|
|
|
|
 . |
|
In this issue: Message from Jackie on Technology, School Lunch Info, Mr. Parker on Technology Without Tears and Digital Wisdom, Orientation Meeting Mandatory for All Grades - Sign Up Now, X-Block Volunteers Needed, Parents Right to Know. |
Alert - New PowerSchool Passwords for Everyone!
Great News! The upgrades to PowerSchool we have been hoping for are here. This will mean more consolidated information and easier passwords. Look here tomorrow for a tutorial on how to use the new system. Your current log-ins will not work. |
|
|
|
Message from Jackie
Dear Parents,
Mountain Middle School is so fortunate to have a robust technology structure essential to preparing students for the 21st century workplace. Technology permeates our classrooms as the main learning tool for our students. Classrooms are equipped with Smartboard technology and document cameras. We have a digital media lab with 28 work-stations. Every student is issued a netbook for accessing information, collaborating, and communicating. Students use the netbooks for research, reading and writing. Students create presentations of learning using video and digital cameras, as well as other digital tools.
Our middle school students were born into the Information Age. Most of them have access to information and communication in an anytime, anywhere fashion. They expect their classrooms to mirror their lives. Digital power is their link to creativity, innovation, and passionate learning.
Our goal as educators is to recognize that all students are unique learners. MMS students are immersed in authentic tasks in their projects where they explore the concept that there is more than one way to solve a problem or approach an idea. Technology tools help teachers and students achieve these goals and instill a love of learning,
Randy Parker, Digital Media Teacher, and I attended the International Society for Technology Educators (ISTE) conference this summer. As adult learners we came away with enhanced knowledge about integrating technology in meaningful ways into the MMS environment. Here at MMS the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) are used in our projects for teaching, learning, and leading in the digital age. The NETS set high standards of excellence and are aligned to best practices in a project-based learning environment. Please read the six standards of excellence below.
Our challenge as educators and parents is to listen actively and intently to our students, determine what they need to be successful in the 21st century, let go of practices that no longer serve our vision and mission, and adapt and change in this new context of education. We invite you to join us as partners in broadening our insights about integrating technology in education.
-- Jackie
|
| Randy Parker on Technology Without Tears and Digital Wisdom | Dear Parents,
 | |
Click Image to Learn About Mr. Parker
|
I have really enjoyed getting to meet many of you during our Parent Meetings over the past several days. As you have seen, we have implemented several changes to our technology infrastructure during the Summer. Many of the changes have been made to better facilitate communication in our School Community, and to give you the ability to easily track your student's progress at Mountain Middle School.
As we put these new systems into place, we do not want you to feel overwhelmed with information about how to use them. Rest assured, we will offer additional training and resources in the weeks ahead to help you get the most out of these tools, and minimize any apprehension you might have. We are striving for "technology without tears".
A term that you may hear your students mention as they work through our digital media curriculum this year is "Digital Wisdom", which is a concept originated by author Marc Prensky.
 Marc has been a thought leader for over a decade on the connection between education and technology, and in his words, "Digital wisdom is a two fold concept, referring both to wisdom arising from the use of digital technology to access cognitive power beyond our innate capacity, and to wisdom in the prudent use of technology to enhance our capabilities".
With this idea in mind, the focus of our digital education at MMS is not on the use of any specific tool, since technology will forever evolve, and today's tools will be outdated tomorrow. Rather, we help our students become digitally wise by giving them the skill to make intelligent choices about what technology they use, when they use it (and when not to), and how to apply it in a productive way.
You can read more about the concept of Digital Wisdom written by Marc Prensky here:
 As we begin our journey toward digital wisdom, we start with "Digital Citizenship" which is a collective term for the skills our students need to be "safe, responsible, and savvy" when they use technology. I am using a very comprehensive curriculum from Common Sense Media. We will cover a wide variety of topics, such as how students can conduct themselves safely and responsibly in an online culture, strategies for protecting their privacy and personal information, advanced search techniques and ways to validate information, the principles of intellectual property and copyright law, and how to navigate a host of online social situations that range from group collaboration to cyberbullying.
In the same way that we train and test young adults before they get behind the wheel of a car, we want our students to be prepared before they jump online.
You can see an overview of the curriculum here (specifically the 6-8 curriculum).
--Randy |
| Parent Meetings -
Now
All Parents Must Attend Before Their Child Can Receive a Netbook | | |
MMS requires that each parent and student attend a mandatory meeting at the beginning of the school year to review the cultural and technology expectations. These meetings are scheduled for 60 minutes on the following dates and times:
Wednesday, August 29th - 11:30am to 12:30pm, 2:30pm-3:30pm and 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Thursday, August 30th - 11:30am to 12:30pm and 2:30pm-3:30pm
|
Save the Date - PTSO Inaugural Meeting - September 11th @ 6pm.
