Congratulations to Butler High School's Senior Division Team Problem Solving team for placing first in Team Problem Solving and in Individual Problem Solving FPSPI competition!
The BHS winning team members are: Quentin Mays, SaDarius Thomas, Michael White, and Stanley Esaw. Travis Moore is the individual winner.
If interested in sponsoring a Butler High School student for the trip, please contact Ms. Strelec at strelan@rcboe.org
For more information:
Butler High School, Augusta, GA
Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI)
Augusta Chronicle's article: Butler problem-solvers advance in competition Team will vie on international level By Stephanie Toone
While this article may not make front page news of the printed version of the Augusta Chronicle, the Internet allows us to share with others beyond the printed news and Augusta, GA.
Congratulations to all of the winning students.
From the Augusta Chronicle's article by Stephanie Toone: Butler problem solvers advance in competition
Future Problem Solving of America Senior Division Winners
- Butler High School, First place, Team Problem Solving
- Academy of Richmond County, Third place, Team Presentation of Action Plan
- Glenn Hills High School, Second place, Team Action Plan Development
- T.W. Josey High School, First place, Team Presentation of Action Plan
- Travis Moore, Butler High School, First place, Individual Problem Solving
- Alan Horner, Hephzibah High School, Second place, Individual Problem Solving
- Antonio Evans, Glenn Hills High School, Third place, Individual Problem Solving
Middle Division Winners
- Hephzibah High School, Third place, Team Problem Solving
- Westside High School, Second place, Team Problem Solving
Donations for the trip to Wisconsin can be mailed to:
Richmond County Board of Education
C/O Gifted Program
864 Broad Street
Augusta, GA 30901
Congratulations to all future problem solvers!
Showing posts with label Richmond County School System. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richmond County School System. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Monday, November 3, 2008
Is your school in the news?
So the Augusta Chronicle publishes, Report ranks local schools among worst Graduation rate for black males is sixth lowest in the nation by Greg Gelpi 11/2/08. He cites the original source: Schott Foundation for Public Education report Given Half a Chance: The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education for Black Males.
The Richmond County School System has yet to make AYP in the years that AYP results are recorded and available through the net (2001). GA Dept of Ed provides data reports and AYP results. Regardless of the negative publicity, we decided to be one part of the solution, get to the source of the issue, and bring solutions and recommendations to the table.
When my daughter received her diploma in May, her school had a graduation rate of 48%. These results were updated to 60% after summer school results were submitted for the recalculation. Many people want to point the finger, play the blame game, talk the talk...but where are the practitioners?
I am happy that our school board selected Dr. Dana Bedden as the Superintendent of RCSS. He has his critics, but I challenge the critics to step forward and volunteer in the classroom/at the school, rather than throw negative comments through the online newspaper. I empathize with him as I know he did not expect to inherit a system in the shape that it was in.
The external audit of the system documented many (but not all) issues the district has from lack of technology, lack of technology skills of the people in the system, the need for reorganization, and other issues addressed in the Performance Review of RCSS. The recently updated System Technology Plan has some quirks that need to be worked out.
I have been to the school board on a couple of occasions. Initially, to present letters to each board member inviting them to the school for a Meet and Greet. Not being from here, not understanding the downfall from elementary, middle, and high schools and not exactly who all of our board members were with the district lines.
Once to present a list of questions collected from the parents I had met as I became a participative parent at my daughter's high school. To this day, half of those questions have not been answered. But the written response from the Richmond County Board of Education can be found on the BHS PTSA Accomplishments website and Part of the Solution blog.
We published pictures of the school that seemed to be left to neglect. We took pictures of us when we attempted to start the Butler Beautification project. We went back to the board to ask for the projected plans for the school because we applied for and received a Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant for $5000.
So are you doing what you can for the schools in your district? You can rely on the media and AYP reports...but at what point do you say, "Enough already, what is going on in my own neighborhood? What can I do to improve the situation?" Many people want to help but are not sure what to do. Even if you are not a parent of a student at the local school, the schools are a part of the community. We will pay for these students in the school house or in the jail house.
The recent article published by Gelpi brings out the comments, yet the article published on 11/1 titled, Students will watch action from CNN studios has no comments. The trip, arranged by Superintendent Dana Bedden and CNN reporter Soledad O'Brien, will allow the broadcast class students to experience the history-making election. The trip is being paid for by private donations.
To everyone who is making the difference in the life of a child or a group of neighborhood children...Thank you!!! What goes around, comes around and if we don't participate in the lives of the children...those children will remember when they have to make the decision about who rocks your rocking chair...after all it is the circle of life.
The Richmond County School System has yet to make AYP in the years that AYP results are recorded and available through the net (2001). GA Dept of Ed provides data reports and AYP results. Regardless of the negative publicity, we decided to be one part of the solution, get to the source of the issue, and bring solutions and recommendations to the table.
When my daughter received her diploma in May, her school had a graduation rate of 48%. These results were updated to 60% after summer school results were submitted for the recalculation. Many people want to point the finger, play the blame game, talk the talk...but where are the practitioners?
