Tag: technology

New Learning Opportunity: iPads for Orcas

“iPads for Orcas” Celebration Rolls Out New Learning Opportunities for Port Graham School

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Wednesday, September 21, 2016, rolled out iPads for Orcas, a festive celebration in Port Graham School. Students, staff, community, and guests gathered in anticipation for every student to be presented with their very own iPad for use in school. Before presenting the devices, Principal Kleine explained to the joyful audience how this project came to life.
Until just a few years ago, Port Graham was not only geographically isolated—technology more typical of what students on the road system experience was not available, as the internet was exceedingly slow. In 2014, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District subsidized a microwave broadband upgrade in Nanwalek and Port Graham, allowing much faster access. As students and staff watched neighboring Nanwalek School enter a new way of learning through the Apple ConnectED Grant, staff and site council supported efforts for iPads to become a reality for Port Graham students.
img_1931Through requests, Port Graham School was awarded donations from two corporations that important to Port Graham residents. Chugach Alaska Corporation donated $10,000, and through the Paluwek Heritage Foundation, Port Graham Corporation provided $4200, the remainder of the funds that would have provided a 1:1 implementation. However, Port Graham experienced a population explosion this fall, growing from the expected 29 students to 36! Determined to put ipads into every student’s hands, the staff opted to use rollover funds from the school budget for the remaining iPads.

Principal Kleine expressed thanks to everyone who helped this innovation, and invited students to be like the orcas for which they were named. She invited them to swim into the digital world, exploring safe places on the internet, and apps that would help them increase their skills. She encouraged them to dive as deeply as they dared into their research, learning to think more deeply as well. In this celebratory environment, she asked everyone to be partners in this new way of learning, and “to keep a joy of learning in our school, using our strength of helping each other as we leap into this new world of technology!” Teacher Devin Michel read the vision statement for the project, encapsulating the ideas by asking students to “Develop the way we think, the way we work, and the tools we use to expand our minds.”

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As words of gratitude and invitations to learn were presented, students were signaled to express their joy with kazoos and pompoms whenever Principal Kleine sounded her tambourine. Finally, each student’s name was announced in a commencement-like manner, and elementary teacher Ms. Devin Michel presented each with an iPad, followed by congratulatory hand-shakes from Second Chief Martin Norman, site council secretary and staff member Heather O’Domin, and secondary teacher Colby Way.
img_1894Title VI tutor Camille Parry guided students in front of a poster thanking Chugach Alaska and Port Graham Corporation. After a group photo, and cake, students went to classrooms to turn on their iPads and take their new devices for a spin. The activities were riddled with smiles and laughter as the “iPads for Orcas” came to life!
Story contributed by Nanwalek School and Port Graham School Principal Nancy Kleine

 
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2016 ASTE Technology Leadership Awards go to KPBSD employees

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
News Release
2016 ASTE Technology Leadership Awards for KPBSD employees
Soldotna, March 1, 2016—KPBSD celebrates employees Casey Olson and Trevan Walker, who received top statewide recognition with a 2016 Alaska Society for Technology in Education (ASTE) Leadership Award. Each year ASTE selects three people who demonstrate true technology integration and have a positive impact on teaching and learning in Alaska. In 2016, two of the three award recipients are KPBSD staff: the 2016 Technology Support of the Year award recipient is Casey Olson, district programmer and analyst, and Trevan Walker, Seward High School principal, who is the 2016 Administrator of the Year. #golden

Casey Olson, 2016 ASTE Tech Support of the Year 2016 sm
Casey Olson, ASTE 2016 Technology Support of the Year

Casey Olson, 2016 Technology Support of the Year

ASTE Technology Support of the Year Award recognizes Alaskans who help teachers and faculty find and use technology to support academic goals, which may include helping with hardware.
“I am very proud that Casey Olson has been named the ASTE tech support person of the year,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “He is an integral part of our videoconferencing effort to expand opportunities for students around the district. His effort has put a solid infrastructure in place so that students can work with experts and other students from around the world. Students are also able to collaborate with their peers within the district to experience our own diverse cultures. This award is very well deserved and I look forward to Casey continuing his leadership role in meeting our twenty-first century learning needs for our students.”
“The ASTE Tech Person of the Year recognition for Casey Olson is timely and well-deserved,” said Eric Soderquist, director of information services. “Casey has worked diligently to provide the vision and technical guidance critical to the recent Polycom RUS grant award, and continues to be a trusted resource for the video conference platform in use today. He clearly recognizes that IT is about more than just making technology work—focus must be placed on ensuring a given technical solution effectively meets the needs of users. Casey has proven masterful at combining his technical skillset with the vision required to adapt to ever-changing technology implementation and support needs.”
Learning about the award, Mr. Olson said, “I was surprised to be nominated for the ASTE award and honored to be chosen to receive this recognition. Being nominated by teachers in our school district that I’ve worked with for a number of years made the award even more significant to me personally.”

