Summer Camp 2004 Hats Off to the
Participants
By Cindy Thompson
This year’s Summer Camp (aka Summer Leadership Institute)
was once again a resounding success! Each year it seems as though
the participants seem to grow in enthusiasm, collegiality, and
just plain fun! The theme of this Summer Camp was HATS (Helping
to Achieve Temporary Sanity) and I have to say – hats off
to the participants!
From the beginning of the workshop until the last minute, the
participants were engaged in a variety of activities and learning
experiences. As has been the case in each of the previous summer
camps, we had our assignments. This year, we began looking at
the new Georgia Performance Standards in Language Arts and comparing
their outcomes to our Information Literacy Skills Checklist. Necessary
revisions have been made and should be ready for implementation
in line with the Georgia Department of Education’s timeline.
Guest who shared information and skills with the participants
included:
- Our own Judy Serritella, Coordinator
of Media Services for the Georgia Department of Education;
- June Weiss with the Southern Regional
Education Board who shared information about 21st Century Skills;
- Karen Muska, with Georgia Learning Connections;
- Jeff White of Georgia Public Broadcasting;
- And, Lasa Joiner, GLMA’s lobbyist.
Needless to say, in a two-and-a-half-day workshop, there was
never an idle moment – not to say that we did not have a
barrel of fun in the after-hours. The waiters at Carrabba’s
and Outback did not believe that we were actually librarians!
When one considers that each media specialist in attendance represented
at least fifty teachers and then shares what they gained at Summer
Camp with their faculties, then there will be several thousand
students who will have some wonderful learning experiences in
the coming year.
Since I am stepping down as the chair of the annual summer event,
please allow me a personal moment. I want to thank everyone who
has ever attended a GLMA Summer Institute. You have provided me
with some of my best professional experiences, a wealth of knowledge,
and a host of friends. I am humbled in your presence!