I am happy that our school board selected Dr. Dana Bedden as the Superintendent of RCSS. He has his critics, but I challenge the critics to step forward and volunteer in the classroom/at the school, rather than throw negative comments through the online newspaper. I empathize with him as I know he did not expect to inherit a system in the shape that it was in.
The external audit of the system documented many (but not all) issues the district has from lack of technology, lack of technology skills of the people in the system, the need for reorganization, and other issues addressed in the Performance Review of RCSS. The recently updated System Technology Plan has some quirks that need to be worked out.
I have been to the school board on a couple of occasions. Initially, to present letters to each board member inviting them to the school for a Meet and Greet. Not being from here, not understanding the downfall from elementary, middle, and high schools and not exactly who all of our board members were with the district lines.
Once to present a list of questions collected from the parents I had met as I became a participative parent at my daughter's high school. To this day, half of those questions have not been answered. But the written response from the Richmond County Board of Education can be found on the BHS PTSA Accomplishments website and Part of the Solution blog.
We published pictures of the school that seemed to be left to neglect. We took pictures of us when we attempted to start the Butler Beautification project. We went back to the board to ask for the projected plans for the school because we applied for and received a Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant for $5000.
So are you doing what you can for the schools in your district? You can rely on the media and AYP reports...but at what point do you say, "Enough already, what is going on in my own neighborhood? What can I do to improve the situation?" Many people want to help but are not sure what to do. Even if you are not a parent of a student at the local school, the schools are a part of the community. We will pay for these students in the school house or in the jail house.
The recent article published by Gelpi brings out the comments, yet the article published on 11/1 titled, Students will watch action from CNN studios has no comments. The trip, arranged by Superintendent Dana Bedden and CNN reporter Soledad O'Brien, will allow the broadcast class students to experience the history-making election. The trip is being paid for by private donations.
To everyone who is making the difference in the life of a child or a group of neighborhood children...Thank you!!! What goes around, comes around and if we don't participate in the lives of the children...those children will remember when they have to make the decision about who rocks your rocking chair...after all it is the circle of life.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Eradicating Rodent Issues - Normal?
School system works to eradicate rodent issues
I have attended training and educational events in places some people cannot even imagine. As a military service member, I had to, as an adult non traditional student my choice is to pursue online education. But when did it become acceptable to allow rodents in the schools with our students and educators?
This article published by the Augusta Chronicle mentions statements from the Senior Director of Facilities Services. Granted...this is only of of four school systems my daughter has been in and out of during her public education. Of course, I accept the responsibility for the moves with the military. While I can learn under duress and unacceptable environments because of my military background, it does not mean that I learn my best in the varying environments.
I do not expect my daughter, her friends, my neighbors' children, the future leaders of the community, and their educators and administrators to find this acceptable.
Today, the Augusta Chronicle does an article titled, Schools might be slow to crank up thermostat, "Richmond County parents should bundle up their children and make sure their clothing is layered, because older schools might not be quick to flip on the heat".
So yesterday, the rodent issue is stated as, "But the problem isn't any worse than usual", Starks said and today you are encouraged to bundle up your students.
If you didn't know about the rodents being a normal part of the environment or the temperature control, what else don't you know about the environment where your students are all day? If this is acceptable, what are the actions (or lack of) teaching everyone?
I have attended training and educational events in places some people cannot even imagine. As a military service member, I had to, as an adult non traditional student my choice is to pursue online education. But when did it become acceptable to allow rodents in the schools with our students and educators?
This article published by the Augusta Chronicle mentions statements from the Senior Director of Facilities Services. Granted...this is only of of four school systems my daughter has been in and out of during her public education. Of course, I accept the responsibility for the moves with the military. While I can learn under duress and unacceptable environments because of my military background, it does not mean that I learn my best in the varying environments.
I do not expect my daughter, her friends, my neighbors' children, the future leaders of the community, and their educators and administrators to find this acceptable.
Today, the Augusta Chronicle does an article titled, Schools might be slow to crank up thermostat, "Richmond County parents should bundle up their children and make sure their clothing is layered, because older schools might not be quick to flip on the heat".
So yesterday, the rodent issue is stated as, "But the problem isn't any worse than usual", Starks said and today you are encouraged to bundle up your students.
If you didn't know about the rodents being a normal part of the environment or the temperature control, what else don't you know about the environment where your students are all day? If this is acceptable, what are the actions (or lack of) teaching everyone?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Report Card Day in RCSS
Report cards for the first nine weeks of school were distributed today (In the Richmond County school district). For parents and guardians who access iParent...there will be no surprises IF all of your student's teachers are using the electronic gradebook. Today should not be the first day that you learn the names of your student's teachers.
The school board passed a recommended iParent timeline for all schools to implement the iParent program starting with the 2nd 9 week period. This item was on the consent agenda for the Sept 2008 school board meeting. Does it mean the program is in place and operational in all schools? Have you received a notice for iParent orientation or an alternative appointment if you cannot make it to the school? Please come out when your school has iParent night and help other parents who may be new to using a computer or a student information system. Remember this is one step in bridging the digital disconnect.
