Programs and Upcoming Events

Target Bullying: Assessment & Intervention
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Linden Hall, Ellicott City
This day-long workshop will feature Susan Swearer, Ph.D., a University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher, who will help administrators and teachers: evaluate their school climate; define, recognize and assess bullying; recognize differences in bullying across school years; identify critical components in a bully prevention plan; implement practical strategies for reducing bullying; and write an effective bullying policy for their school.

Working from a “social-ecological perspective,” Dr. Swearer offers a holistic view of bullying and a framework for assessment and intervention that takes into account childhood development and a school’s culture.

Dr. Susan M. Swearer is an Associate Professor of School Psychology at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL). She completed her B.A. in Psychology at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA ; her M.A. in Special Education at the Pennsylvania State University; and her Ph.D. in School Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She is the principal investigator on the Target Bullying: Ecologically-Based Prevention and Intervention project www.targetbully.com and has a long-standing track record working with schools and districts nationwide to reduce bullying behaviors. Over the past decade she has collected data and conducted staff trainings in elementary, middle, and high schools, with the goal of helping school personnel establish cost-effective and data-based strategies to reduce bullying behaviors. She is the co-author of the recently published book, Bullying Prevention and Intervention: Realistic Strategies for Schools (Swearer, Espelage, & Napolitano, 2009) and co-editor of the books, Bullying in North American Schools, 2nd edition (Espelage & Swearer, in press) and Handbook of Bullying in Schools: An International Perspective (Jimerson, Swearer, & Espelage, 2010). Dr. Swearer has authored over 50 book chapters and articles on the topics of bullying, depression, and anxiety in school-aged youth. As a licensed psychologist, Dr. Swearer is the co-director of the Nebraska Internship Consortium in Professional Psychology and is a supervising psychologist in the Child and Adolescent Therapy Clinic at UNL. Click here to register online.

AIMS School Fairs

Baltimore Area - Sunday, September 19, 2010, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Glass Pavilion, Levering Hall, Johns Hopkins University
Annapolis Area - Sunday, October 3, 2010, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Truxtun Park Recreation Center

The AIMS School Fairs are an excellent opportunity for families to become acquainted with all that independent schools have to offer. There are schools to fit every child at this event, from small to large, urban to rural, single sex to co-ed. Attendees at each School Fair will have an opportunity to ask questions of the many school representatives and gain more insight into the independent school environment. Each representative school will handle requests for information differently while providing answers to your questions. The AIMS School Fairs also include educational sessions presented by experienced independent school professionals who will offer guidelines to help you navigate the often confusing but exciting process. You will learn more about how to choose the right school for your child, how an applicant is selected, and how to afford an independent education. Click here for the Baltimore Area Brochure or the Annapolis Area Brochure which includes schedules and a list of schools that will participate in this year's Fairs.

Leadership Conferences

A Workshop for Heads of School and Trustees
This full-day conference offers AISGW, AIMS, and VAIS Heads of Schools and their Board Chairs (or other member of the Board Executive committee) a unique opportunity to explore critical independent school leadership issues in a collaborative environment. The day features a keynote by leadership expert Rob Evans, concurrent sessions on topics from the evolving legal landscape to succession planning, the head-board relationship, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities. Click here for a flyer
Click here to register online.

Trusteeship 101: A Workshop for New or Nearly New Trustees
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon at Linden Hall, Ellicott City
Participants in this popular workshop will have the chance to work with one of the nations preeminent authorities on nonprofit governance and on independent school governance in particular. Mary DeKuyper has worked with more than sixty independent schools and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. The author of the NAIS Trustee Handbook published by the National Association of Independent Schools in 1998, 2003 and 2007, Mary is the former Board chair of The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore and was National Chair of Volunteers of the American Red Cross. She currently serves on the Board of The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore. This interactive workshop for new and nearly-new trustees will shed light on the critical topics faced by today’s Trustees, including their roles and responsibilities and the Board’s relationship with the Head of School. Click here to register online.

Annual Conference

Monday, November 1, 2010 from 8:00 to 2:15 p.m. at The Baltimore Convention Center
The premier professional development opportunity presented each year for Maryland educators is the AIMS Fall Conference. This extensive program, which is held at the Baltimore Convention Center, is developed by a team of twenty-two educators from around the state representing different divisions and disciplines found in our schools. In addition to having the chance to hear many experts in their fields of study, participants have the opportunity to visit with over 100 different companies and organizations exhibiting as part of the conference. Click here for information about our keynote, featured speakers, and other details about the conference.

Professional Development

An important part of the mission of AIMS is to provide professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators in our member schools. Each year, a committee of educators gathers to develop and plan the program offerings for the upcoming year, based on the identified needs in their discipline. Generally, about twenty-five programs are presented each school year ranging in length from one-half day to three days long in a variety of disciplines. Some of the programs offered are specifically planned to reach educators where they are on their professional journey, starting with specific programs for beginning teachers to more advance workshops for veteran teachers. To access a list of ongoing programs, click the following links to register online for teachers or administrators. Check back for continuing development of AIMS Professional Development programs available for the upcoming year. Below is a list of what is planned so far.

Legal and Ethical Issues for School Counselors
September 21, 2010 - Mt. Washington Center – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

New Teachers - Classroom Management
September 24, 2010 - Linden Hall, Columbia – 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Theatre in the Classroom
September 29, 2010 - The Park School – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon

Executive Function for Teachers
How Executive Function Can be Nurtured through Education
October 1, 2010 - Highlands School – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Social Networking in the Humanities Classroom
October 5, 2010 - Bullis School – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Dalcroze for Adults and Children
October 12, 2010 - McDonogh School – 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

New Teachers - Technology Tools for Teaching and Learning
October 13, 2010 - The Boys' Latin School of Maryland – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon

TECgather: Consortium for Focused Technology Training
October 14, 2010 - Glenelg Country School - 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Felting
November 5, 2010 - Garrison Forest School – 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Community, Adventure, Curriculum: Outdoor Education in Our Schools
December 1, 2010 - Jemicy School – time TBD

New Teachers - How the Brain Learns and Your Classroom
December 2, 2010 - Linden Hall – 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Resources of the National Archives
December 8, 2010 - The National Archives – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Art Sharing (Baltimore area)
January 7, 2011 - The Bryn Mawr School – 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

TECgather: Netbooks - Who's Got What? How are They Working?
January 11, 2011 - Sidwell Friends School - 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon

Web 2.0 Tools for Your Teaching Toolbox
January 14, 2011 - Maryvale Preparatory School – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon

Science Sharing for Middle School Teachers
January 21, 2011 - Calvert School – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon

New Teachers - Differentiated Instruction: Striving to Reach and Teach All Learners
February 2, 2011 - Linden Hall – 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Yoga and Meditation in the Classroom
February 16, 2011 - Location TBD – 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Physical Education Lesson Plan Sharing
February 25, 2011 - Calvert School – 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Writing in the 21st Century
March 11, 2011 - Loyola Blakefield – 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m.

Art Sharing (D.C. area)
March 15, 2011 - Sandy Spring Friends School – time TBD

Social Class in Independent Schools
April 5, 2011 - Sidwell Friends School – 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Technology Retreat
May 1-3, 2011 – Harbourtowne, St. Michaels