Friday, December 19, 2014

SCHOOL ZONE 12-18-14



WINTER BREAK
This is a reminder that our winter break will begin December 22, 2014 and continue through January 2, 2015.  I would like to take this opportunity to wish the entire community a safe and happy holiday season.  We look forward to our students and staff returning to school on January 5.       

HOUR OF CODE
In celebration of Computer Science Education Week held each December, many of our classrooms participated in an "Hour of Code" event. These events are one-hour tutorials that provide students an opportunity to write their first few lines of computer code. The tutorials are game-like and self-directed, enabling students to work at the own pace and skill level.  You can learn more about the project on YouTube using this link:  https://www.youtube.com/embed/rH7AjDMz_dc  .  Anyone can join in the fun at http://code.org

WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR STUDENT TO KNOW?
I recently read an excellent article with some important ideas that speak to what we are trying to achieve in Vermilion through the use of blended learning, co-teaching and center-based learning.  It is copied below, and I hope you will find it as insightful as I did.  The author is Jill Jenkins, a retired teacher and commentator on innovation in education. 
           
            “What is important for students to know?  What should our schools be teaching? If you listen to media, all the schools should be focused on is STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Just like in the 1950’s our society is demanding that education provide more STEM education to provide a technological suave population who can produce a profit for our corporations. Are schools created to serve our corporations or the individual needs of our students?  Society certainly rewards students who perform well in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but not every student has the desire or the aptitude to do well in those areas.  Are we doing those students a disservice? Since girls have stronger verbal skills and brains wired for an education in communications is this a subtle form of prejudice?  Before we write our curriculum, it is important to determine what is important to know to help our students become both productive citizens and principled people.  We need a more balanced approach to serve all of the needs of all of the varied students in our classes.

            Schools need to prepare students to be productive citizens, but to be honest, with as rapidly as technology is changing that is not an easy task.  As a child, I remember laughing at Maxwell Smart and his shoe telephone.  Now, all of us carry telephones around in our pockets that are not only communication devices, but small computers.  The truth is there will be careers that we can’t even imagine, so we have to give students skills to be life-long learners.  To achieve they must be willing to learn new skills through-out their lives. We need to prepare students to adapt to world that we cannot conceive existing. 

            Research shows that females learn differently than males. Girls have larger hippocampus, where memory and language is stored.  This means they develop language skills, reading skills and vocabulary much sooner than boys. On the other hand, boys have a larger cerebral cortex which means they learn visually and have better spatial relationships.  This could improve their ability in engineering and technology.  These differences become less dramatic as the child grows older.  Perhaps schools need to focus on presenting a broad spectrum of disciplines in a variety of ways to serve all of students. 

            Even though our society does not value careers where communication, rather than subjects like science, technology, engineering and mathematics are the primary focus, they may still be important careers for our society.  For example, teachers are essential if we want to continue to produce an educated workforce, but if pay is the measurement of value, they are not valued by society.  In the state where I taught science, engineering, technology and math teachers were all paid $5000.00 a year more than any other kind of teacher.  Still, if we want to be realistic, students need a balance of both to be successful.  For example, my daughter is a journalist; however, she also needs to know how to write computer coding because the magazine that employs her is on-line.  Most scientists must document whatever they do, which means they need writing and reading skills. Furthermore, who is to say who will be the next poet laureate .   The arts, history and language arts are all equally important skills for students to master as math, science and technological based skills. 
           
            Even more important, the humanities:  literature, history and the arts force people to ask “why.”  Certainly, we can’t think about Nazi Germany without realizing that there was a reason Hitler banned books.  We can’t read a Michael Critchton book without discussing ethics in science and medicine.  We can’t read Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist without questioning the social problems caused by poverty and homelessness.  Reading, writing, history, the arts are all connected to science, math, technology and engineering.  A quality education is a balance.  All of it is equally important.  Teachers should be compensated fairly and students should be provided with an equal balance.  Teachers should help students develop their own individual talents, so they can become all that they can be.  Schools should prepare each student to become “all that they can be,” not a product to serve the needs of industry.”