Georgia School Keys PL 3.4 Partnerships to Support Student Learning’s operational strategy is to increase family involvement to support student learning through communicating with families about school programs and student progress.
iParent, a component of School Max, is an interactive web tool that allows parental access to a child’s attendance record, a list of grades along with the current average of each class recorded in the electronic iCue-Gradebook, and the current daily schedule of classes.
In the 2007-2008 school year, iParent was implemented in Davidson Fine Arts, Butler High, Westside High, Hephzibah High, ARC, C.T. Walker and East Augusta.
Currently, Cross Creek High, Morgan Road Middle, Tutt Middle and A.R. Johnson are in the process of implementing iParent. To fully implement iParent in the remaining Richmond County schools, the following actions must take place: (1) Family Information Sheets must be completed by parents, (2) teachers must be using iCue-Gradebook, and (3) a parent registration packet must be provided either through an on-site parent workshop or some other method of packet delivery.
OK...so parents are you accessing the electronic gradebook offered by your school districts? If so, are all of your student's teachers using the program? Do you know who to contact if you have problems with program? Is a system in place to resolve questions and concerns, such as course changes, teacher additions/replacements, grades, tardies, and absences?
Do you know your student's teacher(s)? Do you know your student's counselor(s)? The school administrators? School support personnel? Do you know who your school board representative(s) are? Have you ever attended a School Advisory Meeting or a School Board Meeting? If not, can you access the agendas, budgets, and minutes online?
While your student may be attending school, remember that we are our child's first and lifelong teacher. From home training responsibilities, learning to tie a shoe, brushing teeth, table manners, taking care of family members or pets, riding a bike, driving a car, to financial matters. We cannot forget that our children are always learning from us, because of us, or in spite of us which includes interacting (or lack of) other adults.
Many of us grew up with parents, educators, and administrators living in the same community. You knew your neighbors, schools were a central part of the community, parent nights were never scheduled on the same night because families had children in school at all levels. Of course, we didn't have cell phones (only 25 years old), computers, Internet access at home and/or through local libraries.
So are you a participative parent? Your lifelong learning skills will improve as you learn about your school, the school system, and how it impacts your student. Be involved, self educate, and get to know the people where your student spends at least 1/3 of their day (more if they are involved in after school activities) for the 180 days they are in school.
As always, your recommendations, shared knowledge and experiences are always welcome whether it is your experience with electronic grade books to parent involvement. Please share a comment.
The school board passed a recommended iParent timeline for all schools to implement the iParent program starting with the 2nd 9 week period. This item was on the consent agenda for the Sept 2008 school board meeting. Does it mean the program is in place and operational in all schools? Have you received a notice for iParent orientation or an alternative appointment if you cannot make it to the school? Please come out when your school has iParent night and help other parents who may be new to using a computer or a student information system. Remember this is one step in bridging the digital disconnect.
Georgia School Keys PL 3.4 Partnerships to Support Student Learning’s operational strategy is to increase family involvement to support student learning through communicating with families about school programs and student progress.
iParent, a component of School Max, is an interactive web tool that allows parental access to a child’s attendance record, a list of grades along with the current average of each class recorded in the electronic iCue-Gradebook, and the current daily schedule of classes.
In the 2007-2008 school year, iParent was implemented in Davidson Fine Arts, Butler High, Westside High, Hephzibah High, ARC, C.T. Walker and East Augusta.
Currently, Cross Creek High, Morgan Road Middle, Tutt Middle and A.R. Johnson are in the process of implementing iParent. To fully implement iParent in the remaining Richmond County schools, the following actions must take place: (1) Family Information Sheets must be completed by parents, (2) teachers must be using iCue-Gradebook, and (3) a parent registration packet must be provided either through an on-site parent workshop or some other method of packet delivery.
OK...so parents are you accessing the electronic gradebook offered by your school districts? If so, are all of your student's teachers using the program? Do you know who to contact if you have problems with program? Is a system in place to resolve questions and concerns, such as course changes, teacher additions/replacements, grades, tardies, and absences?
Do you know your student's teacher(s)? Do you know your student's counselor(s)? The school administrators? School support personnel? Do you know who your school board representative(s) are? Have you ever attended a School Advisory Meeting or a School Board Meeting? If not, can you access the agendas, budgets, and minutes online?
While your student may be attending school, remember that we are our child's first and lifelong teacher. From home training responsibilities, learning to tie a shoe, brushing teeth, table manners, taking care of family members or pets, riding a bike, driving a car, to financial matters. We cannot forget that our children are always learning from us, because of us, or in spite of us which includes interacting (or lack of) other adults.
Many of us grew up with parents, educators, and administrators living in the same community. You knew your neighbors, schools were a central part of the community, parent nights were never scheduled on the same night because families had children in school at all levels. Of course, we didn't have cell phones (only 25 years old), computers, Internet access at home and/or through local libraries.
