OGDEN SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A CERTIFIED GOOGLE REFERENCE DISTRICT Ogden School District is proud to be a google reference district and offer students an innovative education using technology. Ogden School District is one of only two Certified Google Reference Districts in Utah. The district has made student learning and development a priority by encouraging all of their teachers to become Google Certified Educators. Google for Education certifications are structured to help teachers use and integrate Google technology into the classroom. Certified Google Educators incorporate advanced techniques of teaching with technology. Ogden has the highest concentration of certified Google Educators of any district in Utah. Ogden also has the most certified Google Trainers and certified Google Innovators in the state. Through Google certifications, teachers have the opportunity to introduce innovative learning methods to help increase the digital literacy of their students. Using different programs or apps, instructors can enhance their students' learning experience. They create a variety of different activities for students to participate in while learning. For teachers, the skills and information gained from Google certifications also provides them with a unique opportunity to add new and interesting ideas into the curriculum. When teachers become more proficient using technology, it creates a more efficient classroom where students can thrive. Efficiency in the classroom gained from technology allows teachers to dedicate more time to each student’s individual needs. Students in Ogden School District directly benefit from Google Certified Educators. As technology becomes increasingly prevalent in the world and the workplace, it is more important for students to be capable of using technology in a professional setting. When teachers are Google Certified Educators they can help their students become comfortable using technology in a formal setting. Technology in the classroom helps keep students engaged while learning the curriculum through new methods and styles. With varied learning styles, technology allows students to gain knowledge on the individual basis that best suits them. To compliment individualized learning, students can also gain experience collaborating through technology by using programs like shared documents or presentations. As technology continues to be a driving force in today’s society and workplace, introducing forms of technology in the classroom is a great way to help kids prepare for the future. With technology, students have access to more resources more quickly than ever before. Technology can help students to solve problems and complete assignments using creative thinking skills. Nathan Church from Highland Junior High said, “working with all of the Google tools gets me really excited about my future. It will help me get a really good job. It is what I want to do.” To find more information about Google Certified Educators in Ogden School District click here. About Ogden School District Established in 1849, Ogden City School District is an inner-city district, enriched by multicultural diversity. Ogden School District is committed to providing safe learning environments that stimulate our students' curiosities, promote continuous improvement, and serve our surrounding communities. We believe that each student has the right to be appropriately challenged through a variety of academic and extra-curricular opportunities, should have access to high quality instruction, and should be supported in their effort to exceed the basic standards.The district strives to provide students and families with programmatic choice through a variety of academic and extra-curricular opportunities. The Ogden School District consists of thirteen neighborhood elementary schools (K-6), three junior high schools(7-9), two comprehensive high schools (10-12), one alternative high school and one youth-in care school. The district faculty and staff serve approximately 11,500 students and their families. Ogden School District’s vision is to empower excellence through education! Visit our website at www.ogdensd.org for more information on our district, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for all our latest news.
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NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE ANNOUNCES ENCORE MOMENTS CAMPAIGN WINNERS
-Over 50 Everyday Heroes Rewarded with a Cruise for Two-
MIAMI (Nov. 25, 2019) – Norwegian Cruise Line, the innovator in global cruise travel with a nearly 53-year history of breaking boundaries, today announced the winners of its Encore Moments campaign, created to recognize and reward everyday heroes across the U.S. and Canada for the positive impact they have on their friends, families and communities.
Fifty-one nominees were chosen for their outstanding, and often selfless, efforts. The below winners will enjoy a three-to-five-day cruise for two as well as a weekend in New York City, where they will be celebrated at an award ceremony aboard Norwegian Bliss, one of the most innovative ships in the Company’s 17-ship fleet.
“We are excited to honor these inspiring individuals from around the U.S. and Canada,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Their kindness, dedication and passion to help others is truly moving. From first responders, to those helping family members in need, to those who go out of their way to lift others up, we are happy to acknowledge these heroes through our Encore Moments campaign.”