Volunteer Opportunities
Help get the school in shape. Check out the volunteer opportunities here.
MMS Logo Merchandise for Sale at lunchtime Friday 8/31
The PTSO will be selling MMS logo merchandise this Friday at lunchtime, 12:25-12:55. Get cool MMS stuff including T-shirts ($15), water bottles ($13.50), decals ($1.50) and pencils (3 for $1.00). We will also take pre-order payments for 7th and 8th grade student planners ($8.00).Cash and checks (to AlisonEpstein) accepted. All profits will benefit MMS PTSO.
Support MMS 4-6pm, Every 4th Wednesday Yes that's today! Mention MMS to your server and $1 from every drink goes to support MMS. |
| School Lunches - Set Up Your Account Now | | |
Great News! This Friday, Bess will send out an e-mail with a link and ordering instructions for lunches.
Now is not too soon to set up your lunch account. Just send your child in with a check (we recommend $60 to start) made out to MMS. You will be notified when your account gets low.
|
Board Volunteer Opportunity
Help the Board Run Efficiently! | | |
Mountain Middle School is looking for a volunteer secretary to support the Board. Duties will include keeping of meeting notes, and organizing and publishing documents.
The Board typically meets once a month on the third Thursday of the month at the school from 4pm - 7pm. In addition, we have one working session per month scheduled through the end of the year (also usually on Thursday). Commitment is for one year.
This is a high-value way to support the school. If you are interested, please contact Erin Patla.
|
| X-Block Volunteers Needed | | Any Bikers Out There?
Mondays & Wednesdays, 12:45 to 1:45
We are seeking parent volunteers to assist with X-Block (physical activity period). We specifically need one or more river trail bike riding adult. We also need volunteers for other sports such as 4-square, speed, and soccer.
Commitment is for 2 hrs. per week until 10/31. Let us know about your interest here.
-Heather Study
|
| Sports, Activities, Culture & More |
| | Durango Winter Sports Foundation
Local Kids Doing Great Things
Whether it is Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle, or Snowboarding, the Durango Winter Sports Foundation is helping local kids do great things. Join other MMS families in supporting this great organization with a lobster fest on September 14th.
Four Corners Youth SymphonyAn Inspiring Orchestral Experience for Kids Four Corners Youth Symphony is expanding their youth symphony offerings in Durango. Auditions are for Monday, September 3rd. Sign up here.
Do you have a cultural event or activity our community should know about. Let Jessica know! |
The National Education Technology Standards Six Standards of Excellence
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
c. Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
d. Identify trends and forecast possibilities
2. Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including
at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital
environments and media
b. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
c. Develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures
d. Contribute to project teams to produce original
works or solve problems
3. Research and Information Fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
a. Plan strategies to guide inquiry
b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks
d. Process data and report results
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.
a. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
b. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
c. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
d. Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions
5. Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.
a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity
c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
d. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
6. Technology Operations and Concepts
Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations.
a. Understand and use technology systems
b. Select and use applications effectively and productively
c. Troubleshoot systems and applications
d. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies
| |
| Introducing School Pages | | |
Great News! Parents have started uploading family pictures and information about cultural events.
This is intended to make all of our lives easier, help support the school, and provide a valuable source of information to parents. Please don't hesitate to contact us with information or other ways we can improve communication.
Please contact Jessica or call 415-999-7931. |
| Parents Right to Know |
| Dear Mountain Middle School Parents/Guardians:
As a parent of a student at Mountain Middle School, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teacher who instructs our child. This is a requirement for all districts that receive Title I funds. Even though Mountain Middle School does not receive Title I funds, the Charter School Institute, which is Mountain Middle School's authorizer, does.
Federal law allows you to request certain information about your student's classroom teacher. The law also requires us to give you this information in a timely manner upon request. Listed below is the information about which you have the right to ask for regarding each of your student's classroom teachers.
- Whether the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has licensed or endorsed your student's teacher for the grades and subjects taught.
- Whether CDE has decided that your student's teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualified under state regulations because of special circumstances.
- The teacher's college major; whether the teacher has any advanced degrees, and, if so, the subject of the degrees.
All Mountain Middle School staff is highly qualified according to federal guidelines.
Please contact meif you would like to receive any of this information.
Kind regards,
Jackie
|
|
Upcoming Dates
First 3 Weeks of School - Mandatory Parent Meetings, Sign Up Here
PTSO Meeting
September 11th, 6pm
|
School Hours
Day Begins: 8am
Dismissal: 3:20pm
Friday Dismissal: 2pm
Early Arrival: Students should arrive no earlier than 7:45am unless prior arrangements have been made with a staff member
|
News for the community? Item for our classifieds section?
Let Jessica know. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
