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  • Dr. Jim Delisle Talks "Giftedness"

    Expert in the area of gifted education, Dr. Jim Delisle, presented to teachers, administrators, counselors, and psychologists at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit on Tuesday. Later that evening he gave a similar presentation to parents.

    Dr. Jim Delisle is a teacher of gifted children for more than 30 years and the author of more than 250 articles and 14 books, including top seller Parenting Gifted Kids: Tips for Raising Happy and Successful Children.

    His presentation covered the needs of gifted students, including understanding the intensities that accompany giftedness, accepting personal imperfections, finding and keeping true friends, and enjoying one’s abilities in the context of the wider world.

    He also highlighted more than 20 classroom-tested lessons for educators to instill compassion, self-awareness, and leadership among gifted children.

     

  • High School Seniors Earn Certification in Nurse Aide Training Program

    On Monday, March 1, graduation ceremonies were held for high school seniors who successfully completed a five-week nurse aide training program provided by Harrisburg Area Community College through a partnership with the Capital Region Partnership for Career Development (PCD) and the schools in the Capital Area Intermediate Unit.

    Nurse Aide Training (NAT) certification provides immediate employment for many of the students in nursing care facilities. The program, in operation since 2005, has produced 152 graduates out of 163 student participants demonstrating a 93% completion rate.

    The Capital Region Partnership for Career Development has been instrumental in bringing together educators and business leaders to create innovative programs that provide hands-on experiences for students inside and outside of the classroom. Students across the mid-state have numerous opportunities to interact with employers, explore career opportunities, earn job certifications while earning academic credits, experience the demands of the workplace, and engage in targeted activities that will guide the decision making process.
  • Capital Area School for the Arts Auditions

    The Capital Area School for the Arts (CASA), the region’s magnet high school for the arts, will hold auditions for interested students beginning this Saturday, February 27, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and will continue to hold auditions until all spots are filled. Auditions will be held at the school’s location: Strawberry Square at Third and Walnut Streets in downtown Harrisburg.

    The Capital Area School for the Arts (CASA) was founded in 2001 through a partnership between the Capital Area Intermediate Unit and Open Stage of Harrisburg. CASA offers intensive instruction in visual art, dance, music, theatre, film and video, and new to 2010-11, writing, to qualified high school students in the region (over 150 students from 24 different high schools). The school uses the city of Harrisburg as its "classroom," affording its students access to the numerous resources located downtown and utilizing a yearly theme based on the urban environment.

    For more information regarding audition requirements or to receive general information, please contact the school at 717-732-8450 or visit CASA’s website at www.casa-arts.org.
  • CAIU Exceeds State Averages in Early Intervention Pre-School Family Survey

    The Capital Area Intermediate Unit's Early Intervention Program meets or exceeds state averages, due to a recently released 2008-2009 OCDEL Cross Systems Family survey.

    The survey was conducted across the Commonwealth. Respondents (family members) answered on a 1-6 likert scale, 1= very strongly disagree and 6=very strongly agree.

    According to the survey, CAIU’s Early Intervention Program scored an average of 4.72. The state averaged 4.64. The findings will be discussed at the Early Intervention Leadership meeting on March 3 and 4.

    To all of our Early Intervention Staff—Great Job!
  • CAIU Earns Several PenSPRA Communication Awards

    Congratulations to the CAIU staff and contractors who contibuted to the high quality communication tools used by the CAIU.  This year, the Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association (PenSPRA) recognized the CAIU for several Excellence in Education Communications Contest Awards. Specifically, the CAIU received the highest level of award in the following categories:

    • Award of Excellence Internet/Intranet Website, Capital Area Intermediate Unit Website (www.caiu.org)
    • Award of ExcellenceInternet/Intranet Website, Capital Region Partnership for Career Development Website (www.partnershipforcareerdevelopment.org)
    • Award of ExcellenceSpecial Purpose Publication, Champions for Children: Serving Children with Unique Needs (capital campaign brochure, with design by SunHo Design) 

    Capital Campaign Booklet 

     

  • CAIU Sponsored Videoconference Connects Area Students with Alaskan Dogsledders

    At West Creek Hills Elementary School, students in Mr. Todd Baldwin’s third grade class and Mr. Dan Peck’s fourth grade class have been studying Alaska and the historic race that pits men and their sled dogs against the harsh elements of the Alaskan wilderness.

    On February 18, 2010, the third and fourth graders at West Creek Hills Elementary School (East Pennsboro School District) joined students from Northside Elementary School (Central Dauphin School District) and Steelton-Highspire Elementary School (Steelton-Highspire School District) in a videoconference that connected students with dogsledders in Kigluait, Alaska.

    Alaska is a big state with harsh weather, few roads, and tough geographic conditions. For thousands of years, dog teams have been an important part of the Alaskan lifestyle. The Capital Area Intermediate Unit provided the advanced technology that allowed students in three school districts to interact simultaneously with the dogsledders.

    During the videoconference, students went for a real time dog run, saw a sled dog kennel, and visited mushers as they introduced their favorite dogs and shared their love for the mushing lifestyle.

    According to West Creek Hills third grade teacher Todd Baldwin, “The technology side of this is the biggest draw. Who wouldn’t want their students to have this experience? Most of my students can’t comprehend how far away Alaska is.”

    In addition to the video conference, Li Kohr, Senator Pat Vance’s legislative assistant, brought her two Siberian Huskies, Lobo and Kita, to give the students a hands-on experience (Pictured below).

    Visit the online photo gallery under the "news + events" tab to view more photos of the Sled Dog Videoconference event.

  • "Hat Day for Haiti" at Hill Top Academy

    As a result of the major earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, many schools and organizations have started various fundraising efforts to help earthquake victims and their families.

    Last Thursday, Hill Top Academy celebrated Hat Day for Haiti. Students and staff were encouraged to make a cash donation in order to wear their favorite hat all day long. The funds raised will go to a local mission in Haiti.

    Here is a pig-ture of our very special Hill Top Café staff!

    Don’t they look Ham-tastic?

     

     

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Amy Morton, Executive Director of the CAIU

Amy Morton's regular communication with the staff and friends of the CAIU.


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