Trevan Walker, 2016 Administrator of the Year

Trevan Walker, ASTE 2016 Administrator of the Year
Trevan Walker, ASTE 2016 Administrator of the Year

ASTE Administrator of the Year award recognizes Alaskans who lead schools or organizations in the innovative use of technology to support academic goals.
“I am fortunate to have a staff who believes in our common vision to endeavor to be all things for all students,” said Trevan Walker, Seward High School principal. “The reality is that they should get the credit as they are the ones doing the hard work—not just with technology integration in instruction, and the innovative practices that come out of it, but also with the relationships they’re building with kids and genuine desire to see each one of them succeed at Seward High School, regardless of the pathway required to find it.”
Sean Dusek, superintendent said, “We are very proud of Mr. Walker for receiving the ASTE Principal of the Year award. Mr. Walker is an innovative school principal that has worked very hard to meet the individual needs of students at Seward High School. The entire staff is engaged in this ongoing effort and also share in this award. We are looking forward to even greater degrees of success with students in Seward as this award represents the beginning of the modern learning system in KPBSD.”
“This district is making serious headway in tackling the online and blended learning formats,” said Amanda Adams, KPBSD distance learning teacher. “It is really exciting to watch whole cohorts of teachers developing new practices to meet the needs of students. With innovative people like Trevan and Casey, they are holding the doors open for teachers like me to not be bound by tradition. The question is not why do you want to do that, but instead, how can I help you do that.”
Links

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This and all KPBSD media releases are online at this web page: http://bit.ly/MediaPublicRelationships
Suggest or contribute a story online link: http://bit.ly/SuggestKPBSDstory

Exploring Careers at ANSEP Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Summer Academy

Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP)
Partnering with the University of Alaska ANSEP program for the first time this year, we recruited qualified students from 27 of our schools to attend the ANSEP Middle School Academy. Of the 1,014 identified native students in the district, 245 attend middle school (6-8 grade), with 143 of the students meeting the requirement of being on track for success in grade 8 algebra.
KPBSD sent 48 students and eight chaperones to the 10 day Middle School Academy. Students experienced high quality, upper level science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) problem-solving activities taught by college staff while on the University of Alaska campus. KPBSD is committed to continue this recruitment effort in 2015-2016. Successful academy completers are not allowed to participate in future academies that occur during the school year but are invited to apply for ANSEP’s follow-up summer academy.
Twenty-two of the 48 students followed the complicated application process and were accepted to the 2015 summer academy for continued guidance and learning. These photos were taken during the summer ANSEP Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Career Explorations.
 

ANSEP STEM Career Explorations students (L-R) Jovena Bartels-Salas, Anika McDonough, and Leisha Lozana, June 2015
ANSEP STEM Career Explorations students (L-R) Jovena Bartels-Salas, Anika McDonough, and Leisha Lozana, June 2015

 
James Lamping (L) and Jakob Andreanoff (R) assemble their Unmanned Aerial Vehicle during ANSEP’s STEM Career Explorations June 2015
James Lamping (L) and Jakob Andreanoff (R) assemble their Unmanned Aerial Vehicle during ANSEP’s STEM Career Explorations June 2015

Daylynn Yenney, ANSEP STEM Career Explorations student, pilots the UAV her team built while university professor looks on, June 2015
Daylynn Yenney, ANSEP STEM Career Explorations student, pilots the UAV her team built while university professor looks on, June 2015

Marcus Hale (L) and Sorin Sorensen (R), put finishing touches on their Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at ANSEP’s STEM Career Explorations in June 2015
Marcus Hale (L) and Sorin Sorensen (R), put finishing touches on their Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at ANSEP’s STEM Career Explorations in June 2015

Garrett Cooper assembles model lungs at ANSEP’s STEM Career Explorations in July 2015
Garrett Cooper assembles model lungs at ANSEP’s STEM Career Explorations in July 2015

Aphanasia Kvasnikoff creates model lungs during ANSEP’s STEM Career Explorations in July 2015
Aphanasia Kvasnikoff creates model lungs during ANSEP’s STEM Career Explorations in July 2015

Sorin Sorensen pilots his team’s UAV while teammates look on during ANSEP’s STEM Career Explorations in June 2015
Sorin Sorensen pilots his team’s UAV while teammates look on during ANSEP’s STEM Career Explorations in June 2015

 

1:1 iPads bring dynamic learning opportunity to Nanwalek School through White House ConnectEd initiative

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictKPBSD 50 years logo Smallest version
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
iPads bring dynamic learning opportunity to Nanwalek

