Connections Fall 2009
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Charleston of College Miraieno Chiimuwaaku: Japanese Culture in Charleston The College of Charleston and Memminger Elementary School teamed up to educate nearly 250 early elementary students about Japanese art and culture. The six month immersion project culminated on Friday, April 24, 2009 with a Japanese Festival held at Memminger Elementary and the College’s N.E. Miles Early Childhood Education Center (ECDC). The students participated in various arts and languages activities and enjoyed Japanese cuisine for lunch. The four‐and‐five‐year old classes at ECDC, as well as the 4K, 5K, first and second grad‐ ers at Memminger, spent the spring semester learning about Japan through a grant Performance from the Japan Foundation. Professors in the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs held workshops for Memminger teachers to educate them about customs and cultures. Mem‐ minger Elementary also hosted a Japanese artist‐in‐ Human residence from Creative Spark, and the students learned about Japanese wood prints at the Gibbes Mu‐ and seum of Art. “This program has generated international attention,” Health, said Fran Welch, Dean of the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance. “The College co‐ sponsored the Comparative and International Educa‐ tion Conference and a group of about 75 participants took a field trip to Memminger to observe the teachers and students. The conference participants from Japan Education, were quite impressed with the children’s knowledge of about Japanese culture and language.” School 16 Issue Japanese Festival activities (clockwise from top left): kanji and katakana writing, traditional lunch, exploration 2009 of traditional kimono, kite making, and gyotaku fish Fall PROGRAM NEWS Message from the Dean On October 16, 2009, the College of Charleston’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved a new Strate‐ gic Plan that will guide the institution for the next decade and beyond. The plan articulates the College’s purpose and core values, and establishes five goals that will enable the College to achieve its envisioned future by 2020. For the complete plan, visit cofc.edu/strategicplan. The College intends to maintain the student‐centered focus of a small teaching institution, while offering the expansive academic opportunities that are characteristic of a national research university. Under‐ graduate liberal arts and sciences education will remain the top priority, but the College will expand and pursue new graduate‐level programs in academic areas tied to the history, traditions, culture, and envi‐ ronment of the Lowcountry. The Strategic Plan establishes a new direction aimed at infusing this institution with a culture of innova‐ tion, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, advocacy, diversity, and sustainability. An international and envi‐ ronmentally conscious perspective will permeate the campus, and every member of the College commu‐ nity will serve as an ambassador for the College of Charleston. To realize its envisioned future, the Col‐ Frances C. Welch, Ph.D. lege must embrace a new financial paradigm that provides sufficient resources to support new initia‐ tives, dramatically increases student financial aid, and enables the hiring of additional faculty and staff. We, in the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance, are developing our goals and priorities that align with the College’s new Strategic Plan. Based on our strong history of accomplishments and growth, we plan to convert our concentrations to undergraduate ma‐ jors in exercise science and public health. We also plan to improve facilities for our Department of Health and Human Performance’s pro‐ grams, students, faculty, and staff members. Increased and improved graduate programs in both teacher education and health and hu‐ man performance are in our 10 year plan, and we plan to partner with another university to offer a doctoral level program in some aspect of teacher education. We will also continue the important work of increasing the diversity of our faculty, staff, and students. We will con‐ tinue and improve our personalized education and develop additional and more robust international education programs. We will go be‐ yond having all of our programs nationally accredited and receive national awards that recognize the quality and accomplishments of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni. I invite you to join us in celebrating our many accomplishments and activities described throughout this newsletter, and to continue your connection – or become connected with us as we develop meaningful, important, and ambitious plans for our future. New Day for Learning: Expanded Learning Time and Partnerships The School of Education, Health, and Human Performance invited school teams from 15 low‐performing schools in Charleston County to participate in the New Day for Learning: Expanded Learning Time and Partnerships Institute at North Charleston Elementary School this past summer. The event was part of Charleston’s community‐wide involvement with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation’s