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School Highlights: Points of Pride:
IDL provides students more learning opportunities
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| North High School AP Psychology teacher Kathy Hanley, left, can watch her students at the remote sites and an image of what they are seeing on a screen in the back of the classroom. Photo by Susan Arensman |
The Wichita Public Schools is expanding the ways for students to learn with Interactive Distance Learning (IDL). Starting this semester, students at four schools can take classes offered at other schools, without leaving campus. The IDL classrooms are equipped with computers, video cameras and microphones allowing students to watch a live feed of a teacher offering a class at another school. The teacher can also see and hear the students at the remote sites. IDL allows students to take classes that may not be offered at their school.
"This has opened up many doors for us," said Brad Niessen, Instructional Technology Specialist and IDL Facilitator. "This is not to replace teachers, but to offer new ways to deliver content and share the teachers between our schools."
This semester, an AP Psychology course offered at North is also being taken by students at South and Southeast. Kathy Hanley has 19 students in her class and a couple more are considering to sign up. A screen is set up at the back of the classroom, allowing her to see the students at the other sites and to involve them in the lessons. The students at the remote sites see the lessons, plus an image of Hanley on the screen.
"I'm going to zoom in my camera to make sure Corey is awake," she joked. The camera can also record students if needed. The students sign an agreement acknowledging that they will be on camera during class and that they could be recorded.
"Kathy is very engaging," Niessen said. "To the students, it doesn't matter that she isn't physically in the
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| Students at South High School participate in the AP Psychology course taught at North High School. Photo by Brad Niessen |
room because she interacts with all of her students."
Hanley uses Blackboard for her lessons and sets up email accounts for her remote students to receive handouts and lesson plans. The IDL equipment also allows her lessons to be recorded and posted on Blackboard to allow students to review content or watch a class if they were absent.
Next fall, there are plans to offer a Mandarin Chinese course at North. Other courses offered in the fall will be determined based on demand. Niessen said ten teachers have shown initial interest in teaching IDL courses.
The IDL classrooms can be utilized in other ways. There are plans to work with WSU to offer college courses, allowing students to receive dual credit. There is also the capability to work with other districts, allowing students outside the district to take courses. Other staff can use the classrooms as well for video conferences or staff development. Hanley is thinking about using the IDL room for one of her social studies classes and having her students and students at other schools work on a project together.
"Using the technology is very easy," Hanley said. "It offers me another option to be creative in my classroom."
The equipment was paid for with a grant from KanEd. More information about IDL can be found here.
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Four schools receive Challenge Awards
Four schools have received Certificates of Merit as part of the annual Challenge Awards from the Confidence in Public Education Task Force. The award recognizes schools for outstanding achievement and accomplishment in reading and/or mathematics based on 2006 state assessment results, despite facing significant challenges in school population.
The schools honored are:
• Bryant Core Knowledge Magnet – fifth-grade math
• Earhart Environmental Magnet – fifth-grade reading
• Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet – eighth-grade math
• Northeast Magnet High School – eleventh-grade reading
In addition to receiving the award, each school will be asked to provide information on their instructional strategies and techniques used to achieve their success, which will be made available to other schools.
The schools will be recognized January 31 during a special ceremony at Lakewood Middle School in Salina.
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2007 Commencement ceremony schedule posted
The 2007 commencement dates for high school seniors are as follows:
- May 11 – Chisholm Life Skills Center
- May 14 – North, Northwest, Metro-Meridian
- May 15 – East, Northeast, West, Sowers Special Education Center, Levy Special Education Center
- May 16 – Heights, South, Metro-Midtown
- May 17 – Southeast, Metro-Boulevard
- June 6 – Urban League
- June 7 – Towne East Educational Resource Center, Towne West Educational Resource Center
The times and locations for the ceremonies can be found by clicking here.
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Nominate others as Friends of Education
School and district staff are encouraged to nominate individuals or groups for the Friends of Education Awards. A special 25th Anniversary Banquet to honor recipients will be held in at Heights High School on Saturday, April 21, 2007. The Friends of Education Awards, sponsored by the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force, honor people or organizations who have made outstanding contributions to public education in the following categories:
• School Volunteer – an individual or couple who provides volunteer services in public schools.
• Community Leader – an individual who has made a significant contribution to public education while serving in a leadership capacity.
• Partner Activity – a business, company or agency that has provided an on-going partner activity for three years or more that exceeds typical collaboration from a private or public institution.
• Private or Public Institution – a company, business or agency that has made a significant contribution to public education.
• Community/Civic Organization – a club, organization, committee or task force that has made a significant contribution to public education.
Nomination forms and information about the awards can be found at www.ksconfidencetaskforce.org. The deadline for submitting nominations is January 27, 2007. One Award of Excellence and up to four Certificates of Award will be presented in each of the five categories. All other nominees will receive Certificates of Merit. Please notify Marketing and Communications, 973-4645, if you plan to submit nominations for the awards.
