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2005
Educator Incentive Grant Winners
Aldridge Elementary School
Step Into Spring/Spring In Your Step - Angie
Veyhl, School Nurse/Asst Team Leader Health and Fitness, $1500 Step
Into Spring is a program for students designed to integrate with Spring
in Your Step, a simultaneous staff fitness program. The purpose
of the dual
approach for mentoring fitness is to maximize the impact on overall campus
fitness goals. Although each component program could be implemented in
a stand-alone manner, these collaborative fitness programs will encourage
healthy
activities
to be mentored by the adults to the students, and the students to the
adults.
Exploring Animal Adaptations Through The Study Of
Their Skulls, Teresa Richard, Teacher, $1384 Exploring Animal
Adaptations Through The Study Of Their Skulls is an inquiry-based lab
studying the different characteristics or attributes
of animals. This
lab will show that a student can identify an animal’s position
in the ecosystem by investigating dental patterns and eye placements
on skulls. Since this lab
is inquiry-based, students will have the rare opportunity to have a hands-on
experience with animal skulls of a Texas ecosystem.
Beaty Early Childhood School
TOPS: Teaching Our Parents Success,
Armandina Brown & Elena Farmer, ESOL teacher, $850 Through
a series of workshops, parents will participate in hands-on activities
and discussions to learn and practice strategies that will
support the
development of their preschool child in the areas of math, science
and early literacy.
Research has demonstrated strong home support as a significant factor
in the later success of young children from culturally and linguistically
diverse families. The Teaching our Parents Success (TOPS) workshop
series will address
the critical need for stronger partnerships between Plano ISD and culturally
and linguistically diverse families, as well as an increased emphasis
on
early
math and science. This grant is underwritten by the Plano ISD Council
of PTAs.
Bethany Elementary School
Windows of Opportunity Library, Kim Murff,
School Librarian, $1500 The Windows of Opportunity Library will
be composed of video/media and related books that will provide tools in
the tool belt for teachers and parents to
enhance the learning of diverse learners. Topics will include curriculum
development and modification, behavior management, play skills, social
skills and social
cognition, language disorders, auditory impairment, learning disabilities,
visual strategies, social communication, sensory integration dysfunction,
emotional disturbance, ADD, Autism, Asperger’s, PDD-NOS and non-verbal
learning disorders, music therapy and play therapy. This project aligns
with campus
and district goals. Research leads to the conclusion that this library will
be a valuable tool.
Beverly Elementary School
Comprehension Cafe, Cynthia Smith,
Third-grade teacher, $475 Third-grade students will practice reading
selections of poetry and assorted fiction and nonfiction picture books.
Third-grade students will host first-grade
and kindergarten students at their Comprehension Cafe. The younger students
will be given a menu and asked to choose a poetry “appetizer,” a
picture book “entrée,” and a joke or riddle for “dessert.” Third
graders will read each selection while their younger partners enjoy a delicious
muffin to round out their meal.
Bowman Middle School
Padres Unidos, Adrian Rodriguez, Behavior Specialist,
$1300 Padres Unidos is a parent education and support group that
was initiated by Bowman’s campus PTO board and administrators during
the 2004-2005 school year. The Padres Unidos group met throughout the year
to address aspects of student success and performance in a culturally sensitive
manner. The presentations and group speakers were in Spanish, and sessions
were provided to both students and parents. Topics addressed included the
schools support programs, parenting, discipline, and academic achievement.
The continuation of this project will help the school provide parents and
students with the necessary skills to promote student success academically
and behaviorally.
Targeting the Gaps, Tonya Horton, Principal,
$1447 This project will help students who are below grade level
or have skill gaps in reading, writing & math by providing these students
with targeted instruction to address their needs. This project will provide
the teaching materials necessary to instruct students according to their
individual needs via an after-school tutoring program.
Christie Elementary School
Spanish Books To Go, Maria Pilar Westfried,
Bilingual Reading Support, $1390
Spanish Books to Go targets students and their families by providing developmentally
suitable Spanish books and parent instructions for using these materials
at home.
