Congratulations, Julia on your induction into the ND Chapter of the National Honor Society!

Kathryn Erskine, 2010 National Book Award winning author of Mockingbird, will be the speaker at the January meeting of the Guam Council of the International Reading Association at the Sheraton Laguna Resort on January 15, 2011, from 8:00 am to 11:00 am.

She will be traveling from Charlottesville, Virginia to share her "SASSy" writing tips, how to "Snag your reader, Act your character, Show your story, and Shake your world". School visits are Tuesday, January 18 to Friday, January, 21. A teacher workshop and a teen writing workshop are also scheduled. Call Cyndy at 789-1996 for more information.

The University of Guam School of Education student organization, Association for Childhood Education International (UOG-ACEI) is sponsoring a Michael Jackson Look-a-Like Competition on January 17, 2011 at the Micronesia Mall. Those interested are encouraged to dance and/or sing like the legendary Michael Jackson. Same-day registration is $5.00 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the center court. The competition will begin at 2:00 p.m. and there will be prizes for 3 age categories. Previous winners are ineligible to win.

The UOG-ACEI is also sponsoring the annual island-wide poster contest in recognition of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration. The contest theme is Sustaining the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is open to all public, private, and DODEA school children in K-12 grades. Art submissions are due by January 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the UOG School of Education (2nd floor) to Anita Palomo. Entrants must follow the poster contest rules. For details about the requirements, contact the UOG-ACEI President Heidi Cameron at 482-0714 or e-mail aceiuog@yahoo.com. Judging will take place on Saturday, January 15, and the announcement of winners will be held at the Micronesia Mall on January 17, 2011.

UOG-ACEI hopes to raise, enhance, and broaden the awareness and knowledge levels of students about the life of Dr. King, Jr., and about the significance and application of the major tenets of non-violence.

The following URLs are resourceful websites that ICC members/parents/teachers would find useful in meeting the needs of children with disabilities.

TECHMATRIX - http://techmatrix.org/
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Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) - http://peatc.org/

Happy New Year from around the Pacific! May the year 2011 bring you many blessings filled with much love, joy, peace, and happiness!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! - English
Filis Añu Nuebo! – Chamorro
Feliz Año Nuevo! – Spanish
Engan ke ya sasu! - Kosraean
Gung Hay Fat Choy – Chinese
Ungil Beches Er Rak! – Palauan
Selsalan Ebéach e duw! – Yapese
Peren En Parakapw! – Pohnpeian
Hauoli Makahiki Hou – Hawaiian
Pwapwan Ei Ier Mi Fo – Chuukese
Sehe Bokmanee Bateuseyo! – Korean
Maligayang Bagong Taon – Tagalog
Cung-Chuc Tan-Xuan! – Vietnamese
Jeramman ilo iio in ekaal! – Marshallese
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu – Japanese
Ameseighil ubwutiiwel Layúi Luugh me raagh féé! – Carolinian


Image source: Google.com

ACEI officers and members visited Alee Shelter on November 23, 2010 to present children and staff with many boxes of Thanksgiving donations. Alee Shelter protects abused or neglected children. The Thanksgiving donation is one of the many significant civic and community events the UOG-ACEI student organization supports annually.

Pictured L-R: Janeyrose Cruz; Risa Hameister, ACEI Vice President; Lisa Meeks, SGA Vice President; Jovina Munoz; ACEI Public Relations Officer; Heidi Cameron, ACEI President; Katrina Baza, ACEI Public Relations Officer; Roong Johnson; and Sister Bridget Perez.

The anuual Guam IRA Community Book Fair held on Saturday, December 11, 2010 at the Agana Shopping Center was a success filled with a meaningful literacy environment for families and friends. There were exciting performances and appearances, array of paperback and hardcover books, young adult literature, face painting/book reading by the Assocation for Childhood Education International (ACEI), PreSchool GATE arts and crafts, software, novelties, Read-A-Thon 2011: Read to Succeed items, and prizes! Thank you for joining us in our celebration of promoting literacy! Enjoy the following snapshots taken at the community book fair.

Merry Christmas from around the Pacific!

~Felis Pasgua (Chamorro)
~Maligayan Pasko (Tagalog)
~Peren en Krismas (Pohnpeian)
~Monono ilo raaneoan Nejin (Marshallese)
~Falang e Baynag (Yapese)
~Tok Tapeng (Kosraean)
~Ungil Kurismas (Palauan)
~Pwapwan Kirisimas (Chuukese)
~Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian)
~Ameseighil ubwutiiwel Layi Luugh me raagh fee (Carolinian)

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Thank you for all that you do to make a difference! Enjoy the holiday, and may God Bless you always. :)

The University of Guam School of Education student organization, Association for Childhood Education International (UOG-ACEI) will sponsor an island-wide 9-Pin Spectacular bowling event on Saturday, December 11, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Central Lanes, Tamuning, Guam. $10 per ticket includes 2 games, ball, and shoe rental. For more information, call Natasha Palomo at 488-0328 or e-mail natasha.doreen@gmail.com.

Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association (PIBBA) Officers Drs. Jose Cruz and Matilda Naputi Rivera join in the fun during the annual LBJ and Tamuning Elementary School Harvest Carnival held November 19, 2010. Pictured with Drs. Cruz and Rivera are the LBJ angels.

The 2010 Island-Wide Parent Information Resource Center Family Conference held October 9, 2010 at the Guam Marriott Resort and Spa was a success. Enjoy the following conference snapshots.

The Micronesian Island Fair was a success filled with cultural cuisine, presentations, arts and crafts, performances, and so much more! Enjoy the following snapshots!

Click here to view the November 2010 ACEI newsletter.

On Friday we gathered together with our Rosario family who arrived from Pohnpei. My uncle, Dr. Greg Tainatongo, and his son-in-law Patrick, also joined us to connect with our Rosario roots. It was a memorable gathering.

Today I served as one of the panel judges for the Lunar Calendar Art Contest at the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Lecture Hall at the University of Guam. It was difficult judging, since there were so many beautiful and meaningful entries. I took snapshots of some of the artwork, but it is only a small percentage of what I was able to examine today. Enjoy the following snapshots!

Panel of Judges for Lunar Calendar Art Contest

My ED894 Assessment and Accountability students provided meaningful information during their practicum presentations. Enjoy the following snapshots taken November 2, 2010 at the School of Education.