Pennoyer School's Posthaven

From the State Superintendent of Education

Internet Program

Cable Company Unveils Discounted Internet Service for Low-Income Families

The Federal Communications Commission joined Comcast at a recent event in Washington, D.C., to announce the cable company's Internet Essentials program, which aims to provide discounted broadband service to low-income Americans.

"We know that the three biggest barriers to broadband adoption are cost, digital literacy and relevance - that many Americans don't see broadband as relevant to their lives," said FCC chairman Julious Genachowski. "By helping to close the adoption gap, this program will prepare the next generation, create new opportunities for more jobs and economic growth, and will make a positive difference in the lives of many Americans."

Comcast's Internet Essentials will provide families with children eligible for a free lunch under the National School Lunch Program with low-cost Internet service, affordable computers and digital literacy training. Comcast offers the Internet service to eligible customers for $9.95 a month, plus tax, promising no price increases, activation or equipment rental fees. Budget computers are also available at initial enrollment for $149.99 plus tax.

For complete eligibility details and additional information, visit http://www.internetessentials.com. The site includes a link for educators, community organizations and others to share the program offer with their communities.

Internet Safety Assembly

On October 14, all Pennoyer students will take part in an Internet Safety Assembly (one for grades K-5 and one for grades 6-8) addressing topics like cyber bullying, texting, safety, privacy, etc.

For more information about programs and community outreach programs from the State's Attorney's office, visit: http://www.statesattorney.org/index2/communityoutreach.html

Lt. Governor Simon seeking input on the future of the state's schools

The new "Classrooms First Commission" established to take a look at school district consolidation has been launched and Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon, who chairs the commission, has started an online survey to collect information and ideas for the commission to consider.

The commission is seeking to get participation from people who believe that decisions regarding consolidation should be decided at the local level, not by state mandate. The survey can be accessed at www.ltgov.il.gov. The survey is seeking innovative and practical ideas for educational opportunities and efficiency regarding individual schools, districts, multiple districts, regions or the state as a whole. Click this link to go directly to the survey page:

http://www2.illinois.gov/ltgov/Pages/CFCPublicComment.aspx

The "Classrooms First Commission" also has scheduled public hearings at four locations throughout the state beginning this week. The hearing in our area is:

Thursday, November 3 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Wojcik Conference Center, Room W214 in Palatine.

The mission of the commission is to provide recommendations to the governor and to the General Assembly. Clearly, the commission will be dealing with issues that could have a great impact on school districts throughout the state.

Why we Celebrate Columbus Day (links from Wikipedia)

Why do we have a day off of school to celebrate Columbus Day??

History

Columbus Day first became an official state holiday in Colorado in 1906, and became a federal holiday in 1937. However, people have celebrated Columbus's voyage since the colonial period. In 1792, New York City and other U.S. cities celebrated the 300th anniversary of his landing in the New World. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison called upon the people of the United States to celebrate Columbus Day on the 400th anniversary of the event. During the four hundredth anniversary, in 1892, teachers, preachers, poets and politicians used Columbus Day rituals to teach ideals of patriotism. These patriotic rituals were framed around themes such as support for war, citizenship boundaries, the importance of loyalty to the nation, and celebrating social progress.^[1]

Local observance of Columbus Day

Actual observance varies in different parts of the United States, ranging from large-scale parades and events to complete non-observance. Most states celebrate Columbus Day as an official state holiday, though many mark it as a "Day of Observance" or "Recognition" and two do not recognize it at all. Some states close schools and other state services, while others operate as normal.

San Francisco claims the nation's oldest continuously existing celebration with the Italian-American community's annual Columbus Day Parade, which was established by Nicola Larco in 1868,^[7] while New York City boasts the largest.^[8]^[9]^[10]

As in the mainland U.S., Columbus Day is a legal holiday in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. In the United States Virgin Islands, the day is celebrated as both Columbus Day and "Puerto Rico Friendship Day."^[11]

Virginia also celebrates two legal holidays on the day, Columbus Day and Yorktown Victory Day, which honors the final victory at the Siege of Yorktown in the Revolutionary War.^[12]