Friday, December 5, 2014

SCHOOL ZONE 12-4-14



THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

In this issue I would like to discuss some recent software (or app) developments that demonstrate how our world is changing, and is a much different place for our students than it was for their parents.  As these new devices and software products are developed and released to the public, they create challenges in the classroom as teachers encounter students who are using them. 

USA Today recently reported on a new, although somewhat controversial, app called Thync.  Just as high energy drinks like “Red Bull” stimulate brain activity, the developers of Thync hope that their app can create for users nothing less than a desired state of mind, or mode, ranging from calm to creative to energetic, all in about 10 minutes.  The company has developed a simple headpiece that is composed of two foam and plastic pads connected by a wire whose power can be controlled with an easy-to-use mobile app.  In a process known as neuro-signaling, brain patterns are recreated using tiny electrical pulses.  Humans experience various mental states during which we feel calmer or have more energy, willpower or creativity, but can’t always access them at will.  In studies conducted by Thync over the past year, users have reported receiving a "strong" or "moderate" response from the Thync device, resulting in increased mental focus that may last for several hours.  This device is subject to FDA approval, but I have no doubt that it will be made available to the public in some form very soon. 

Another more positive app is called Acorns.  This app helps users proactively invest by rounding up each purchase transaction to the nearest dollar, and then investing the change into a diversified portfolio.  To use the app, users complete and short questionnaire, and submit a credit card or debit card, and a checking account, to the company.  A stock portfolio is then recommended based on information such as age, time horizon, investment goals and the amount of risk the user is comfortable with.  Acorns operates as a financial institution, and is only available to residents of the United States.  The investment account is insured and meets bank-level security guidelines.  I believe this type of app could be used in the classroom to teach our students to be more entrepreneurial.  Historically schools have worked to prepare students for a job.  Using apps like Acorns we can also teach students how to invest from a young age and encourage them to be inventive toward owning their own business.  Teaching students to become independent minded is something we would like to work toward in the future. 

If you are not familiar with the myriad of apps available for tablets and Smart phones, take a quick look at an app store.  You will be amazed by the volume of electronic self-help software products that are available, both good and bad.  It is inevitable that these apps will impact our students and will be topics of conversation in school.  As educators, our challenge is to continue to learn more about apps that students are using every day, and determine whether these tools can play a positive role in educating or preparing students for careers of the future.  The world is changing quickly, and schools must be constantly evaluating our approach if we are to ensure our students are college or career ready when they move to the next level. 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

SCHOOL ZONE 11-20-14



AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK
This week the Vermilion Board of Education recognized American Education Week.  Throughout the week millions of educators, parents, students and community leaders joined the National Education Association in raising awareness about the critical need to provide every child with a quality public education.  This year’s theme is “Great Public Schools:  A Basic Right and Our Responsibility”.  In the past few years we have seen an assault on funding for public schools, as federal and state legislators seek to move more and more tax dollars to privately owned charter schools.  These schools are not always held to the same academic or fiscal standard as public schools.  The Ohio Education Association supports a new website, http://knowyourcharter.com/  to help residents of Ohio better understand how publicly-funded charter schools are faring and how they compare to traditional public schools.  I encourage you to review these statistics. 

EMERGENCY CLOSING PROCEDURES
Our official first snowfall of the season came much sooner than expected this year, but our crews are prepared and working hard to make sure driveways, parking lots and sidewalks are safe for students and visitors.  I frequently get questioned about how we make the decision whether to close our schools during a weather event or other emergency.   In general, parents should know that closing school is a serious matter.  As you might expect, each situation is different, and usually involves a team of trained individuals who work together to determine the best course of action on that specific day.  School will not always be closed due to low temperatures, or a light snowfall.   During weather events we look at weather forecasts, travel the streets to evaluate road conditions and communicate with City officials and the police department in an effort to determine whether school should remain open.  We do our best to make the decision as early as possible so that staff and students can be notified before they begin traveling.   

