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New and Notable:

Grad Standards Tracking
Posted Monday, April 10, 2000
Here at the Middle School we have been hard at work getting the Minnesota Grad Standards implemented. But implementation is one thing. How do you track the standards as they are assessed, and how do you get quick printed results of student progress? Enter Mr. Jay Hoglin and RileMaker Pro. Jay has devoted countless hours in preparing a database that is easy to use, all inclusive of grad standards packages, and is available on the network for teachers to get to when they need to. At the Middle School, we demonstrated the database to Mark Manning from the CFL, who was impressed with the thoroughness and ease of use of the whole thing. Where do we go from here? We ordered 20 copies of FileMaker Pro and installed it on department chair computers. Staff will be able to enter results from standards testing and results will be available immediately. Since FileMaker Pro allows multi-user access, any teacher who needs to add results will be able to do so at their own pace. Incidentally, Jay has not only prepared a Middle School database....he has the Elementary and High School databases ready too!!!! Thanks for the hard work by our great staff.

Wider Horizons 2000
Posted Friday, March 17, 2000
Congratulations to Mr. Conley!!!! What has he done? He has spent countless hours getting the Wider Horizons videotape from 1998 edited and reproduced using iMovie! Kudos to Mr. Conley for his hard work on learning how to use this GREAT TECHNOLOGY!!!!! Incidentally, Mr. Conley is taking the new Canon DV camera to Florida next week to get digital footage and pop it right into iMovie!!!! Way to GO!!!!

Open House
Posted Monday, March 06, 2000
Well, it has happened!!! The Middle School Open House for Middle Level Education Week was a huge success. Thanks to the great work by the committee headed by Mrs. Foltz and Mr. Hoskins, many great things going on in the Middle School were highlighted. Take a look at the Middle School website at http://www.ms.lfalls.k12.mn.us for pictures of the open house. Education is GREAT at the Middle School.

Middle School Orientation
Posted Tuesday, February 29, 2000
How does a 5th grader feel when they think about going to the Middle School? What is this big building with schedules, classes all around the building, and a plethora of great teachers, all about? How will they survive??? Well, one way to find out what the Middle School is like is to have an orientation. Oddly enough, that is what is going on Tuesday February 29th and Thursday March 2nd at 7:30 PM at the Middle School. The WINGS students have also prepared a video that takes a lighthearted look at life at the Middle School. So if you are a 5th grader, don't worry. The Middle School staff is ready to serve!!!!

Middle Level Education Week
Posted Monday, February 14, 2000
The Middle School will be hosting Middle Level Education Week Activities March 6-10. Check out the link
http://www.ms.lfalls.k12.mn.us
on this page to see the poster. Thanks to Michelle Blaine for getting the Middle School website off the ground. Exciting things, as always, are here in the Middle School.

More Technology....
Posted Wednesday, February 09, 2000
It has been awhile since an update of my page has happened....well here it is. I have been involved in the production of "Number The Stars" at the Paramount in St. Cloud playing the role of Papa Johansen. This is a Central Minnesota Children's Theatre production that is based on the book by Lois Lowry dealing with the Danish Jews during the Holocaust. What has this got to do with Technology? Well, for starters, the stage is graced with a 12' x 12' screen with images of WWII projected on it. And the sound effects are Internet-based downloads of public domain sound bites. Greater yet is the fact that the 6th graders from the Middle School and the 5th graders from Lincoln got to come to see the show. The 6th graders from the Middle School are studying the Holocaust and the students will use some of the knowledge they gained as they present their portfolio projects in Ms. Bolan's class. In fact, we will hopefully do a presentation to the school board on the portfolios because Mrs. Susy Prosapio, school board member, was witness to the 6th graders work on their projects during school. Wow!!! Technology crosses many disciplines!!! It is great when it is integrated to enhance a class. More to come....

Technology Happenings
Posted Tuesday, January 25, 2000
Ms. Bolan is well on her way in using HyperStudio to create a student portfolio of their study of the Holocaust. Keep posted here for the details and examples of the student work!!! Eventually we will be publishing some of the stacks on the internet for people to see. Keep it up.

Happy New Year Y2K
Posted Wednesday, January 05, 2000
Middle School happenings....Again. Technology applications at the Middle School include:
Mr. Hoglin has been tirelessly working on a Grad Standards reporting program that has an easy interface, easy data entry and easy understanding. Keep your eyes posted on the progress as we look to the future.
Mr. Trick had students using HyperStudio as a Jeopardy game for the conclusion of a unit in his science class.
Mrs. Meyer, Ms. Thorson and Mr. Hoglin have been using Geometry Sketchpad to teach algebraic concepts with their classes.
Mrs. Blaine and Mrs. Lutzwick have perfected the transferring of grades between Making The Grade and the district's grade reportding system (SASI) making the procedure painless.
And finally...we made it through the Y2K scare unscathed!! Thanks to Cliff Schmitz, the district network coordinator, and all of the great technicians in the district.
And now for 2000.........