Soldotna, August 17, 2015—Palpable excitement is in the air today at Nanwalek School, where 80 kindergarten through twelfth grade students anticipate receiving their own Apple iPad on Tuesday August 18, 2015.
A year in the planning, the rollout celebration to begin the comprehensive 1:1 technology solution for every student and teacher, including Apple hardware, software, and services, begins at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 18, 2015, with guests and dignitaries present to speak to students, staff, and the community. The upcoming year is a game-changer for Nanwalek School, the only school in Alaska, and one of 114 schools in the country, to receive an Apple grant as part of the White House ConnectEd initiative begun in 2013.
Nanwalek School is located in a small village on the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, across the bay from Homer, Alaska. By giving students access to the latest technology and powerful learning tools, we’re working to transform the classroom into a place of deeper exploration and creativity.
“We are very excited about this opportunity for our students in Nanwalek,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “A key part of any initiative is professional development for our teachers and through the training commitment from Apple, we are confident that the new technology will have a tremendous positive impact for all of our Nanwalek students.”
As a result of the initiative to receive iPads, Apple TVs, and MacBook laptops for teachers:

  1. Students and teachers will be introduced to a new level of technology that they have not previously experienced in the village or school. This experience will be enhanced by faster Internet installed by the district through ACS in September 2014
  2. Academic core learning will be strengthened through resources and e-books on the devices
  3. This grant includes professional development for teachers in differentiation to strengthen core instruction, and intervention processes to increase achievement

IMG_9979Nanwalek School honors cultural identity while developing students to be effective members of society. School goals for the ConnectEd initiative include:

  • Students, parents, and community will be our partners
  • Teaching will be transformed
  • Students will be active learners
  • Students will strengthen their academic learning
  • Students will have a tool for preservation of language and culture
  • Students will have more possibilities for postsecondary options

 Links

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This and all KPBSD media releases are online at this web page: http://bit.ly/MediaPublicRelationships
Suggest or contribute a story online link: http://bit.ly/SuggestKPBSDstory
Please contact me with questions or connections to be made for your KPBSD district and school stories.

One small department and 8K PCs, 800 printers, 690 wireless access points

To the public, the face of the school district is likely the local school your kids go to now–or once attended–or maybe the local school you attended growing up. You remember your teachers, or your children’s teachers: the good ones you liked and maybe even some of the ones you didn’t like so much. Most people’s view of the district is generally pretty localized, and compartmentalized by our own limited local school experience.
The public doesn’t hear much about the district’s Information Services staff. These are the computer guys that work in the bowels of the Borough building in Soldotna or travel from school to school supporting technology in the field. The Information Services view of the district may be different than yours. They see a much bigger picture, because, well, they have to keep that big picture up and running. The district is big business, and it takes Information Technology professionals on top of their game to keep the peninsula’s largest employer running smoothly, with 8,000 PCs, 800 networked printers, hundreds of Interactive white boards, 690 wireless access points, and 900 security cameras, and so forth. The list of things to maintain and support goes on and on … and seems to gets bigger every year as technology evolves. Add all those schools together and the district is much bigger than many people realize.
Information Services lives in an evolving environment, adapting to the ever-changing needs of our students and staff. For example, last summer saw a major software upgrade to 30 point-of-sale computers used in our school cafeteria lunch lines. Those final 30 completed a multi-year move to Microsoft Windows 7 on all district computers. Since the beginning of school in August 2014, there have been some substantial bandwidth upgrades at Nanwalek, Port Graham, Hope, Seldovia, Tyonek, and Marathon school, improving network performance at those sites. Add to that 96 Terabytes of disk storage for servers and databases being installed now. Just a few activities, on a wide variety of fronts, in the Information Services department at KPBSD, where something big is always happening.
Link
KPBSD Information Services
Story contributed by Jim White, director of information services
March 2015

Eric Soderquist Golden Apple August 2013
KPBSD Information Services | Golden Apple recognition for Eric Soderquist, August 2013

 

news release: Seward Elementary wins 10K for Hour of Code

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictPrint
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
Seward Elementary awarded 10K for Hour of Code

Soldotna, December 2, 2014—Second grade Seward Elementary teacher, Leigh Ray, organized an Hour of Code for her school last year, and invited other KPBSD schools to participate. Imagine her surprise in November, 2014, when she learned her school would receive $10,000 worth of computer hardware and accessories from Code.org. In addition, Seward Elementary was one of 51 schools, and the only school in Alaska to receive the award!
“What’s exciting to me about this gift is the increased opportunities it gives our students here in Seward,” said Leigh Ray. “We already have an award-winning school and a supportive little town, and through this gift, our ability to educate our elementary students with first class technology has leapt forward substantially! Imagine what this will do for our students’ curiosity, aspirations, and love of learning! Through technology, our world has changed. It’s only natural that our classrooms should be equipped to support learning that matches those changes.”
Hour of Code 2014The international Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to show that anyone can learn the basics of computer coding. Last year during Computer Education Week, nearly 15 million students tried computer science in one week. This year, December 8 – 14, 2014, marks a week when tens of millions of students in 180+ countries will participate.
A Seward Elementary assembly will take place at 1:00, December 8, 2014, to celebrate the educational experience taking place in the school, and accept the $10,000 award.
“We are very excited that Seward Elementary has won this opportunity through the efforts of the school and in particular, educator Leigh Ray,” said Sean Dusek, KPBSD superintendent. “Utilizing projects that are application based like this are the kinds of activities that make a real difference in developing student thinking and technology skills. I am very happy the school is emphasizing 21st Century learning schools in this manner. Congratulations Seward Elementary!”
Links
http://hourofcode.com/us
KPBSD story: Hour of Code, 2013 http://bit.ly/KPBSDHourOfCode