So are you a participative parent? Your lifelong learning skills will improve as you learn about your school, the school system, and how it impacts your student. Be involved, self educate, and get to know the people where your student spends at least 1/3 of their day (more if they are involved in after school activities) for the 180 days they are in school.
As always, your recommendations, shared knowledge and experiences are always welcome whether it is your experience with electronic grade books to parent involvement. Please share a comment.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
School leaders worry donations will dwindle
One of the local news stations featured a story tonight about "Richmond County school leaders worry donations will dwindle" while stating that the superintendent was invited to speak at the Augusta Legislative Conference.
Like our county is special than the rest of the global economics?
A commercial featuring the superintendent, encouraging people to come out to the grand opening of the Barnes & Noble opening in the mall tonight aired over the weekend. A portion of the proceeds will help the Richmond County School System. The stand alone Barnes & Noble not in the mall closed today at 4 PM (1600 for my military comrades).
Because our taxes have been raised 3 x in one year, a $13.4 million deficit was discovered in the RCSS budget what better way to share the ideas then through the blogs? Educators, ed techies, instructional techies, parents, students, and many others are sharing ideas through the net. Blogs are blocked in our school district :-{
So we collected the ideas shared from parents willing to share and the former PTSA Officers because everyone took a vow not to sell "stuff". We firmly believe everyone has a donatable resource, whether it is time, money, sharing a skillset, donating items on the Teachers' Wish List page. What are you doing in your schools to help out? We would love to hear your ideas.
16 + things people can do to help their local schools (in no particular order):
1. If you have a Target card, designate your school as your school of choice. This can also be done by friends and family members who are interested in supporting our students and who do not live in your school districts. Target cards help schools Check to see how much has been sent to your school so far.
2. Shop at Office Depot for school supplies -No card needed. When you check out, tell the clerk you want to designate your favorite school to receive 5% of your next school supply purchase. Visit your local Office Depot store to find a listing of "5% Back to Schools" ID numbers or designate the school of your choice at order confirmation. This can also be done by people outside of your school district. Office Depot also sponsors additional programs for students and teachers.
3. Sign up for a UPromise account - Parents do you have or do you know someone with an Upromise account? Besides saving for your own child's college you can designate your favorite school to receive a portion of your rewards. UPromise School Fundraising This can be done by people outside of of your school district.
4. Donate old cell phones, laser, and inkjet cartridges to the school's Media Centers – Many schools' Media Centers have set up recycling accounts for print cartridges and cell phones. The funds are sent to the school, not the school board.
5. Use your Kroger Plus Card after scanning the barcode for your school. Visit the Kroger Earning and Learning website. Notes: Schools must apply for the program each year, Schools participating in our Gift Card Fund-Raising Program cannot participate in the Earning Plus Learning Fund-Raising Program and Parents must re-link their cards to your school each year.
6. My Coke Rewards for Schools – Since July 2008 Coca Cola now allows people to donate points to their school. All schools are in the database but someone from the schools must register the school.
7. Campbell's Labels for Education - Collect labels from Campbell products. Download the information sheet which lists specific product labels, lids, and UPC codes to save. Available in English and Spanish. If your school does not have a program, this is a great time to recruite a volunteer and sign up the school. Products range from books, musical instruments, to a van to support the schools.
8. Join the school PTA/PTSA or give the gift of membership. – Local PTAs/PTSAs fund much needed programs and products for students and teachers. PTAs/PTSAs have grant opportunities as nonprofit organizations supporting their school and accountable to the IRS. Remember, a PTSA is a PTA with Students who can run for office and lead committees and teams.
9. Student groups can sign up for Do Something ! No adults required. Sign up your school club or as an individual and your cause. Do something! Grants awarded for students and/or student groups that can apply online.
10. Schools can set up Internet store fronts and spirit stores and sell products online.
11. Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grants for schools and/or their nonprofit support groups.
12. Donor's Choose – Built by teachers for teachers. Teachers ask, you choose, students learn. School districts are now collaborating and collecting funds for entire districts. http://www.donorschoose.org
13. Check eSchool News funding links for a variety of grants and funding opportunities.
14. Grant and Funding Sources from Top Teaching Resources.
15. Technology grants for schools and educational organizations.
16. Check the community web site/page of the businesses like Best Buy, Publix, Walmart/Sams, Google, Target, Goodys, Coca Cola, Barnes & Noble, Staples just to name a few. Many businesses have a community link that provides information about opportunities for schools and students to apply for grants, internships, and scholarships.
Teaching our students that everyone has a donatable resource whether it is time, money, skillset, knowledge, and/or donating items on Teachers' Wish Lists builds the community connections and demonstrates alternatives to raising our taxes.
Your local school or school district doesn't have a website? Stop by the local school, your observations will tell you more about what a school needs. Talk to the students...eventually they will make the decisions about who rocks your rocking chair regardless of your age. You do not even need to be a parent...just have the concern that the students today are your future community leaders, from the local to the global, incarcerated or educated.
