PROJECT IDEA EXCHANGE “PIE” MONTHLY NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2002 VOLUME 1: NO. 3 http://pie.mcvts.net www.mcvts.net/pie PROGRAM OF THE MONTH “HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD” by Isabel DaSilva Have you ever wondered how holidays are marked in different countries? We invite you to be part of the HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD to learn about others. Students at the Perth Amboy Campus of the Middlesex County Vocational/Technical High Schools (New Jersey, USA) are currently participating in the HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD project and are enjoying it. Hopefully this will spark some interest with teachers and their students not only in Japan, but also in Europe, Asia, North America and Australia. This is a student-based project that allows teens to research, study and understand how different cultures celebrate holidays in Japan and other countries. Students compare and contrast an American holiday to the same holiday in Japan. All essays have been posted on the PIE website under “This Month in Culture.” The goal is for students to read, post and comment on the essays. Please see the “This Month in Culture” posting section if you are interested in participating in the project. If you have any comments, questions or need more information, please contact Isabel DaSilva at Bella9971@aol.com or desilvai@mail.mcvts.net. MEMBERSHIP NEWS I am pleased to announce and welcome the new members to the PIE Network. Deborah Choplin: JF Paulsen-France Luisa Gonzalez: I.E.S. “El Jaroso”-Spain Gerlinde Schmitt: Hauptschule Ebern-Germany An updated version of the PIE Membership should soon be posted. For more detailed information describing the new PIE members and for the full membership listing, access the PIE website at http://pie.mcvts.net and click on MEMBERSHIP LISTING. Interested in learning amore about the daily life of a teacher in Japan? PIE member Hisao Hayashi posts a very insightful newsletter that I have found very interesting. Hisao is a Music Teacher at Inokuchimyojin Elementray School In Hiroshima, Japan. I am quite sure that if contact Hisao (hisao@hiroshima-cdas.or.jp), he would probably enjoy adding you as one of his newsletter recipients.  Also, I recently read in his newsletter that Hisao, in March 2002 will be visiting the United States as a participant in the Fulbright Memorial Fund Master Teacher Program. After an orientation program in Washington DC, Hisao will be spending some time at Fernley Elementary School in Nevada. Congratulations! I am sure that all of the PIE members who have taken part in Fulbright programs offer their congratulations. If anyone has any suggestions or would like to learn more about his FMF Master Teacher Program activities, please email Hisao. PIE "TIP OF THE MONTH" Are your students involved in a research project studying a country other than their own? My students recently discovered a great, easy to use website tilted “CountryWatch.” The site can be accessed at www.countrywatch.com and provides a great deal of detailed, yet very understandable information. My students were especially interested in learning about the environmental issues of various countries. One item that the students especially liked was that the corresponding time of the day was provided for the country that they were researching. Give it a visit and share your ideas. DIRECTOR’S NOTES VITAL NOTICE: ALL MEMBERS PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT DUE TO AN UPGRADE IN THE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTING THE PIE WEBSITE, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS ALL THE OPTIONS AND POSTINGS ON THE WEBSITE IF YOU ACCESS THE WEBSITE USING www.mcvts.net/pie.  IT IS STRONGLY SUGGESTED THAT YOU ACCESS THE PIE WEBSITE USING THE NEW ADDRESS, http://pie.mcvts.net.  I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THAT THIS CHANGE MAY CAUSE YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANY DIFFICULTIES, PLEASE CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY AT reade@mail.mcvts.net or erreadiii@aol.com OR CONTACT THE WEBMASTER AT web@mail.mcvts.net. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COOPERATION! Be Happy, Well and Safe! Ernie Read: PIE Director