The Encore Moments Campaign is just one in a series of efforts that showcases the Company’s commitment to awarding individuals who are dedicated to spreading acts of kindness. In May, Norwegian Cruise Line honored 30 teachers as part of its Giving Joy campaign, and in September, the Company rewarded 20 music educators on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
Encore Moments Winners
United States of America
Alabama: James Patrick Aitkin
Arizona: Lance McKinnie
Arkansas: Patricia Pratt
California: Holly Teixeira
Colorado: Natalie Barnard
Connecticut: Katy Bell
Delaware: Amanda Valentin
Florida: Carlos Martinez
Hawaii: Danielle Egeberg
Idaho: Fred McDonald
Illinois: Claire Crone
Indiana: David Sklar
Iowa: Kortney Gaura
Kansas: Michael Brandhorst
Kentucky: Alisa Blanton
Maryland: Joseph Kerr
Massachusetts: Jessica Fellows
Michigan: Christopher Swanson
Minnesota: Leah Egan
Mississippi: Jeremy McCarty
Missouri: Elizabeth Leiva
Montana: Amber Duncan
Nebraska: Chastity VonWonder
Nevada: Kristyne Kaahea
New Hampshire: Maureen Cronin
New Jersey: Jeffrey Leider
New Mexico: Mary Tovey
New York: Donald Deitz
North Carolina: Amber Smith
North Dakota: Kenneth Hinton
Ohio: Tyler Mangas
Pennsylvania: Nancy James
Puerto Rico: Eddie Irizarry Olivo
Rhode Island: Stephanie Potts
South Carolina: Edward Rothrock
South Dakota: Aimee Chase
Texas: Rachelle Boyd-Huff
Utah: Rachel Robison
Vermont: Shawn Blake
Virginia: Daniel Boothe
Wisconsin: David Gehringer
Wyoming: Shelly Allen
Canada
Alberta: James Lee
British Columbia: Jennifer Monaghan
Manitoba: Marshall Mann
New Brunswick: Katherine Cougle
Newfoundland and Labrador: Joan Aucoin
Nova Scotia: Clayton Drysdale
Ontario: Stephen Piccott
Prince Edward Island: Kimberly Mullett
Saskatchewan: Brandon Mudry
Norwegian Encore debuted last month and began offering seven-day voyages to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami on Nov. 24, 2019; Bermuda, and Canada and New England itineraries from New York City beginning Apr. 22, 2020; and voyages to the Western Caribbean from Miami beginning Dec. 12, 2020. In the spring of 2021, she will make her West Coast debut and sail to Alaska from Seattle.
For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line ships and their itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.
For Norwegian Encore’s press kit and assets, click here.
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About Norwegian Encore
At nearly 1,100 feet long, with a gross tonnage of almost 170,000, Norwegian Encore has a guest capacity of nearly 4,000. She is the fourth and final ship of the very successful Breakaway Plus class, and features many of the highly rated restaurants and lounges that have made this class one of the most innovative in the Company’s history. In addition, Norwegian Encore features a new elevated Italian dining experience, Onda by Scarpetta, in collaboration with LDV Hospitality. The Tony Award®-winning musical, “Kinky Boots” headlines the world-class entertainment on board, with returning guest favorites “The Choir of Man,” “Happy Hour Prohibition: The Musical” and the rocking Beatles cover band of The Cavern Club.
As part of a recent partnership with JUST Goods, Inc., Norwegian Encore is the first ship in the Company to be plastic bottle free. By Jan. 1, 2020 Norwegian Cruise Line will be the first major cruise line to eliminate plastic bottles across its entire fleet, a significant effort towards providing guests with more sustainable options at sea.
Norwegian Encore will offer seven-day voyages to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami beginning Nov. 24, 2019; Bermuda, and Canada and New England itineraries from New York City beginning Apr. 22, 2020; and voyages to the Western Caribbean from Miami beginning Dec. 12, 2020. In the spring of 2021, she will make her West Coast debut and sail to Alaska from Seattle.
About Norwegian Cruise Line
As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for nearly 53 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionized the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 17 contemporary ships sail to nearly 300 of the world’s most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Norwegian Cruise Line not only provides superior guest service from land to sea, but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo-traveler staterooms, mini-suites, spa-suites and The Haven by Norwegian®, the company’s ship-within-a-ship concept. For additional information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com. For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the media center and follow Norwegian Cruise line on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter and Snapchat @CruiseNorwegian.