Education quotes of the day:
There is a brilliant child locked inside every student.-- Marva Collins
Instruction begins when you, the teacher, learn from the learner; put yourself in his or her place so that you may understand… what he or she learns and the way he or she understands it.-- Soren Kierkegaard
Like our county is special than the rest of the global economics?
A commercial featuring the superintendent, encouraging people to come out to the grand opening of the Barnes & Noble opening in the mall tonight aired over the weekend. A portion of the proceeds will help the Richmond County School System. The stand alone Barnes & Noble not in the mall closed today at 4 PM (1600 for my military comrades).
Because our taxes have been raised 3 x in one year, a $13.4 million deficit was discovered in the RCSS budget what better way to share the ideas then through the blogs? Educators, ed techies, instructional techies, parents, students, and many others are sharing ideas through the net. Blogs are blocked in our school district :-{
So we collected the ideas shared from parents willing to share and the former PTSA Officers because everyone took a vow not to sell "stuff". We firmly believe everyone has a donatable resource, whether it is time, money, sharing a skillset, donating items on the Teachers' Wish List page. What are you doing in your schools to help out? We would love to hear your ideas.
16 + things people can do to help their local schools (in no particular order):
1. If you have a Target card, designate your school as your school of choice. This can also be done by friends and family members who are interested in supporting our students and who do not live in your school districts. Target cards help schools Check to see how much has been sent to your school so far.
2. Shop at Office Depot for school supplies -No card needed. When you check out, tell the clerk you want to designate your favorite school to receive 5% of your next school supply purchase. Visit your local Office Depot store to find a listing of "5% Back to Schools" ID numbers or designate the school of your choice at order confirmation. This can also be done by people outside of your school district. Office Depot also sponsors additional programs for students and teachers.
3. Sign up for a UPromise account - Parents do you have or do you know someone with an Upromise account? Besides saving for your own child's college you can designate your favorite school to receive a portion of your rewards. UPromise School Fundraising This can be done by people outside of of your school district.
4. Donate old cell phones, laser, and inkjet cartridges to the school's Media Centers – Many schools' Media Centers have set up recycling accounts for print cartridges and cell phones. The funds are sent to the school, not the school board.
5. Use your Kroger Plus Card after scanning the barcode for your school. Visit the Kroger Earning and Learning website. Notes: Schools must apply for the program each year, Schools participating in our Gift Card Fund-Raising Program cannot participate in the Earning Plus Learning Fund-Raising Program and Parents must re-link their cards to your school each year.
6. My Coke Rewards for Schools – Since July 2008 Coca Cola now allows people to donate points to their school. All schools are in the database but someone from the schools must register the school.
7. Campbell's Labels for Education - Collect labels from Campbell products. Download the information sheet which lists specific product labels, lids, and UPC codes to save. Available in English and Spanish. If your school does not have a program, this is a great time to recruite a volunteer and sign up the school. Products range from books, musical instruments, to a van to support the schools.
8. Join the school PTA/PTSA or give the gift of membership. – Local PTAs/PTSAs fund much needed programs and products for students and teachers. PTAs/PTSAs have grant opportunities as nonprofit organizations supporting their school and accountable to the IRS. Remember, a PTSA is a PTA with Students who can run for office and lead committees and teams.
9. Student groups can sign up for Do Something ! No adults required. Sign up your school club or as an individual and your cause. Do something! Grants awarded for students and/or student groups that can apply online.
10. Schools can set up Internet store fronts and spirit stores and sell products online.
11. Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grants for schools and/or their nonprofit support groups.
12. Donor's Choose – Built by teachers for teachers. Teachers ask, you choose, students learn. School districts are now collaborating and collecting funds for entire districts. http://www.donorschoose.org
13. Check eSchool News funding links for a variety of grants and funding opportunities.
14. Grant and Funding Sources from Top Teaching Resources.
15. Technology grants for schools and educational organizations.
16. Check the community web site/page of the businesses like Best Buy, Publix, Walmart/Sams, Google, Target, Goodys, Coca Cola, Barnes & Noble, Staples just to name a few. Many businesses have a community link that provides information about opportunities for schools and students to apply for grants, internships, and scholarships.
Teaching our students that everyone has a donatable resource whether it is time, money, skillset, knowledge, and/or donating items on Teachers' Wish Lists builds the community connections and demonstrates alternatives to raising our taxes.
Your local school or school district doesn't have a website? Stop by the local school, your observations will tell you more about what a school needs. Talk to the students...eventually they will make the decisions about who rocks your rocking chair regardless of your age. You do not even need to be a parent...just have the concern that the students today are your future community leaders, from the local to the global, incarcerated or educated.
Education quotes of the day:
There is a brilliant child locked inside every student.-- Marva Collins
Instruction begins when you, the teacher, learn from the learner; put yourself in his or her place so that you may understand… what he or she learns and the way he or she understands it.-- Soren Kierkegaard
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Changing focus
As I move closer to the stage where I have to narrow down the focus for my thesis, the focus of the blog will share lessons learned, info from my favorite bloggers, technology links, and what we can do to help our students succeed.
