Videconference with Soldiers
at Camp Taji, Iraq

Iraq is a half a world away. Fortunately, videoconferencing technology can be used to make that distance seem so much smaller. In May, RETN is proud to host several different connections with American soldiers stationed in Camp Taji, Iraq. A virtual surprise “birthday party” is planned at ESC Region XI for a mother from Flower Mound whose son is stationed in Iraq. We can’t wait to see her face when she sees him. On May 23rd and 24th, Region XI schools will connect to Camp Taji for an early celebration of Memorial Day. Several schools have special presentations planned including singing “Stars and Stripes”, “Yesterday”, and “The Star Spangled Banner." Other students are drawing pictures, writing compositions, and writing thank you notes. Students will then get to ask soldiers questions about their life so far away from home. If you are interested in participating, please contact Gerri Maglia at gmaglia@esc11.net or 817-740-3607.

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Cook Children’s Programs

Cook Children’s Hospital is more than a facility that takes care of ill children. They also have a mission to educate children about their health. This spring, Cook Children’s piloted a new program entitled “Luke’s Visit to the Operating Room” to better explain to students what a child might expect to see, feel, and experience if they ever had the need to have an operation.

In addition to the program, they also offered a “Summer Safety” program in which they caution students about the safety precautions they should take this summer, such as being safe around and near the water and swimming pools. They will continue to offer programs to students next school year. If you have an idea of a type of program you would like to see Cook Children’s offer, please contact Gerri Maglia at gmaglia@esc11.net or 817-740-3607 with your suggestions.

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Eagle in the Water: A USS Indianapolis Survivor Story

Region XI students were truly fortunate to hear the real-life account of being a crew member on the USS Indianapolis on July 30th, 1945, on the night it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and quickly sank. Mr. L.D. Cox, a 1942 graduate of Sidney High School, in the Abilene area, was on the bridge of the USS Indianapolis the night it was sunk and spent four days and five nights in the water. Rescue efforts over several days saved only about a quarter of her nearly 1200-man crew. The USS Indianapolis was returning from a secret mission in which they had just delivered the atomic bomb. The number of World War II survivors still living is limited and opportunities delivered via videoconferencing, such as this one, are few and far between. We hope that the students that participated in this event were grateful for the experience.

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Other Great Programs

Click here to see what other great programs are being delivered via the RETN videoconferencing network, such as College Days and Astronomy Day With McDonald Observatory.

Showcase of Promising Practices -
Virtual Site Visit

Several campuses around Texas have been "validated" with regard to the development and implementation of successful programs for serving preschool age children. Teams from around the state travel to these campuses to see the teachers and students in action and to learn the procedures used to develop the programs and why they are successful. On May 2, a statewide virtual tour to Kooken Education Center in Arlington ISD, 2005 Showcase of Promising Practices site, was conducted via Texas Education Telecommunication Network (TETN) videoconferencing. Click here for more information regarding this broadcast and the exciting way that RETN is being utilized.

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A-PEP...Alcohol Pharmacology Partnership - Duke University

Duke University will again begin recruiting for High School Biology or Chemistry teachers to contribute to the development and field-testing of a pharmacology curriculum program for high schools. The program includes a series of modules that presents basic concepts of biology and chemistry in the context of alcohol pharmacology, and the recruiting period will begin in September 2006. Region XI teachers participated in a similar program in '02-'03. Click here for more information regarding this program.

End of Year Shutdown

All sites with videoconferencing systems that will not be in use during the summer must properly shut down the equipment. This will help to eliminate the problems with electricity surges that may harm the equipment and cause alarms on the networks. Step-by-step instructions can be found on the Technical Support link on the RETN Web site (http://www.esc11.net/retn), or click here to go directly to the Help Desk Web site. Instructions are found under Technical Tips. Questions or problems? Please call the Help Desk at 817-740-7616 for instructions.