New Day for Learning initiative. The focus was on creating five‐year, comprehensive plans for expanding learning beyond the school day and creating effective partnerships at the national, state, and local levels. Charleston County School District Superintendent Nancy McGinley introduced keynote speaker Rhonda H. Lauer, President and CEO, Foundations Inc., and told those gathered that extended learning opportunities must be embraced to help move the district forward and improve student performance. The cities of Charleston and North Charleston are among only ten communities across the country selected for the New Day for Learning initia‐ tive, an innovative collaboration of school, after‐school, and community leaders who work on expanding and integrating new efforts to re‐imagine education for young people. Alumni Notes 1980s Professional Achievements and Personal Milestones Julie I. Murden (B.S. ‘80) was selected as 2009 Elementary 1970s School Teacher of the Year by the South Carolina Independent S. Thomas Lee (M.Ed. ‘74) has retired from James B. Edwards Elementary School in School Association. Julie teaches third grade at Addlestone He‐ Mount Pleasant, S.C. as principal after 30 years in education. Tom is the only princi‐ brew Academy in Charleston. pal the school has ever had. Terri Ulichnie (B.S. ‘81) was named the 2009 Teacher of the Year Mary A. Fox (B.S. ‘78) is co‐owner of Primal Fuel coffee shop/art gallery in Mount for Harbor View Elementary School in Charleston County. Pleasant, S.C. Betty Bouton (B.A. ‘82) was named the 2009 Teacher of the Year Mary Nell Mellard (M.Ed. ‘78) received the 2008‐2009 “Best Mannered Teacher” for Fort Johnson Middle School in Charleston County. award for her work at Mount Pleasant Academy. Lisa Peeples (B.S. ‘83) was named 2009 Teacher of the Year for Mary C. Coy (B.S. ‘79) released an audio book called Charleston 101: An Introduc‐ Mount Pleasant Academy in Charleston County. tory Course—a crash course in all things Charleston. The book may be purchased at Cammy A. Groome (M. Ed. ‘84) was named Elementary School the College’s bookstore, among other retail outlets. Principal of the Year by the South Carolina Association of Admin‐ John P. Drafts (B.S. ‘79) is athletic director and boys basketball coach at Battery istrators. Cammy is the principal of Newington Elementary in Creek High School in Beaufort, S.C. PROGRAM NEWS Will Wii Fit Really Get You Fit? Students in the Department of Health and Human Performance at the College of Charleston were involved in the first research‐based study investigating the impact exergaming, using the Wii Fit, had on the fitness levels of college females. Exergaming is the latest trend to entice individuals to exercise. This method involves the use of video games like the Wii and Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) as the primary modes of exercise. Sarah Moye, Chelsea Cooke, Kel‐ vin Bailey, Lasasha Garrett, Kara Hudacko, Trina Keel, Maurice Miller, Meryl Stone, Dan Mogen‐ sen, Danielle Jordan, Mindy Marchlewski, and Shaquenta McKellar, under the direction of Dr. Karen Smail, devel‐ oped a four‐week training program and compared the fitness benefits of exercising using the Wii Fit to a traditional aerobics class. Upon completion of the study, there were no significant differences in any of the fit‐ ness measures (cardiovascular, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition) between the two groups. This suggests that the Wii Fit is a viable alternative exercise to an aerobics class. The difference between the groups came in the form of motivation. The group that exercised using the Wii Fit indicated that they were more motivated to exercise and rated their workouts as more intense than did the aerobic participants. Business Education Award Winners The Annual Business Education Award is presented by the College of Charleston in conjunction with the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation and recognizes businesses or community organizations that are making a significant difference in our public schools. In September, schools in the tricounty area were asked to nominate a business or community organization that partnered with public schools to support our future workforce. In alignment with this year’s Business Education Summit theme “Building the Pipeline,” one winner was selected in each of four school districts and presented with the award at the Business Education Summit on October 28, 2009. Congratulations to the 2008 and 2009 winners! Berkeley County School District Dorchester School District Two 2008 BP America, Inc. Cooper River Plant 2008 Mr. Sign 2009 Hubner Manufacturing 2009 Patterson Printing & Graphics Charleston County School District Dorchester School District Four 2008 First Citizens Bank 2008 Giant Cement Company Representatives from SC Ports Authority, nominated by West 2009 SC Ports Authority 2009 Showa Denko Carbon Ashley High School, accepted the 2009 Business Education Award. Anne Marie Tracy (B.S. ‘85) was named the 2009 Teacher of the Year Debra Matthews (M.A.T. ‘89) was named the 2009 Teacher of the Year for for Berkeley Intermediate School in Berkeley County.