Week 1 - August 26 - August 29, 2014
Well week 1, or at least the first 4 days of school are in the books. We've just finished with our first week of school. I'd like to take the opportunity to update the WWPS community on what we've accomplished, and our plans for next week. Before I go any further I want to thank the administrators, teachers and students across the district that have helped get over 1400 units into the hands of students in just 4 days! +Kenneth Townsend , and his staff have been fabulous in transporting Chromebooks to each of the schools. +Philip Solomon & +Rosemary Sanborn have been incredible at WWHS getting Chromebooks into the hands of students. +Jared Santurri , +Giuseppe Lancellotta , +Melissa Magiera , +Nancy Lydon have been phenomenal at Deering Middle School making sure that the 7th and 8th grade teams have their Chromebooks up and running. +Christopher Allen & +Jennifer Kless have been wonderful supports for the 3rd and 4th grade teachers at Greenbush Elementary School. +Danya Mumme has been fabulous at Wakefield Hills in getting previous units back to their rightful owners after being stored during the summer months.
West Warwick High School
Almost all of the 9th grade students have already received their Chromebooks! Upperclassman have been receiving their Chromebooks after school, and a big push was made on Friday to get them to students in large quantities throughout the day. Mr. Solomon & Rosemary Sanborn have been meeting with students after school, and during the school day whenever they can squeeze it in. Students will continue to receive Chromebooks during Advisory, and after school. gScholar has been set-up, and teachers will receive additional instructions on how to use gScholar with their students. gScholar is a classroom management tool that allows teachers to push Google Docs out to students. Teachers also have access to a shared Drive, as well as their student's Google Apps for Education (GAFE) account. Teachers and administrators will be able to manage student accounts as well as address any issues or concerns related to this initiative. Our goal is to get all of the student Chromebooks out next week.
Some parents/guardians have contacted me regarding our Student Overnight Use of Technology Policy. I have relayed to parents that last year we had approximately 1000 units that went home on a regular basis. Of the units that went home throughout the school year we had approximately 42 with broken screens. The school department understands the impact replacing or repairing a Chromebook can have on a family, and in every case last year we replaced the screens ourselves at no cost to the family. We did have a discussion regarding whether or not the student should continue to take their Chromebook home with them. In almost every case we determined that the breakage was due to an accident, and wasn't due to student neglect. Most of the students continued to bring their Chromebooks home. In some rare instances we decided the student should no longer bring the Chromebook home. In one or two instances we (the parents and school administrators) decided it was better to keep one Chomebook at home, and allow the student access to another Chromebook at school. We are working out a solution to allow some students the option of storing their Chromebook in school vs. taking them home. We'll keep you updated.
If you have concerns about allowing your child to bring the Chromebook home please contact me, and we can discuss your concerns. It is often better to call my office, so we can address the many questions that you may have concerning this initiative. My office number is 401-822-8435.
Some parents/guardians have contacted me regarding our Student Overnight Use of Technology Policy. I have relayed to parents that last year we had approximately 1000 units that went home on a regular basis. Of the units that went home throughout the school year we had approximately 42 with broken screens. The school department understands the impact replacing or repairing a Chromebook can have on a family, and in every case last year we replaced the screens ourselves at no cost to the family. We did have a discussion regarding whether or not the student should continue to take their Chromebook home with them. In almost every case we determined that the breakage was due to an accident, and wasn't due to student neglect. Most of the students continued to bring their Chromebooks home. In some rare instances we decided the student should no longer bring the Chromebook home. In one or two instances we (the parents and school administrators) decided it was better to keep one Chomebook at home, and allow the student access to another Chromebook at school. We are working out a solution to allow some students the option of storing their Chromebook in school vs. taking them home. We'll keep you updated.
If you have concerns about allowing your child to bring the Chromebook home please contact me, and we can discuss your concerns. It is often better to call my office, so we can address the many questions that you may have concerning this initiative. My office number is 401-822-8435.
John F. Deering Middle School
All of the 7th and 8th grade teams at Deering have received their Chromebooks. Teachers will be storing the Chromebooks in each child's homeroom. Students will keep the Chromebook with them as the travel from classroom to classroom, and return them to their homeroom at the end of the day. All (well almost all - we have a few MIA) of the 5th grade students that had Chromebooks last year have received their Chromebooks on Friday. All of the 5th and 6th grade students at DMS will have their Chromebooks by the end of the upcoming week.
Mr. Guiot and his staff are getting all of the necessary paperwork out to DMS parents during the second week of school. Once the paperwork is signed by the parents and students it will still be a team decision as to when the Chromebooks are sent home with the students. The variation as to when the machines make their way home is dependent upon the educational tasks that students are asked to accomplish with their Chromebooks. Some teams will dive right into Google Apps for Education, and others will use a more graduated approach. Please be patient with us as we work through all of the learning to integrate these successfully into our instructional practice.
gScholar has been set-up, and teachers will receive additional instructions on how to use gScholar with their students. gScholar is a classroom management tool that allows teachers to push Google Docs out to students. Teachers also have access to a shared Drive, as well as their student's Google Apps for Education (GAFE) account.
