Education briefs

Advertiser Staff

Two schools top fresh water contest

Farrington High School and Kaimuki Middle School were the grand prize winners of a magazine contest on water conservation by the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council and the East-West Center.

Seven schools were involved in the contest, held as part of Hawai'i International Education Week. The United Nations named 2003 the international year of fresh water.

High-school students were assigned the theme, "Is Our Water Running Out?" Middle schools were given the theme, "Water for People — Water for Life — Water for Our Future." The winning magazines will be shared with state lawmakers, the U.N. secretary general and the U.S. Department of Education secretary.

Students advised to plan for college

With the start of the new year approaching, students who plan to start college next fall are encouraged to begin working on financial aid.

Experts for ACT offer these tips to help families find the resources they need to complete financial aid paperwork.

The most important form is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Beginning Jan. 1, students will be able to submit the form, which determines eligibility for student financial aid from federal programs. Students will need family income statements from 2003 to complete the form. Colleges and universities use the FAFSA, but may also require students to fill out additional forms. The FAFSA is available from high school counselors or at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Financial aid tips from ACT:

• Apply early for admission and financial aid. Make sure the forms are complete and all required signatures are included. Check all information for accuracy.
• Check with your college to determine if other financial aid forms are required.
• Apply for scholarships and grants.
• Look into Work Study programs.
• Surf the Web for financial aid information.

Try these Web sites:

• For a financial aid need estimator and financial aid information: www.act.org/fane.
• The federal government financial aid page: www.ed.gov/finaid.html.
• Free college scholarship search: www.collegenet.com.
  
  
  

Arts project gets $272,000 grant

Arts First, a project to increase arts education, has received a $272,000 federal grant to incorporate art into lesson plans at three Windward elementary schools that serve a high proportion of low-income students.

Teachers will receive tool kits with sample lesson plans and teaching strategies aimed at helping third-graders learn about the fine arts. Researchers from the University of Hawai'i-Manoa will track whether an emphasis on the arts improves student test scores or influences their behavior.

The U.S. Department of Education has recommended three years of grants for Arts First, but continued financing will depend on whether Congress approves the money and the project meets performance goals.