Christmas at the Girtz'
Posted Saturday, December 25, 1999
Today we are celebrating at the Girtz home. It is full of food and fun. Details on the latest diet to follow.

Happy Holidays!!
Posted Wednesday, December 22, 1999
Isn't technology great? Here I can communicate with the world from the comfort of the office or even from the greater comfort of my home! I hope that you have a great holiday season and also hope that you will continue to check out the personal pages of the Little Falls teaching staff. And remember that all of the great technology leaps are a direct result of the voting confidence of the Little Falls public!!!

You passed the referendum 5 years ago and it is because of that that we have the great ability to communicate that we didn't have before the referendum passed. Keep your eyes and ears open for more information on technology updates at the district level, and watch as our buildings are transformed into schools without walls!!!!!

And now back to work!!! Gee, it's cold out!!!!

Projects
Posted Wednesday, December 08, 1999
Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a Middle School student? Was the anticipation as a 5th grader almost too much? As you looked at the huge building on 1st Ave did you shudder with fear or did you leap for joy at this rite of passage? These and other Middle School questions will finally be answered by Mr. Conley's class as they tackle a video project that depicts what the Middle School transition is really like for 5th graders. The video series will be used for the 5th grade orientation by Dr. Turk and Mrs. Schmidt in February and March. Keep your eyes posted as the WINGS (TAG Program Students) take on the daunting task of telling about what life is like at the Middle School!!

New Trimester, New Try-mester
Posted Wednesday, December 01, 1999
Believe it or not we are already diving into the second part of the school year. At the Middle School I know that the staff and students will be ready for a new Try-mester. What is a Try-mester, you ask?? Well, it is a place and time where we as educators and students try something new with technology. For example, Ms. Bolan and I are working on a HyperStudio Holocaust Portfolio that her students will be using instead of writing a routine paper report assignment. Mr. Wood is using HyperStudio for his Music Discovery classes as they do research into musicians of their choice. Mrs. Leinen is using scanners and an AppleWorks template for a project with Mrs. Foltz. And 5th graders coming into the Middle School will be treated to a video presentation created by Mr. Conley's class to be used for the orientation program in March. In the office, Mrs. Lutzwick is scanning grades for report cards, while Mr. Stumpf in the ITE department is beginning to put some of his lessons online. Soooo, what is a new Try-mester? You are seeing it work in the trials by many Middle School Staff members. More Try-lights to come!!!

Middle School Workshop
Posted Monday, November 29, 1999
Today at the Middle School we are having an inservice on the District Staff Home Pages. This easy to use format will get everyone on the Web quickly and easily!!!!!!!!!! There will be a link to the Middle School page and links to other sites that you may find interesting.

Technology Grows On You.....
Posted Wednesday, November 24, 1999
Since we are at the end of the trimester, it may be important to see how much we in the Little Falls School District have used technology and how much it has grown on you. Consider, for example, the fact that you check email first thing in the morning, that you print most things without even second thought, that you check out the internet for ideas for your teaching, you put your grades in your Making The Grade and that you check your messages on your phone as you see the light blink. Remember that all of this is made possible via the Technology Referendum. Remember that when you talk to community members and when you pump up the district that we have what we have because of the great community support!

TIES Conference is a HUGE LEARNING EXPERIENCE!!
Posted Monday, November 22, 1999
The TIES conference in Minneapolis is once again proving to be a GREAT way to learn to intgegrate technology in school. After learning about some new HyperStudio tools to publish stacks on the Internet, Middle School students will soon be able to get their projects on the web!!! I can't wait to get back to show the teachers what is up with technology!!!

Highlights at the Middle School
Posted Friday, November 19, 1999
Thanks to the great work by Jim Norwood, Technology Integrationist at the High School, more Little Falls teachers will have Internet Presence with no learning curve. Middle Schools will be inserviced on Monday, November 29th, on their Home Pages so they can start to get important information out to parents, students and community members. The Middle School internal website will debut soon with more detailed information about the Middle School itself. Keep checking www.lfalls.k12.mn.us for the latest information and educarional updates!!!!

Lt.Governor Visit
Posted Friday, November 19, 1999
Lt. Governor Mae Schunk was the honored guest on Friday November 19th at Lindbergh Elementary. The special closing with Ms. Schunk, emceed by our own Terry Ronayne, was aired live on Channel 6 and attended by many community members including Representative Steve Wenzel. The Lt. Governor gave a wonderful speech highlighting the hard work that is needed to suceed and EXCEED in life. Ms. Schunk was presented with a certificate of congratulations for her hard work and character. Students at Lindbergh will be receiving certificates as they demonstrate hard work throughout the year!!!!

Technology Integration Changes
Posted Wednesday, November 17, 1999
The face of technology is changing every day......and that is what is happening with the schools in Little Falls. As of Monday November 17th, 1999 my role as Technology Integrationist will take me on a new journey to the Little Falls Community Middle School. My schedule will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday all day along with Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. I will still be at Lindbergh on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I look forward to the challenges ahead.