Daffron Elementary
Backpack Fun!, Kathrine Prentice, 1st grade teacher,
$500
Backpack Fun! is an opportunity for students to practice math skills at home
with their parents. The program will encourage students to use games, literature,
and math facts to improve math skills. It will also encourage parent involvement
and understanding of the math curriculum. Easy to use directions will be included
so that parents can participate in the activities with their child. Student
math fact and problem solving skills will be incorporated into activities to
show proficiency in AIM (Advanced Instruction in Mathematics) tasks.
Davis Elementary School
Breaking the Sound Barrier to Literacy Skills, Deborah
Tubbs, Teacher of Students With Hearing Impairment, $1000
A Listening Center where students listen to recorded books via tape players
and headphones is a wonderful tool for students with normal hearing to practice/reinforce
reading skills independently. This motivating classroom activity is not available
to students with hearing impairment due to the nature of their disability and,
more importantly, because of the limitations of the schools outdated audio
equipment. Cutting-edge commercial CD/cassette boom boxes, with enhanced acoustic
features, coupled with noise canceling headphones will allow these students
the opportunity to build their listening skills, improve reading skills and
have a more well-rounded classroom experience.
Bilingual Tutoring Bus II, Jennifer Paschal, Asst.
Principal, $1540
Bilingual students consistently perform lower than their grade level counterparts
on problem solving and application-type questioning. The challenges these students
face continue to increase with the addition of state and federal expectations
relating to the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Adequate Yearly Progress
Report (AYP). Many of our bilingual students are bused from schools and apartment
complexes throughout the district. A tutoring bus will allow these children
the opportunity to participate in an extended school day. This translates into
another 45 minutes of small-group instruction to help these struggling students.
Forman Elementary School
There's No Place Like Home for Reading, Amy Elizabeth
Durham, Literacy Specialist, $1500
The "There's No Place Like Home for Reading" project is a six-week project
consisting of six training sessions to support continued learning at home
for students
and parents. This project combines technology with reading tools for students
to have enrichment through a support program for parents. It is planned that
parents will leave these sessions with the wisdom, the courage and the heart
to help improve children's reading skills at home. This grant is underwritten
by the Plano ISD Council of PTAs..
AMAZEd Science, Mary Elam, Sara Jacobs, Library
Media Specialist, Integrated V-Team Chair, $1500
AMAZEd (Awesome Math and Zany Engineering) Science provides a multi-level science
experience for grades K-5, designed to spur self-awareness of math/science
proficiency and increase interest in math-related sciences, engineering, and
technology activities or professions. The program includes experiences for
a select group of fifth-grade students (AMAZEd Scholars) with above average
math/science ability and interest in addition to diverse learning sessions
for other students from all grade levels. Activities under the guidance of
PISD staff, area educators, and professionals provide an instructional yet
entertaining introduction to science and technology with an emphasis on problem
solving. This grant is underwritten by Nortel.
Writing Through Experiences, Natalie Shanks, Kindergarten
Teacher, $1100
Kindergarten students will participate in a field trip and take part in hands-on
demonstrations designed to provide experiences they may not otherwise encounter.
In addition to providing motivation, these experiences will build a knowledge
base and enrich vocabulary, two critical components of superior writing. Following
these experiences, students will work in a publishing center to write short
books in response to their experiences.
Frankford Middle School
Parental Involvement - a Pathway to Progress, Kaye
St.Peter, ESL Teacher, $1000
According to numerous educational studies, engaging families in the education
of their children is an essential part of any strategy for achieving academic
proficiency and narrowing achievement gaps for students. For this reason, Hispanic
families will be invited to two family nights at the school, one each semester.
The first evening will be structured by the teacher; the second will be structured
by the families’ interests and desires determined through a survey. A
native Hispanic speaker, an immigrant to the US who has proven success in his
career, will facilitate both evenings.
Gulledge Elementary School
DOCTOR INVESTIGATOR AND HIS TRAVELING BAGS OF
SCIENCE, Kathy Tripp, Second Grade Teacher, $1000
Students will take home Dr. Investigator's Traveling Science Bags to share
with their families. Each bag will contain a variety of science investigations
and materials that follow the second grade integrated program. All second graders
will use these traveling bags to reinforce and expand on science vocabulary
and the process of science. This project will help the student develop a solid
foundation in which to add new science concepts in the upcoming school years.
As a result, the 5th grade TAKS science scores will improve. The traveling
science bags will put high interest science materials in the hands of children
who need tangible, immediate reinforcements for their efforts. The project
will help develop self esteem toward science.