The Richmond County Board of Education provides this information on the About Us link from the home page.
Learning Today...Leading Tomorrow
The Mission of the Richmond County School System is to educate students to become lifelong learners and productive citizens.
1. Every person has the right to a quality education.
2. Education is the shared responsibility of the individual, home, school, and community.
3. Every person can learn.
4. Respect and acceptance are essential for learning and personal development.
5. A safe, healthy and orderly environment is essential to learning.
6. Communication is the key to understanding among people.
7. Excellence cannot be compromised.
While the board claims this mission statement was developed from the results of a survey, bring up the subject of lifelong learning in a F2F (Face to Face) conversation and the responses vary from A to Z. This is also challenging when the graduation rate for the 10 high schools in this area range from 100% to 30%. While one person cannot do it all, if everyone did a little bit the district would see the change in attitudes toward education and improve the district as a whole.
I want to share this link from the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County's (PLCMC) project Learning 2.0 which hosts the "23 Things" Project. While I know this is old news in the online world there are many people who are not connected and are missing out on expanding their personal learning network. Thing #2 Lifelong Learning & L2 provides information on the 7 1/2 habits of lifelong learners.
The digital divide amongst parents, teachers, students, administrators, alumni, and community members of this district is so varied I thought a post about the 7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners is something to be shared. Maybe someone will request that 23 Things (which is now grown to 65 Things) can be used to help bridge the digital divide. Maybe individuals will incorporate the 7 1/2 habits of lifelong learners. Maybe someone will follow the lead of other school districts and incorporate an opportunity for individuals to earn PLUs, CECs, or some type of credit for those students stuck taking a gapfiller course.
Comments and recommendations are always welcome and do not worry because the school district blocks blogs so no one at the brick and mortar schools will read this.
For those who have completed 23 Things, PLCMC created Learning 2.1 Explore, Discover, Play. Have fun improving your skills and sharing knowledge!
The Richmond County Board of Education provides this information on the About Us link from the home page.
Learning Today...Leading Tomorrow
The Mission of the Richmond County School System is to educate students to become lifelong learners and productive citizens.
1. Every person has the right to a quality education.
2. Education is the shared responsibility of the individual, home, school, and community.
3. Every person can learn.
4. Respect and acceptance are essential for learning and personal development.
5. A safe, healthy and orderly environment is essential to learning.
6. Communication is the key to understanding among people.
7. Excellence cannot be compromised.
While the board claims this mission statement was developed from the results of a survey, bring up the subject of lifelong learning in a F2F (Face to Face) conversation and the responses vary from A to Z. This is also challenging when the graduation rate for the 10 high schools in this area range from 100% to 30%. While one person cannot do it all, if everyone did a little bit the district would see the change in attitudes toward education and improve the district as a whole.
I want to share this link from the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County's (PLCMC) project Learning 2.0 which hosts the "23 Things" Project. While I know this is old news in the online world there are many people who are not connected and are missing out on expanding their personal learning network. Thing #2 Lifelong Learning & L2 provides information on the 7 1/2 habits of lifelong learners.
The digital divide amongst parents, teachers, students, administrators, alumni, and community members of this district is so varied I thought a post about the 7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners is something to be shared. Maybe someone will request that 23 Things (which is now grown to 65 Things) can be used to help bridge the digital divide. Maybe individuals will incorporate the 7 1/2 habits of lifelong learners. Maybe someone will follow the lead of other school districts and incorporate an opportunity for individuals to earn PLUs, CECs, or some type of credit for those students stuck taking a gapfiller course.
Comments and recommendations are always welcome and do not worry because the school district blocks blogs so no one at the brick and mortar schools will read this.
For those who have completed 23 Things, PLCMC created Learning 2.1 Explore, Discover, Play. Have fun improving your skills and sharing knowledge!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
If your school district has a $13.4 million shortfall...
If your school district has a $13.4 million shortfall...What would you do if you were in charge for a day?
Recommendations have been made to the school board to add a virtual suggestion box to the home page. Graduations were piped through the net, why not let the property tax payers, working parents, current and former students, teachers, and community partners make suggestions through the net? After all, this is the second time in one year that the RCBoEd has decided to raise taxes.
So why doesn't a school district that is raising taxes again, incorporate Google Apps for Education? Bring in Moodle for Blackboard? Incorporate Google Docs, Presentations, and Spreadsheets, Star Office, or OpenOffice for proprietary software? Use Google Earth to teach subjects where collaboration can enhance the learning event for everyone involved? Use Google's SketchUp to supplement learning in Engineering, Construction, Interior Design, or anything 3D ? Encourage the use of wikis? Get involved with global initiatives like the Flat Classroom and Horizon Projects?