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Hour of Code, 2013, Seward Elementary

 

Nanwalek School to receive 1:1 technology via Apple and ConnectED

Kenai Peninsula Borough School DistrictPrint
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
News Release

Nanwalek School receives Apple and ConnectEd grant

Soldotna, October 31, 2014—One of 114 schools in the country, and the only school in Alaska, our KPBSD school in Nanwalek, serving 79 students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, will receive an Apple grant as part of the national ConnectED program. This award enables Nanwalek School to provide a comprehensive 1:1 technology solution for every student and teacher, including Apple hardware, software, and services.
Instructional practices and student learning at Nanwalek School will radically change as a result of this initiative to receive iPads for each student in the following ways:

  1. Students and teachers will be introduced to a new level of technology that they have not previously experienced in the village or school. This experience will be enhanced by faster Internet was installed by the district through ACS in September
  2. Academic core learning will be strengthened through resources and e-books on the devices
  3. This grant includes professional development for teachers in differentiation to strengthen core instruction, and intervention processes to increase achievement

“I am thrilled to learn that Nanwalek School is a recipient of an Apple ConnectEd Grant, said Steve Atwater, superintendent. “I am confident that the infusion of technology into the classrooms and professional development for the staff will lead to an increase in student engagement and in turn academic achievement. Thanks to Principal Nancy Kleine and Director Jim White for all their work to make this happen.”
We continually seek ways to engage students in instruction, and trust that having this exciting technology will attract students to school and increase attendance,” said Principal Nancy Kleine. “This type of learning is interactive and focused, and students will learn the necessary skills to be effective members of society.”
“We believe that the young minds and young innovators of tomorrow should have every opportunity to realize their potential through today’s powerful learning tools,” states the Apple website. “It’s important to us that our contribution to ConnectED makes a difference for students and communities who need it the most. We’ve chosen to provide our support to schools where at least 96 percent of the students are eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program. Despite their economic challenges, these schools share a vision of what their students’ lives would be like with Apple technology.”
Links

News Release: KPBSD 2014_10_31_Nanwalek School Awarded Apple ConnectEd grant
Nanwalek 3x2Apple
 

From Constantinople to Kenai: Classroom Without Walls, October 19

What do Constantinople and Kenai have in common?
To answer this question, embark on a journey into Russia’s past, live from Kenai, Alaska, with Classroom Without Walls.

Three KPBSD high school world history teachers collaborate in Classroom Without Walls, offering innovative world history learning to 350 students from Kenai Central High School, Soldotna High School, and Skyview High School.

Wednesday, October 19, you’re invited to the From Constantinople to Kenai session when a lesson will be presented live from The Russian Orthodox Church in Kenai, Alaska. Parents and community members are welcome.

From Constantinople to Kenai will take students on a journey from the beginning of Russia to the connection in Kenai, Alaska, and the Russian orthodox church. Students and community members will:

  • Meet Rurik, a Varangian prince who was the leader of the Rus
  • Princess Olga of Kiev later to be Sainted
  • Two Greeks who developed the Russian alphabet
  • Prince Vladimir who made Orthodoxy the official religion of the Rus
  • and more…

Wednesday, October 19, 2011
World History teacher Gregory Weissenberg from Soldotna High School will present From Constantinople to Kenai six times from The Russian Orthodox Church in Kenai, Alaska. There is no cost, everyone is welcome.
CWOW times: 7:55 – 8:35; 8:50 – 9:35; 10:15 – 10:55; 11:10 – 11:50; 12:39 – 1:19; and 1:35 – 2:15
Students will be in their classes at the three local high schools.

“Our kids have 3 World History teachers–we don’t know that any other students in the nation can say that, and between the 3 of us we make one good teacher.” — Rob Sparks (Skyview), Gregory Weissenberg (SoHi), Greg Zorbas (KCHS)

Making public education public, Bon Voyage!

Link
“Texting, blogging and streaming history: 3 teachers use technology to break down walls” story, Peninsula Clarion, March 5, 2010