Harrington Elementary School
Ear-resistible: Books on Tape, Silvia Thorpe,
ESL teacher, $600
Second Language Learners in grades K (including the Bilingual Chinese Kindergarten),
1st, 2nd and newcomers will be able to check out books with audiocassettes
to take home and listen to the stories. This project aims to improve students’ vocabulary,
listening, fluency, and comprehension skills. Students will be exposed to a
variety of language patterns and interesting vocabulary as well as popular
authors and different writing styles. As an added bonus, parents and siblings
who listen to the stories will benefit too.
Hickey Elementary School
Writer's Workshop, Page Finley, Title I Reading,
$1361
Writer’s Workshop is a program that inspires children to write through
the use of good literature, teacher modeling and opportunities
for the students to share their writing with their classmates and families.
Lucy Calkins, professor
at Columbia University in New York, developed this acclaimed
program. Lucy and her colleagues piloted the program in inner-city New York
in 1985 with
second-language learners and academically needy children.
Writing scores were raised dramatically and children became inspired writers.
Writer’s Workshop
has now spread across the state of New York and across
the country. Last year teachers and students alike saw the value and potential
of this program. The
school saw tremendous growth in TAKS writing scores and
the students were more enthusiastic about writing.
Hightower Elementary School
A Quilt of Promise, Lynda Jennings, PACE Specialist,
$708
A Quilt of Promise involves students in an integrated study of literature,
history and mathematics as they learn about the significance
of quilting during the Civil War era. They will gain an appreciation of the
determination and
heroism of the people who manned the Underground Railroad
and those whom they helped escape from slavery underwent. The project will
culminate with the making
of a quilt by the students, and they will emulate the
giving nature of the Underground Railroad participants by donating their quilt
to a charity in their
community. This grant is underwritten by the Plano ISD
Council of PTAs.
Huffman Elementary School
Dramatic Play for a Dramatic Difference!, Andra
Harris, Kindergarten team leader, $750
Studies indicate that play not only reflects, but also contributes to general
cognitive and social development. Through play, children
develop physical coordination, emotional maturity, social skills, and self
confidence to try new experiences
and explore new environments. The kindergarten dramatic
play center will consist of six unique settings changing every six weeks.
The center will include a
Science Lab, Office, Veterinary Hospital, Post Office,
Fire Station, and Grocery Store. These specific centers were chosen to help
build reading and writing
skills, foster interest in math and science, and to
encourage exploratory play where children can use their senses to explore,
discover, examine, and dream.
Jackson Elementary School
Bethany Elementary School, and Christie Elementary
School, Everyday Language Made Simple - ELMS CLub, Angela Marshall, ESOL teacher,
$1800
ELMS Club is an after-school program for students and their families who
speak a language other than English. The purpose of the ELMS Club is to provide
language
kits, activities, books, and games for students and
parents to use during club time. ELMS Club provides an opportunity to practice
English while interacting
with other students and parents. The activities are
available to check out for reinforcement with the families at home.
Ticketing Students For Success: Passport Required!,
Marietta Sterling, Counselor, $1500
Ticketing Students For Success: Passport Required is a program that seeks
much more than a student body in a tutoring chair - it seeks to support the
philosophies
of No Child Left Behind and being college ready.
The project aims to instill within target students the power to believe in
themselves, as self-motivated
active learners, wherever their journey may take
them. It requires a free bus ticket, a passport and a journey marked with
goal setting and road markers.
The end result is a small journey in a student’s
life that will hopefully map a new journey filled
with the life long pursuit of self-learning.
Jasper
High School
Finals Friday, Janis K. Williams, Academic Support Coordinator,
$231
Finals Friday will provide an after-school opportunity for students who are
at-risk of failing the semester in a core class to join an organized study
group to help prepare for their final exam. At the high school level in PISD,
the final exam counts twenty-five percent of a student’s
semester grade. A staff member or parent
volunteer will facilitate each study
group. The purpose
is to enhance individual learning by
using a group process, to learn by teaching
others, and to help students be responsible for their
own learning.