The school administration noted that summer school is not profitable, yet failed to add those "fun to learn" courses, such as chess, double dutch jump rope, basic keyboarding, creating ePortfolios, Internet safety, basic web design and bring in volunteers from the community or education majors looking to facilitate a class to add to their "real world" teaching experiences. Why not have fun while learning something new and sharing knowledge?
The community can be encouraged to support schools by participating in Target's Take Charge of Education, UPromise Schools Program, Coke Rewards for Schools, Donor's Choose, Campbell's Labels for Education, Office Depot's "5% Back to Schools" Program, join the local PTAs, PTSAs, booster clubs, and other local philanthropic opportunities.
GA Department of Audits and Accounts posts the salary and travel pay for everyone in the school district, for any district in GA based on June, the closeout month of the school year. Each January of a new year, Internet surfers can visit the site and see the released reports of salary and travel by name of every employee paid, before taxes. The link is referenced in the end of this post.
So now, RCSS hires America's Choice. A company that came in and conducted "training" for principals. So, "Did learning take place? and "Are the principals implementing a knowledge sharing plan?"
For a school district who's mission statement reads, "The Mission of the Richmond County School System is to educate students to become lifelong learners and productive citizens" is oxymoronic when the graduation rate is 62% and 1500 students failed the CRCT. The primary reason that the graduation rate is 62% is due to two magnet schools which graduated 100% of their students. This information is available through the GA Dept of Education website.
All comments, recommendations, suggestions are welcome. If you were in charge for the day what would you do if you were in charge and inherited the school district with the $13.4 million budget shortfall?
Links referenced in this blog:
Google Apps for Education
Google Earth
Google SketchUp
Google Pack which contains Star Office
OpenOffice
Moodle
America's Choice
Georgia Dept of Audits and Accounts
Richmond County School System (About Us)
GA Dept of Education
Flat Classroom
Horizon Project
Recommendations have been made to the school board to add a virtual suggestion box to the home page. Graduations were piped through the net, why not let the property tax payers, working parents, current and former students, teachers, and community partners make suggestions through the net? After all, this is the second time in one year that the RCBoEd has decided to raise taxes.
So why doesn't a school district that is raising taxes again, incorporate Google Apps for Education? Bring in Moodle for Blackboard? Incorporate Google Docs, Presentations, and Spreadsheets, Star Office, or OpenOffice for proprietary software? Use Google Earth to teach subjects where collaboration can enhance the learning event for everyone involved? Use Google's SketchUp to supplement learning in Engineering, Construction, Interior Design, or anything 3D ? Encourage the use of wikis? Get involved with global initiatives like the Flat Classroom and Horizon Projects?
The school administration noted that summer school is not profitable, yet failed to add those "fun to learn" courses, such as chess, double dutch jump rope, basic keyboarding, creating ePortfolios, Internet safety, basic web design and bring in volunteers from the community or education majors looking to facilitate a class to add to their "real world" teaching experiences. Why not have fun while learning something new and sharing knowledge?
The community can be encouraged to support schools by participating in Target's Take Charge of Education, UPromise Schools Program, Coke Rewards for Schools, Donor's Choose, Campbell's Labels for Education, Office Depot's "5% Back to Schools" Program, join the local PTAs, PTSAs, booster clubs, and other local philanthropic opportunities.
GA Department of Audits and Accounts posts the salary and travel pay for everyone in the school district, for any district in GA based on June, the closeout month of the school year. Each January of a new year, Internet surfers can visit the site and see the released reports of salary and travel by name of every employee paid, before taxes. The link is referenced in the end of this post.
So now, RCSS hires America's Choice. A company that came in and conducted "training" for principals. So, "Did learning take place? and "Are the principals implementing a knowledge sharing plan?"
For a school district who's mission statement reads, "The Mission of the Richmond County School System is to educate students to become lifelong learners and productive citizens" is oxymoronic when the graduation rate is 62% and 1500 students failed the CRCT. The primary reason that the graduation rate is 62% is due to two magnet schools which graduated 100% of their students. This information is available through the GA Dept of Education website.
All comments, recommendations, suggestions are welcome. If you were in charge for the day what would you do if you were in charge and inherited the school district with the $13.4 million budget shortfall?
Links referenced in this blog:
Google Apps for Education
Google Earth
Google SketchUp
Google Pack which contains Star Office
OpenOffice
Moodle
America's Choice
Georgia Dept of Audits and Accounts
Richmond County School System (About Us)
GA Dept of Education
Flat Classroom
Horizon Project
Friday, July 25, 2008
The AYP numbers are in
The AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) numbers are in and once again, Richmond County School System (RCSS) did not meet the standard. This year 50.9 percent of schools made AYP, down from 70.2 percent last year. While these numbers mean different things to different people...educators, administrators, parents, guardians, students, the community and the military members who end up on orders to a military installation in Georgia it is the news for the day. The school board will vote to raise the millage rate on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 4:30 for the second time this year, regardless of the numbers.
