We recently received the following letter from our local best Buy store.
For more information visit their site at: www.bestbuy.com/teach
Apply online today.  Store number 531.
Application dedline is September 30, 2006

As proud partners in the Greater Portland community, we at Best Buy feel it is our responsibility to give back to the community. Every year we extend support in times of celebration, and in times of need. 

Best Buy’s experience and expertise for technology has fueled our passion for kids and learning.  We’ve seen first hand that when kids create movies about what they’ve learned in school, or create web sites, or even use global positioning systems to learn about science, that they are more excited about learning.  That’s why we’re committed to supporting schools using technology to make learning fun.

The Bust Buy te@ch program is designed to recognize innovative and effective uses of interactive technology in the classroom.  This year more than $3.5 million will be awarded to grades K-12 public, private, and parochial schools in the United States through the Best Buy te@ch program.  Up to 12,000 schools will be selected o receive a $2,500 Best Buy te@ch gift card.  Based on the creativity of the application submitted, up to 36 schools will receive regional awards of $15,000. Each  school districts of regional award recipients will be entered into the pool of districts that may potentially receive $250,000 award.

I encourage your school to apply for a Best Buy te@ch award.  More information about this year’s program is available on www.bestbuy.com/teach.  All applications must be completed and submitted by September 30th.  Awards will be announced in January 2007.

We appreciate the work you do in this community.  Good luck on your te@ch application.

Sincerely,
Gloria  Conley
General Manager
Store 531

Posted: 9/15/2006

Save the Date for MAINEducation 2006
October 12 - 13, 2006
Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, ME
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The 19th annual MAINEducation Technology Conference will be held October 12- 13, 2006 at the Augusta Civic Center.  The theme for this years' conference is "The 21st Century is Now". Many exciting changes are on tap for the 2006 conference.  The conference will sponsor a nationally-acclaimed keynote speaker for Friday morning. Pre-conference workshops on Thursday afternoon will be followed by the first ACTEM Reception and Banquet on Thursday evening. Check out ACTEM's website often for updates and the latest information about our annual conference.

Keynote Speaker
David Warlick, a 30 year educator, has been a classroom teacher, district administrator, and staff consultant with the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction. For the past ten years, Mr. Warlick has been the director of The Landmark Project, a web development, consulting, and innovations firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. His web site, Landmarks for Schools, serves more than six-million visits a month. David is also the author of three books on instructional technology and 21st century literacy, and has spoken to audiences throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America.

What makes David a highly effective and sought-after speaker is that, at heart, he is a teacher with a contagious passion and enthusiasm for helping people discover a brand new world of teaching and learning.

Posted: 9/12/2006

Maine High School and Middle School students from around the state are invited to enter the Maine Student Web Design Award Program.

This program is intended to encourage Maine High School and Middle School students to explore, experience, and one day enter, the "Creative Economy" in Maine.

Students are encouraged to creatively express their interests and hobbies. Suggested themes of the students' websites should be related to education, community, history, the arts, philanthropy, school, the environment, wellness, business, sports, recreation, games, music, nature, animals, science, mathematics, family, the State of Maine, technology, etc.

Posted: 11/14/2005