COMMUNICATION FOR SCHOOL CLOSING
If a decision is made to close school for weather related or other emergencies, we have many ways to notify our staff, parents and students.  The announcement feature in Power School will be activated so that our parents and staff receive a phone call, email and/or text announcement with closing information.  Parents should take a few minutes to review the settings in your PowerSchool account to make sure you will receive these messages.  Please check your phone number and email address to be sure the information is correct. 

There are many other ways that we communicate with parents and the community about school closings:

Use of social media outlets by our parents and community has grown tremendously over the past few years, and we find these are some of the best ways we can get information out quickly.

WINTER SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT SEASON BEGINS
We invite you to join us for the many athletic and musical events that are scheduled for the winter season.  Basketball, wrestling and bowling seasons will all begin within a few weeks, and we hope that you get the opportunity to see our athletes in action.  December is also a great time to see some wonderful holiday concerts without having to leave Vermilion.  Our students are always grateful to see a large crowd, as it helps them know that their community supports what they are doing.  We are proud to invite you into our schools to see what our students are achieving.  Visit our district website for a complete list of school events.   

Friday, October 24, 2014

SCHOOL ZONE 10-23-14



BUS ROUTES TO NEW ELEMENTARY WILL NOT CHANGE
As reported in last week’s Photojournal, we would like to continue to assure parents, guardians and caretakers that any student in kindergarten through grade 3 currently riding a school bus to Vermilion Elementary School will continue to be eligible for transportation to the new school through the end of this school year on May 29, 2015.   Our current policy states that students living within one mile of a school building are not eligible for school bus transportation.  New bus routes will be established for the 2015-2016 school year using a 1 mile radius from the new building.  Information about transportation eligibility changes will be communicated to parents and guardians as early as possible.    

INFECTIOUS DISEASE INFORMATION
The recent increase in news and information about Ebola has sparked conversation and controversy throughout our community, including in the schools.  The news seems even more unsettling when it affects facilities or communities that are close to home.  I would like to assure the entire community that our staff will continue to monitor news and information sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Ohio Health Department, as well as local health agencies.  We will follow all guidelines and take every precaution to protect staff and students.  Factual information about this disease is posted on our website.  We will continue to update the information as it is provided to us by reliable sources. 

VHS PARENT UNIVERSITY
The VHS School Counseling Department is beginning a new informational program called Parent University.  This group will meet periodically throughout the year for informal discussion in areas that relate to our students. The first session will be held October 23 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Vermilion High School in the Digital Learning Lab (Room 807).  The topic for the first session will be academic issues including grades, transcripts, and the college application process.  There will also be a short discussion about PowerSchool for parents.  This is an important outreach to help high school parents stay in touch with the issues their children are facing, and learn more about how to be involved in the decision making process.  We hope that many of you will be interested in taking advantage of this opportunity. 

ACT PRACTICE TEST
Your child can find out how to improve his or her score on the ACT.  A practice ACT test opportunity is available on Saturday, November 8 at the Educational Service Center of Lorain County, 1885 Lake Avenue, Elyria.  The test will be given from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM.  This is an opportunity for students to experience an actual ACT test without the results being reported to VHS or colleges.  Following the test, students are permitted to keep the test booklet and will receive a solution key.  A few days after the test students receive a complete analysis of their score, with notes about the areas of weakness so they can focus improvement efforts.  The cost is $30.00 (checks payable to ESCLC Endowment) and the deadline to register is October 31.  Registration forms are available in the School Counseling Office.

3-D PRINTERS – A NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR CLASSROOMS
The 3-D printer uses a digital 3-D design file for any object and prints the object by laying down successive layers of a material until the object is complete.  3-D printing is being used today in many industries.  This technology will continue to grow and will have uses in many industries around the world.  U.S. News and World Report in their July 21 edition, that 3-D printing has become surprisingly affordable for schools.  A variety of printing materials are available, but most teachers choose a low-cost plastic filament.  While the process sounds expensive, printers are available for as little as $500.00.  Our technology and administrative teams have been discussing this with teachers, and it is our intention to make these printers available to teachers at Sailorway and Vermilion High School no later than second semester this year.  This is in keeping with our emphasis on providing our students with the best education opportunities so that they can be competitive as they move into colleges and careers.