Monday, October 10, 2005

Hurricane Katrina: How GPB is Helping

Over the last month people all over the world have felt the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. Those who were not directly touched by the hurricane have certainly heard the countless stories of displacement and loss from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama leaving them wondering what they can do to help. We at Georgia Public Broadcasting also got together to discuss what we could do to assist our neighboring states and those who have relocated to Georgia as a result of the damage.

Since the hurricane Georgia's school system has opened its doors to over 5,600 new students with the promise of more evacuated children to enroll. For this reason GPB Education organized a building-wide school supply drive with an overwhelming response. As children displaced by the hurricane with little else but the clothes on their backs continue their education here in Georgia, we wanted to do our part to insure that they would not be left without the tools they need in the classroom. In the last month van loads of supplies have been delivered to local shelters from our building for distribution.

In addition to donating school supplies, GPB Education also organized a trip to the Red Cross to donate blood. With the drastic and sudden increase in our state's population, resources like that of local blood banks have been stretched very thin.

Sunday, October 2, 2005

Irasshai's Family is Growing

This year's enrollment figures for Irasshai, GPB's Japanese language program, have been released for September 2005. GPB is excited to announce that the number of students registered for the program has increased by about 100 students over the last year. Registered students for the week of 9/2/05 totaled 513 (226 in state, 287 out of state), this is up from totals taken during the same week last year of 415 (168 in state, 247 out of state).

For More Information:
- Call the Irasshai Hotline at 1-800-883-7444 or 404-685-2811 in the Atlanta area.
- Visit the Irasshai website

Georgia Read More

It has been a year this month since the Georgia Department of Education implemented a literacy program aimed at 3rd graders entitled Georgia Read More. Since that time the series has proven to be a major success that is scheduled to continue for an additional year. Georgia Read More is a series of programs that promote literacy by having dignitaries and celebrities read a children's book aloud to a group of students. These readings are taped and broadcast on GPB Education Channel 430 for children and educators all over the state to view. The programs are also accessible for viewing via web casts, and DVDs distributed to Georgia's 1,200 elementary schools.

Guest readers include:
Kathy Cox
Mary Perdue
President Jimmy Carter
John Smoltz
Travis Tritt
Bill Elliott
Chief Justice Leah Ward-Sears

The Georgia Department of Education's Georgia Read More project is literacy initiative in collaboration with the Georgia Technology Authority and Georgia Public Broadcasting. Scholastic Books, Peachtree Publishers, and other publishing companies have provided books and copyright permission for this project.

Georgia Department of Education website

Download PDF flyer of Georgia Read More

Saturday, October 1, 2005

Sing

How do squeaky-voiced eight-year-olds become amazing singers? "Sing!" focuses on the Los Angeles Children's Chorus, which has worked out of two rooms in a basement for 15 years to create extraordinary music under the guidance of artistic director Anne Tomlinson. The film follows a group of children nervously auditioning for the limited spots in the chorus and dramatically shows their transformation from shower singer into choristers of exceptional vocal beauty. Through it all, they are typical pre-teens who also appreciate art and music in their lives. "Sing!" was a nominee in this year's Academy Awards short documentary competition, and was written and directed by Academy Award-winner Freida Lee Mock.
Tune into channel 410 for this special 30 minute presentation of "Sing!" on Friday, October 7 at 3 pm.

Georgia History 2006 Essay Contest: Georgia's History in your own Backyard

History surrounds us everywhere in Georgia in places like historic buildings, churches, battlefields, courthouses, cemeteries, even in the stories people tell. It is this abundance of history that led to The Georgia History 2006 Essay Contest topic of: Georgia's History in your own Backyard. This contest provides a chance for students in grades 4-12 to look around and discover what history can be found in their own neighborhoods.

The deadline to submit essays is December 12, 2005. Essays should be between one and two pages in length, with a maximum of 300 words.

Mail entries to:
Georgia Voyager Magazine
6063 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 101-A
Norcross, GA 30092

Essays can also be e-mailed to:
gvoyager@bellsouth.net

For more information visit gavoyager.com or call 800-243-6991