The Breakfast Club, Lisa Wilson, Teacher, $300
The Breakfast Club is intended to be a support for students currently enrolled
in MAPS, the study skills class, at Jasper High School. MAPS helps students
develop organizational and study skills. In the 50-minute class period, students
focus on a specific skill -- for example, note taking. They are allowed about
20 minutes each class session to study or complete projects. The Breakfast
Club will allow students to focus on preparing to be involved in class activities
and perform well on tests and quizzes.
No Jag Left Behind, Natalie Dominguez, Academic Support
Specialist, $1500
This grant will fund the school’s efforts to make every student
on campus successful. This program will specifically target those
students who failed
the math TAKS test in the 2004-2005
school year by providing them with a consumable Measuring Up TAKS
preparation workbook as well as additional resources outside
the classroom. In addition, each
math teacher on campus will receive the appropriate grade level
workbook to supplement regular classroom instruction as they see
necessary. Additional TAKS tutorial
times will be established for any student
seeking help beginning on January 4, 2006 and concluding
on April 15, 2006.
Memorial Elementary School
Academia de Padres Comprometidos (ACD), Elizabeth
Griffin/Carolina Williams, Bilingual Teacher/Literacy Specialist, $1500
This program will promote parental involvement and enhance students personal
and academic growth. This program is designed to create an awareness of teaching
methods, student expectations and progress. One of the goals is to enrich students’ academic
experiences using valuable strategies that can be used at home in their daily
lives. This program will provide skills to help parents gain positive attitudes
towards themselves and their children. Additionally, it will allow the students’ parents
to scaffold their children effectively and to work as a team with educators.
Once a month parents will take materials and books home that will direct the
students and parents to work together on both academic and personal skills.
In conclusion, this learning academy will help parents, students and teachers
develop relationships that will serve as pillars for each child’s education.
This grant is underwritten by the Carole Greisdorf Fund of the Plano ISD Education
Foundation.
Memorial Elementary School
Writers' Workshop, R. Ann Gray, Curriculum/Literacy
Specialist, $1500
Through a weekly Writers’ Workshop, fourth-grade students will receive
instruction with research-based delivery of the seven-step writing process
and the state-developed six traits of writing. Delivery of instruction will
involve students, school principals, classroom teachers, literacy specialists,
librarian, ESL teacher, and the Title I teacher. The 2005-2006 goal will be
to continue the elevation of students’ state test scores by extending
the implementation of delivery methods utilized in the workshop throughout
the campus. (Last year, scores prior to the workshop were in the 80 percentile
passing. Scores after the grant- sponsored workshop have remained in the 90
percentile passing range.)
Mendenhall Elementary School
The MENSA Project (Mighty Elementary Nifty
Science Analysts), Christine Barrantes, 5th Grade Team Leader, $1000
MENSA is a society of highly-intelligent people. One of its goals is to promote
stimulating intellectual opportunities for its members. This MENSA society
is a group of Mighty Elementary Nifty Science Analysts. Fifth grade analysts
will rotate through 40 science enrichment classes in four stimulating science
disciplines: physical science, earth science, life science and scientific process
skills. As MENSA members are highly-qualified problem solvers and critical
thinkers, so will these Mighty Elementary Nifty Science Analysts be after the
completion of these science enrichment activities. This grant is underwritten
by Nortel.
Lights, Camera, Action!, Kimberly Gamage, Title
One Reading Specialist, Bilingual, $1440
As a part of the balanced literacy program, third-and fourth-grade students
will use content-based Readers’ Theater scripts in their English language
arts and Spanish language arts classes. Readers’ Theater
is an authentic
strategy for
using repeated
reading, the
most widely-
practiced method
for improving
oral reading
fluency, recommended
by experts in
the field of
reading.
The content-based
scripts will
help students
learn vocabulary
in math, science,
and social studies.
Improving oral
reading fluency
and content vocabulary
will ultimately
improve reading
comprehension,
thus helping
students make
meaning
of what they read.
Murphy Middle School
Beefing Up Vocabulary 2, Susan Burgess, 6th grade Language
Arts, $500
This project helps to prepare students for the Readers Digest National Word
Power Challenge
(RDNWPC), a nationwide vocabulary contest. Murphy Middle School will be in
its third year of participation in the event. Student participation
will include
two opportunities each week during the fall semester to learn vocabulary
words in a setting of camaraderie and fun. The first of the two
practice days
will focus on the study of a vocabulary development skill. Day two will be
a day of games and fun practice of vocabulary skills learned previously.