Mr. Guiot and his staff are getting all of the necessary paperwork out to DMS parents during the second week of school. Once the paperwork is signed by the parents and students it will still be a team decision as to when the Chromebooks are sent home with the students. The variation as to when the machines make their way home is dependent upon the educational tasks that students are asked to accomplish with their Chromebooks. Some teams will dive right into Google Apps for Education, and others will use a more graduated approach. Please be patient with us as we work through all of the learning to integrate these successfully into our instructional practice.
gScholar has been set-up, and teachers will receive additional instructions on how to use gScholar with their students. gScholar is a classroom management tool that allows teachers to push Google Docs out to students. Teachers also have access to a shared Drive, as well as their student's Google Apps for Education (GAFE) account.
Wakefield Hills Elementary School
All of the Chromebooks that students received last year have found their rightful owner, and were passed out during the first week of school. We are in the process of passing out additional Chromebooks to students that were not at WHES last year. I am confident that every 1st - 4th grade student at WHES will have a Chromebook by the end of the week on Friday, September 5, 2014.
Students and teachers were anxious to receive their Chromebooks, and I'm sure they'll be off and running in no time. gScholar has been set-up, and teachers will receive additional instructions on how to use gScholar with their students. gScholar is a classroom management tool that allows teachers to push Google Docs out to students. Teachers also have access to a shared Drive, as well as their student's Google Apps for Education (GAFE) account.
Students and teachers were anxious to receive their Chromebooks, and I'm sure they'll be off and running in no time. gScholar has been set-up, and teachers will receive additional instructions on how to use gScholar with their students. gScholar is a classroom management tool that allows teachers to push Google Docs out to students. Teachers also have access to a shared Drive, as well as their student's Google Apps for Education (GAFE) account.
Greenbush Elementary School
Every 3rd and 4th grade student received their Chromebook in their classroom by the middle of the week. Many of the 3rd and 4th grade teachers went through the process of enrolling their students in our GAFE domain. This enrollment process is important, and it allows us a tremendous amount of control over the Chromebooks. It has been our experience that students in grades 3-12 can handle enrolling their Chromebook in this process.
gScholar has been set-up, and teachers will receive additional instructions on how to use gScholar with their students. gScholar is a classroom management tool that allows teachers to push Google Docs out to students. Teachers also have access to a shared Drive, as well as their student's Google Apps for Education (GAFE) account.
I anticipate rolling out Chromebooks to students in grades 1 - 2 during the second week in September. The technology department goes through a different process with our students in kindergarten through grade 2 to deploy their Chromebook. We actually enroll each of the machines in our domain, and log the machines on with each student's account. This allows each student an easier process to get on the machine once we drop it off in the classroom.
gScholar has been set-up, and teachers will receive additional instructions on how to use gScholar with their students. gScholar is a classroom management tool that allows teachers to push Google Docs out to students. Teachers also have access to a shared Drive, as well as their student's Google Apps for Education (GAFE) account.
I anticipate rolling out Chromebooks to students in grades 1 - 2 during the second week in September. The technology department goes through a different process with our students in kindergarten through grade 2 to deploy their Chromebook. We actually enroll each of the machines in our domain, and log the machines on with each student's account. This allows each student an easier process to get on the machine once we drop it off in the classroom.
John F. Horgan Elementary School
Student Chromebooks for 3rd and 4th grade students were dropped off earlier in the week. All 3rd and 4th graders should receive their Chromebook in their classroom by Wednesday of this week. The 3rd and 4th grade teachers will bring the students through the process of enrolling in our GAFE domain.
I anticipate rolling out Chromebooks to students in grades 1 - 2 during the second week in September. The technology department goes through a different process with our students in kindergarten through grade 2 to deploy their Chromebook. We actually enroll each of the machines in our domain, and log the machines on with each student's account. This allows each student an easier process to get on the machine once we drop it off in the classroom.
I anticipate rolling out Chromebooks to students in grades 1 - 2 during the second week in September. The technology department goes through a different process with our students in kindergarten through grade 2 to deploy their Chromebook. We actually enroll each of the machines in our domain, and log the machines on with each student's account. This allows each student an easier process to get on the machine once we drop it off in the classroom.
Channel 10 News' Susie Steimel Visits the WWPS
Channel 10 reporter, Susie Steimel, spent most of her morning speaking to a small group of students at West Warwick High School, and visiting a 4th grade classroom at Greenbush Elementary School. Susie is airing a back-to-school story on Tuesday, September 2nd about some of the new learning initiatives in the new school year. It was thrilling to hear how articulate, and proud our students are about their school system. Whenever I hear our students speak to visitors I am struck by their intelligence, and the pride they have in their community. I can't wait to see the story.
Kindergarten Students
Kindergarten students will not receive their Chromebooks until the first week of October. We've typically found that our K students are busy during the first month of school learning the rituals and routines of their classroom and school. However if a K teacher makes an earlier request to receive the Chromebooks we will do everything we can to fulfill their request.
I anticipate another update being posted by the end of next week.
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