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Press Release
USDA Helps Rural Businesses Make Energy Efficiency Improvements, Adopt Renewable Energy Systems
Investments will Help 640 Businesses Boost Their Bottom Line
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2019 – Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $237 million to help farmers, ag producers and rural-based businesses lower energy costs (PDF, 229 KB). The Department is providing 640 awards to applicants in all 50 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Western Pacific. USDA is providing the funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
“Businesses grow and create more jobs when their energy costs are lower,” LaVoy said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural businesses, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Recipients can use REAP funding for energy audits and to install renewable energy systems such as biomass, geothermal, hydropower and solar. The funding can also be used to increase energy efficiency by making improvements to heating, ventilation and cooling systems; insulation; and lighting and refrigeration.
For example:
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Supporting the rural workforce was a cornerstone recommendation of the task force.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
Nordic Valley will open this Friday, December 6 Eden, UT – Nordic Valley Ski Resort will open for the winter season tomorrow, December 6, offering top-to-bottom skiing and snowboarding. “The Nordic Valley team is excited to welcome back our guests for the 2019-2020 winter season. With the 24” of snow that came last week and help from our expanded snowmaking system, Nordic is ready to open with top-to-bottom skiing” stated Brandon Fessler, General Manager of Nordic Valley Ski Resort. To celebrate the beginning of the season, traditional first chair festivities will be held at the Apollo lift at 10 a.m. on Friday. Nordic Valley expects to open 19 of 22 trails and additional terrain will be opening soon, Fessler said. Rental and ski school services will be available beginning Friday and the Nordic Valley Grill will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. New This Season Every child age 10 years and younger receives a FREE season pass that’s good every day at Nordic Valley, Purgatory Resort, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort, Snowbowl, and Hesperus during the 19/20 winter seasons. No purchase necessary, no strings attached – it’s all free! Last month, Mountain Capital Partners - the management company that operates Nordic Valley - announced the acquisition of southern Utah-based Brian Head Resort. Beginning the 2019-2020 winter season, the Power Pass, the premiere season pass at Nordic Valley, will offer unlimited skiing at Brian Head in addition to Nordic Valley, Purgatory Resort in Colorado, Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff, Sipapu Ski Resort in New Mexico, Pajarito Mountain in New Mexico, Hesperus Ski Area in Colorado. The Power Pass also comes with unlimited mountain bike uplift access at Spider Mountain Bike Park, located near Austin, Texas. Nordic Valley now offers more great pass options for families, including the Family Unlimited Pass and Family Restricted Pass. For each of these passes, the more family members added, the greater the savings. Discounted passes will be available through December 12. For more information on Nordic Valley season passes, visit NordicValley.com. For more information on conditions, events, and season passes, visit the ski resort’s website, NordicValley.com. ### Media may use these images of Nordic Valley Ski Resort - photo credit: Nordic Valley Ski Resort Media Contact: CJ Brown | cbrown@nordicvalley.ski | (435) 720-2475 About Nordic Valley Nordic Valley Ski Resort, located in Eden, UT and only 25 minutes from downtown Ogden, was first established in 1968. Nordic Valley offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain for skiing and snowboarding with 140 skiable acres, 23 trails, four lifts, a terrain park, and snowmaking which covers 60 percent of terrain. The Utah ski area receives an average of 300 inches of snow annually, and has a 1,000 foot vertical. It also features a day lodge, rental shop and ski & snowboard school. About Mountain Capital Partners Headquartered in Durango, Colo., Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) owns and manages the largest collection of ski resorts and mountain bike parks in the Southwest, including Nordic Valley Ski Resort, Brianhead, Purgatory Resort, Arizona Snowbowl, Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort, Pajarito Mountain, Hesperus Ski Area, and Colorado’s largest snowcat skiing operation, Purgatory Snowcat Adventures. In total, the resorts feature more than 4,405 skiable acres, 376 trails, 47 lifts, 23 terrain parks, 35,000 skiable acres, plus a variety of summer activities, such as mountain bike trails, scenic chairlift rides, an alpine slide, a new mountain coaster at Purgatory Resort, and more. James Coleman is the managing partner of MCP, which has invested more than $40 million at its five resorts over the past four years alone, adding new chairlifts, trails, snowmaking, and other improvements.
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