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Riverside students hear familiar tales of other cultures
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| Riverside students listen to Twyla Smith tell folk tales. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Students at Riverside Cultural Arts and History Magnet heard Middle Eastern and African folk tales on Jan. 10, presented by local artist, Twyla Smith. Smith told stories from countries like Malaysia and Egypt. Even though the stories were from other countries and cultures, the students realized they were similar to stories they knew, like Cinderella and Chicken Little.
The tales are part of the school’s “People of the World” magnet theme, which is currently focusing on Asia. The presentation was sponsored by Arts Partners.
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Jardine students give chips a flip
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| Photo by Lacey Cruse |
Jardine Diversified Leadership and Technology Magnet students let the chips fall where they may during a special experiment Dec. 15. Students created containers to protect potato chips after being launched from a three-person sling shot. The object of the exercise was to see if the chip would break depending on the size of the container and packing used to secure their potato chip.
Students were placed into groups and made containers from foam board. Each group had a sling shot that propelled their containers across the auditorium. Only one out of six groups was successful with their potato chip still intact.
Jardine plans to do an egg launch during the spring semester.
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Employee Health Fair underway
The district's Health Fair has begun, with one scheduled for the last Saturday in January and two Saturdays in February. Blood tests will be offered for free for benefited employees, spouses and retirees who participate in the district's self-funded health plan. Employees not on the health plan may participate for a $30 fee.
The Health Fair will include a blood draw which checks for HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. Employees are asked not to eat anything after midnight the day before. There will also be wellness vendors and activities for children.
Employees who wish to attend the health fair will be assigned by their home zip code. To view the designated dates, times and zip codes, click here.
Retirement Seminar and Financial Fair is January 23
Employees are invited to learn about different ways to save for retirement during the district’s Retirement Seminar and Financial Fair, Jan. 23, 5 – 7 p.m., at North High School. The presentation is for all district employees.
Representatives from KPERS and Social Security will be present and information will also be shared about the district's bridge. There will also be representatives present from the 457 Plan and the 403(b) Plans to answer investment questions.
For more information, contact Risk Management at 973-4581 or riskmanagement@usd259.net.
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Retirement and Longevity Banquet is May 7
The district's annual Retirement and Longevity Banquet has been scheduled for Monday, May 7 at the Wichita Hyatt.
All retiring employees and employees reaching their 20-, 30- and 40-year benchmarks of service are invited to the banquet at no cost. Invitations will be sent out in April.
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GYOT deadline is January 31
High school students and Wichita Public Schools employees who are interested in pursuing teaching careers are encouraged to apply for the Grow Your Own Teacher (GYOT) scholarship program. The application deadline is Jan. 31, 2007 at 4:45 p.m.
The GYOT program provides financial assistance in the form of forgivable loans to outstanding high school graduates or Wichita district employees who want to become teachers. Students in the GYOT program can work toward a teaching degree either at Wichita State University, Friends University, Newman University or Southwestern College. The program also includes mentor support, work experiences and assistance with job placement after becoming certified.
High school teachers, counselors and principals can encourage students, paraeducators and tutors to get involved in the GYOT program.
For more information or for a scholarship application, call 973-4620 or click here.
Students receive WSU engineering scholarships
Wichita State University has offered several engineering scholarships to high school students. Benjamin Knoblauch, senior at East High School, has received the largest scholarship, the Robert and Sharon Bailey Scholarship. The scholarship pays tuition, fees and books for up to five years.
Grant Rudd, Heights; Allen Herbert, Northwest; Kelley Miller, Southeast and Joyce Molnar, West were all awarded the $15,000 Dwane and Velma Wallace Scholarship.
Andrew Bowman, Melanie Palmer, Polina Osipova, East; John Wine, Kristen Sanders, Heights; Bryan Johnson, North; Esha Cheema, Northeast; Jimmy Nguyen, Shyla Livingston, Francisco Carillo, Northwest; Desmond Bryant, Koltin Kumkel, West were all awarded engineering scholarships between $1,000 and $10,000.
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Schools celebrate Martin Luther King
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| Students at Isely present a program called "Keeping the Dream Alive." Photo by Gretchen Cox |
Schools across the district studied and celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his fight for civil rights.
At Isely Traditional Magnet, second-grade students presented a program entitled, "Keeping the Dream Alive" on Jan. 12. The students took turns presenting facts on Dr. King's life. After each student presented the fact, the student said their name and recited, "I am keeping the dream alive." They ended the program challenging everyone to keep Dr. King's dream alive.
At Chisholm Trail Elementary, students presented a play on Jan. 19 that described the struggles and hardships that Dr. King had to over come. The students sang songs and read poems about Rosa Parks, the 322-day bus boycott and about equal treatment for everyone.
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| Chisholm Trail Elementary students sing songs that celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. Photo by Lacey Cruse |
Officer Adrian Davis of the Park City Police Department talked to the students about what Dr. King meant to him and why he was so important not only for the African American community, but for everyone. He emphasized the importance of becoming involved in the community and to have pride in yourself.
“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., your dream is a reality,” said Davis.
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