This year’s program will include appearances from representatives of the National Security Council and the Veterans Administration. The University of Maryland USAF Color Guard and the North Point High School ROTC will participate.
US DEPT. of EDUCATION BLOG POST: Still Ripe after 100 Years; ED Panel Discusses the Constitution and World War I
Blog posted on 11/ 2/ 17
https://blog.ed.gov/2017/11/still-ripe-after-100-years/
To comply with the law that requires all schools that receive federal funding and all federal agencies to observe Constitution Day, September 17, here at the Department of Education, we focused on the Constitutional issues that arose during World War I. We chose to focus on World War I because 2017 marks the centennial of the U.S. entry into that war.
Secretary DeVos introduced this year’s program, held on September 18, by highlighting the importance of the Constitution with the following comments:
You see, the text of the Constitution is about limiting government, not a so-called living document that can suddenly usurp the power of the people on the whim of any politician or social norm. Yet this self-evident philosophy has been lost somewhere along the way. Unfortunately, too many kids aren’t even at the “School House Rock” level. Broadway elevated Alexander Hamilton’s name to cultural fame but too few know the real Hamilton. The author of the Federalist Papers also wrote that, and I quote, “The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments or musty records, they are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself and can never be erased.”
This year’s program featured two distinguished historians; Edward G. Lengel, Chief Historian at the White House Historical Association, and Tony Williams, Senior Teaching Fellow at the Bill of Rights Institute. Julie Silverbrook, Executive Director of The Constitutional Sources Project, served as moderator. (for more read source link)
US DEPT. of EDUCATION BLOG POSTING: A Day in the Life of a Principal
https://blog.ed.gov/2017/10/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-principal/
The principal’s day is a reflection of many complex interactions such as:
communicating with multiple types of stakeholders,
managing financial resources,
connecting daily with students,
leading professional development, and
being a collaborative team player.
You may be wondering how one person could accomplish all of this in one day, so I welcome you into one of my days at Jackson Hole High School.
US LABOR DEPT. BLOG POST: American Job Center Helps Utah Vet Find Right Career
After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, Specialist DeeAnna M. Baxter-Stone struggled to find a civilian career that was the right fit. She took odd jobs to help make ends meet, but struggled financially.
With a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, DeeAnna sought work as a federal contractor conducting military investigations but was unable to pass the physical tests due to a shoulder injury.
She was first referred to the Utah South County Employment Center in August 2015. Art Fracchia, an employment counselor with the Disabled Veteran Outreach Program, helped her apply for a position with a security company DeeAnna thought would provide the real-world experience she needed for a law enforcement career. She was offered a position and eventually promoted to project manager, but very long hours left little time for her family and personal life.
“Art was extremely supportive of me when I let him know I was very unhappy in the first job, and he did not hesitate to start all over again to help me look for something that I could make a career out of,” DeeAnna said.
Art then connected her with the state’s Work Success program, where she took several career development classes and participated in networking events.
During this time Art also helped her tailor her resume and coached her on the interviewing process. DeeAnna applied for a number of jobs with no luck. But she didn’t give up and neither did Art.
https://blog.dol.gov/2017/11/01/american-job-center-helps-utah-vet-find-right-career
NASA: Virginia Students to Speak with NASA Astronauts on Space Station
Press release issued 11/ 6/ 17
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/virginia-students-to-speak-with-nasa-astronauts-on-space-station
Students at Pole Green Elementary School in Mechanicsville, Virginia, will speak with the NASA astronauts living, working and doing research aboard the International Space Station at 9:45 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The 20-minute, Earth-to-space call will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.
Randy Bresnik, Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba will be asked questions by select students. The discussion will include topics about life aboard the space station, NASA’s deep space exploration plans, and doing science in space.
This is Bresnik’s second mission to the station. He currently is serving as the station’s Expedition 53 commander after launching to the orbiting laboratory on July 28. He’s scheduled to return to Earth in December. Vande Hei and Acaba both arrived at the space station on Sept. 12. This is Vande Hei’s first space mission and Acaba’s third. Together they will return to Earth in February 2018.
Pole Green was selected through a competitive process to host a downlink with the station. To prepare for the event, the school plans for a full day of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lessons and activities for the students. Industry partners supporting the day’s events include the U.S. Navy, Virginia Commonwealth Engineering, Hanover High School robotics, and Math Science Innovation Center of Richmond. Additionally, the teachers are educating the students on the history of the space program, the space station and the astronauts’ backgrounds.
“Our focus is on providing students with the opportunity to see beyond their community,” said Lori Schoenwiesner, a teacher at Pole Green Elementary School. “They can and will be an important part of their country's future and we believe they deserve the opportunity to see their possibilities now so they can prepare for them.”
Media interested in attending the event should contact Chris Whitley via email at cwhitley@hcps.us or phone at 804-365-4500. Pole Green Elementary School is at 8993 Pole Green Park Lane in Mechanicsville.
Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in STEM. This in-flight education downlink is an integral component of NASA’s Year of Education on Station which provides extensive space station-related resources and opportunities to students and educators.
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WORLD AND NATIONAL HEADLINE NEWS FROM REUTERS...
At North Korea's doorstep, Trump warns of U.S. power while also striking conciliatory noteSEOUL (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned North Korea he was prepared to use the full range of U.S. military power to stop any attack, but in a more conciliatory appeal than ever before he urged Pyongyang to “make a deal” to end the nuclear standoff.
China curbs tourism to North Korea ahead of Trump visit - sources
BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) - Chinese tour operators based in the border city of Dandong have been told to halt trips to the North Korean capital Pyongyang, five sources told Reuters on Tuesday, the day before U.S. President Donald Trump’s first official visit to China.
U.S. lawmakers signal plan to comply with Iran nuclear deal: EU
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers signaled they plan to ensure the United States complies with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s misgivings about the pact, the EU’s foreign policy chief said on Tuesday.
Senate banking panel backs new North Korea sanctions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Banking Committee unanimously backed new sanctions on North Korea on Tuesday, seeking to send a message of strength as President Donald Trump visits Asia for the first time since taking office.
Hard-fought Virginia governor's race to test Trump's clout
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bitterly fought governor’s race in Virginia leads a slate of state and local elections on Tuesday that offer an early test of Republican U.S. President Donald Trump’s political influence and possible strategies for both parties in next year’s midterm elections.
Former Trump adviser Page met Russian officials in 2016 Moscow trips
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Carter Page, a former foreign policy adviser to President Donald Trump, testified to U.S. lawmakers that he met with a Russian deputy prime minister on two trips to Moscow in 2016 and consulted with senior Trump campaign staff about one visit.
Daily Bible Verse: [ Pray for All Men ] Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 NKJV
Free bible studies (WBS)
https://www.worldbibleschool.org/
Learn english using the bible as text (WEI)
http://www.worldenglishinstitute.org/
(Join us in worship every Sunday starting at 10:30AM Church of Christ)
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