Plano
Senior High School, Vines High School, and Haggard Middle School
Literacy
Alive, Karen Bartlett, Teacher of the deaf, $3000
The Literacy Alive! project will teach students to look past their own disabilities
as an obstacle
to success and use hard work and education to reach their full potential.
The secondary students of the Plano Regional Day School Program
for the Deaf
will invite guest speakers with disabilities to speak at a series of formal
dinners. The events will emphasize achievement in spite of disability
and the role of literacy in success.
Plano West Senior
High School
Reach for Reading, Diane Lutz, Librarian,
$650
About eight percent of Plano West students are served by Special Education
and seven percent participate in Early Childhood Professions classes. While
the percentages are low, the need is still great. This project will purchase
books for the school’s Easy Fiction/Picture Book collection which will
serve both populations of students. The pleasure of making a choice of a book
to read will enhance and expand the enjoyment of the book. The books will captivate
the listeners through visual or listening stimulation.
Rasor Elementary School
D.E.A.L. (Developing Essential Assets and Life Long
Learners), Tami Barlow, Special Education Teacher, $363
Special education students will "earn" attendance to monthly motivational
seminars and participate in science enrichment activities to enhance their
scientific knowledge and work toward fulfilling their requirements for the
LDAA (off level science TAKS test for special education students). Students
will also have an opportunity to earn attendance at two off-campus exploration
activities where students will use hand-held microscopes and conduct research
and scentific inquiry in the field.
Rice Middle School
Learning Lab Crash Cart, JoAnn Blackwell, 6th grade Learning
Lab Teacher, $900
In this continuing project, students in the Learning Lab at Rice will have
all the materials they need to fill their spare time wisely. The Learning Lab
Crash Cart will include self-guided activities in the areas of reading and
math to support the students' Individual Education Plans.
School Newspaper, Lorrie Weidenbruch, teacher, $364.
This is an after-school club designed to produce a newspaper to be made available
to the entire student body once every six weeks. The purpose of the newspaper
is both to give students the opportunity to extend their writing and artistic
skills beyond the classroom and to support the SBIC character education
and citizenship goals. Students will gain hands-on experience in technology,
interviewing, editing, and graphic design. In addition, the newspaper will
highlight the character education values promoted weekly at our school.
The
newspaper will be distributed to all students and faculty to be read during
homeroom. This grant is underwritten by the Plano ISD Council of PTAs.
Robinson
Middle School
Getting Ready for Life, Mary Reece, Special Education
Teacher, $520
Getting Ready for Life is an extension of a Life Skills class for special
education students working on a functional curriculum. Along with classroom
instruction,
the students will have the opportunity to go out into the community to
practice skills learned/necessary to become a functioning member of society.
By participating
in this community experience, the students' understanding of basic life
and social skills will be increased, thus giving them more independence
and self
awareness. This grant is underwritten by the Plano ISD Council of PTAs.
Schimelpfenig
Middle School
Inspire to Aspire, Rachael Merrick, 8th Grade
Math Teacher, $1470
Students today spend more time in schools than any place else. There is a genuine
need for principle-centered learning environments involving the hearts and
minds of educators and students that nurture both character and competence
- environments that prepare students emotionally, socially, and academically
for a demanding future. Sean Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective
Teens help students create principle-centered learning environments that improve
performance; reduce conflicts, disciplinary problems, and truancy; and enhance
cooperation and teamwork. The project’s mission is to help equip students
to become proactive, independent achievers who mature into leading contributors
to society.
Building the TEKS (Teaching Excellence in Knowledge
and Skills) with One Tool at a Time, Rachael Merrick, 8th Grade Math Teacher,
$1424
The acronym IEP truly stands for the mission to Inspire, Educate and Prepare
students for the future. With the growing demands of this school’s student
population the school continually strives to achieve its mission for individualized
education. In the age of information and technology, it is critical that we
develop our students’ math skills so that they may apply
the concepts and think critically. The project goal is to provide
tutorials after school
for students to assist in furthering their knowledge and critical
thinking skills. Give them the tools, show them how they work and
let them build the
foundation. No child will be left behind!