Yes, the positive numbers need to be acknowledged but overall the RCSS numbers dropped. School choice will be back...but what do you do when your student's school does not make AYP and there are no school choices? You jump in with both feet and do what you can to make improvements. Schools are a vital part of the community. These students are the future leaders, they will be the ones rocking our rocking chairs. Everyone needs to do something.
The Augusta Chronicle does a great job of providing coverage when the negative news in the Richmond County School System will draw the attention of the online posters. If 1/2 of the people who post a gripe, complaint, or groan about the school system would put 1 hour of volunteering in at the local neighborhood school, we might see some improvement or maybe change the perspective of their posts.
I am proud that my daughter graduated high school, but I know it was her diverse experiences in schools in Georgia, Florida, Alaska, and Texas exposed her to different learning environments and the involvement of the adults in her life that expected no less from her. I am concerned about the graduation rate of the school system as a whole. From the Georgia Department of Education, these are the graduation rates posted under the annual AYP reports as the second indicator:
Richmond County (721) System did not meet AYP
2001 2002 Graduation rate: 58.7%
2002 2003 Graduation rate: 59.4%
2003-2004 Graduation rate: 62.2%
2004-2005 Graduation rate: 72%
2005-2006 Graduation rate: 66.1%
2006-2007 Graduation rate: 66.3%
2007-2008 Graduation rate: 62.1%
Education is big business. If colleges, corporations, or the military produced these kind of numbers for graduation they would be put out of business. So whether you want to believe the numbers posted by the GA Dept of Education, US Department of Education, Ed in 08, US Census Bureau, or whatever organization is publishing the numbers...take a look around your neighborhood. Will the children your student eats lunch with today be the same students walking across the graduation stage?
Ed in 08: http://www.edin08.com/
GA Dept of Education 2008 AYP: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ayp2008.aspx
US Dept of Education: http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/UnitedStates/Education/
While the AYP #s are in the news today, the first "rightsizing" forum was held July 27, 2008 and hopefully will provide recommendations for the August monthly school board meeting. The audit conducted by MGT of America, Inc. documented that the school system had 6000 empty seats, and recommended closing 1 high school, 1 middle school, and 3 elementary schools. But the school board approved building 1 new middle school which is undergoing construction.
Having been an involved parent in GA, FL, AK, and TX, I question many decisions of this school district. These questions and my research play a vital role in the research I conduct for my own educational assignments.
Regardless of the outcome, I have to thank the Richmond County School System for the valuable lessons learned and the plethora of research and information they provide as I continue my own education in the field Educational Technology Management.
Yes, the positive numbers need to be acknowledged but overall the RCSS numbers dropped. School choice will be back...but what do you do when your student's school does not make AYP and there are no school choices? You jump in with both feet and do what you can to make improvements. Schools are a vital part of the community. These students are the future leaders, they will be the ones rocking our rocking chairs. Everyone needs to do something.
The Augusta Chronicle does a great job of providing coverage when the negative news in the Richmond County School System will draw the attention of the online posters. If 1/2 of the people who post a gripe, complaint, or groan about the school system would put 1 hour of volunteering in at the local neighborhood school, we might see some improvement or maybe change the perspective of their posts.
I am proud that my daughter graduated high school, but I know it was her diverse experiences in schools in Georgia, Florida, Alaska, and Texas exposed her to different learning environments and the involvement of the adults in her life that expected no less from her. I am concerned about the graduation rate of the school system as a whole. From the Georgia Department of Education, these are the graduation rates posted under the annual AYP reports as the second indicator:
Richmond County (721) System did not meet AYP
2001 2002 Graduation rate: 58.7%
2002 2003 Graduation rate: 59.4%
2003-2004 Graduation rate: 62.2%
2004-2005 Graduation rate: 72%
2005-2006 Graduation rate: 66.1%
2006-2007 Graduation rate: 66.3%
2007-2008 Graduation rate: 62.1%
Education is big business. If colleges, corporations, or the military produced these kind of numbers for graduation they would be put out of business. So whether you want to believe the numbers posted by the GA Dept of Education, US Department of Education, Ed in 08, US Census Bureau, or whatever organization is publishing the numbers...take a look around your neighborhood. Will the children your student eats lunch with today be the same students walking across the graduation stage?
Ed in 08: http://www.edin08.com/
GA Dept of Education 2008 AYP: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ayp2008.aspx
US Dept of Education: http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/UnitedStates/Education/
While the AYP #s are in the news today, the first "rightsizing" forum was held July 27, 2008 and hopefully will provide recommendations for the August monthly school board meeting. The audit conducted by MGT of America, Inc. documented that the school system had 6000 empty seats, and recommended closing 1 high school, 1 middle school, and 3 elementary schools. But the school board approved building 1 new middle school which is undergoing construction.
Having been an involved parent in GA, FL, AK, and TX, I question many decisions of this school district. These questions and my research play a vital role in the research I conduct for my own educational assignments.
Regardless of the outcome, I have to thank the Richmond County School System for the valuable lessons learned and the plethora of research and information they provide as I continue my own education in the field Educational Technology Management.
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