Sigler Elementary
Twilight Science, Jean Jones, 5th grade teacher, $1500
Twilight Science is a voluntary evening event held once every six weeks highlighting
experiments and activities focused on in fifth grade science curriculum. Students,
their parents, friends and siblings, as well as community members, are encouraged
to attend. Student-led, hands-on experiments, activities and technology-based
games are used to make scientific learning more interesting and meaningful
for the students. Developing and improving scientific vocabulary and communication
while experiencing the scientific method in a hands-on, authentic environment
helps students to become lifelong scientific learners and problem-solvers.
This grant is underwritten by Nortel.
Sigler, Davis and Weatherford Elementary
Schools
Leap Into Learning Again, Stefanie Ramos, principal intern,
$1850
Students from low socio-economic backgrounds often do not have access to technology
at their homes. Using the LeapFrog program at three elementary schools, kindergarten,
first and second grade students would close the achievement gap by using leveled
readers, early literacy books, and books covering math and science concepts.
The system will be helpful to the all-student group and subgroups including
the bilingual and ESL populations. Also, as these products are already being
used at the third, fourth and fifth grade levels because of an Education Foundation
grant from 2004-2005, this will promote continuity throughout the grade levels.
This grant is underwritten by Nortel.
Vines High School
Attack the TAKS, Roxanne Burleson, principal, $1598
The Vines TAKS Tutorials is a program designed to meet the needs of at-risk
students. Over the past five years the numbers of economically disadvantaged
students has doubled. These students do not bring the resources to the classroom
that other students do. Through a comprehensive TAKS Tutorial Program, the
program hopes to target students who lack these resources. By bringing small
groups of these students together during after-school tutorials, review strategies,
skills, and processes needed to be successful on the TAKS tests will be reinforced.
Wells Elementary School
Writer's Briefcase on the Go!, Chris Robin, ESL
teacher, $662
Writer’s Briefcase on the Go! project helps second graders practice their
writing skills at home. The project will encourage third- grade students to
utilize resource materials (dictionaries and thesauri) to improve word choice
and spelling and will also use graphic organizers to better plan their writing.
S.M.A.R.T.S., Donna Hartman, Gifted Specialist/PACE,
$973
S.M.A.R.T.S. (See My Abilities Rise w/Reasoning and Thinking Skills) will allow
students in grades 3-5 the opportunity to stretch their creative, analytical
and visual thinking through a variety of challenging higher-level games and
activities. Students will be able to check out games to share with their families.
The games will help to reinforce inventive strategies and problem-solving techniques
which have been introduced throughout the curriculum.
Williams High School, Bowman Middle School, Murphy Middle School and the
entire East Cluster
Understanding Student Achievement from A Framework of Poverty, Jeff
Bailey, Area Assistant Superintendent, $3000
In August, 2005, the entire East Cluster participated in Ruby Payne training.
This training focused on how educators can understand, build relationships
and work with students and families who come from poverty. The initial training
covered Modules 1-7. The East Cluster will present Modules 8-13 to all East
Cluster teachers to train teachers how to impact student achievement for students
from poverty.
Williams High School
Reading Circle, Courtney Gober, Assistant Principal,
$370
The Reading Circle will consist of five students meeting once a week for twenty
minutes to read and discuss a book. The students consist of five culturally-diverse
ninth graders who failed their 8th Grade Reading TAKS and are economically
disadvantaged.
Closing the Math Performance Gap, Lisa Greco, Teacher, $1500
Tutoring curriculum has been developed that will improve students' quantitative
skills in order to succeed in Algebra I, II and Geometry. Last year the program
was very successful. The school is expanding the program to include more
students, and this year will include the use of the internet site www.studyisland.com.
The skill set sets bring targeting for improvement will enable students to
succeed in class and with TAKS testing. This grant is underwritten by Nortel.
The Eye on the News, Lourdes Aguilar, ESL Teacher, $750
The Eye on the News is designed to improve the oral and written communication
skills of second language at-risk students.. This project supports the writing
and reading skills of ESL students. It will use current and past world events
as vehicles for teaching English as a second language. The project will also
help to support the areas of American History, Geography and World History,
which are addressed in the Social Studies TEKS. The program will be expand
by including past news events and biographical themes. ESL students will
be exposed to historical events which might be unknown to them because of
different educational backgrounds.
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