8th Annual Technology Conference:  Registration is now open for both the pre-conference sessions and regular conference sessions, which will be held March 13 and March 14.Visit www.swsc.org/techconf2014 to see the conference brochure and to register.  You won't want to miss it!

3D Printing Demonstration:  On February 6th, the Technology Coordinators from our region who attended the Technology Leadership Workshop were given a special treat.  Ken Peterson with Midwest Technology Products demonstrated the MakerBot

Reeplicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer (see Ken showing the printer in the photo at left).  3D printers make true-to-life high-resolution models.    These printers are available through Midwest Technology Products, a vendor with the Purchasing Connection.  If you would like more information about 3D printers, please contact Shareen.Neumann@swsc.org or 507-537-2279.

Health Cost Management Program:  As a reminder, requests for program activities and screenings should be submitted prior to implementing programs for the staff in your district.  Requests can be submitted at any time prior to implementation and are typically reviewed within a week.  If you have questions about program offerings or screenings,  please contact Kari Bailey at kari.bailey@swsc.org or 507-537-2292.  

Virtual Health Clinic: Use Online Care Anywhere® to talk to a doctor using video or secure text chat. No emails, no surveys, no waiting - you'll have a live conversation with a real doctor. Our U.S. board-certified doctors can answer your questions, diagnose your condition and prescribe medications. It's easy to use, confidential, and costs just $45 per visit and will coordinate with your insurance.  The School Insurance Pool will provide ancillary supplies (scale, blood pressure cuff, thermometers, wipes, sharps container) for any school pool member who 'opens' a virtual clinic in their district.  For more information on this, please contact Kari Bailey at kari.bailey@swsc.org.

Summer Principal's Summit:  SW/WC SC will once again be partnering with Saint Mary's University of Winona for the Summer Principal's Summit. Scheduled dates are July 29-30. Pat Anderson will be the keynote for Day 1, presenting on meeting the needs of the under resourced learner. Day 2 will consist of breakout sessions. More information and details to be coming out soon.

Sumdog Math Continues Growth in 2013-14:  So far this year, Sumdog students in southwest and west central Minnesota correctly answered over three quarters of a million questions during the free fall, holiday and winter on-line contests.   Students are motivated to enjoy math and challenged by the on-line games they can play against students from all over the world.  The most recent winter contest included 2,143 students from 24 school districts correctly answering over 200,000 math questions.  The final contest of the school year is scheduled to begin on May 16, 2014.   Register at http://www.sumdog.com/regions/mn. We expect the 2013-14 school year to be the biggest Sumdog contest year yet!

Articulated College Credit:   This is a written agreement between secondary schools and post-secondary institutions which provides students the opportunity to receive advanced placement standing for selected high school courses. The linking of secondary and post-secondary institutions provides students the opportunity to make a smooth transition from one level to the next without experiencing delays, duplication of courses, or loss of credit.  As a member of the MN West Carl Perkins Consortium, you are also a member of the Southern MN Articulated College Credit Certificate Request Project.  The purpose of this joint project is to provide students in participating high schools the opportunity to earn college credit for classes they take in high school at no cost to the school district or student and can be redeemed at a variety of post-secondary campuses upon admission to the school.  Minnesota Articulated College Credit eliminates unnecessary duplication of instruction, provides opportunities for advanced training, increases flexibility of scheduling and promotes more informed career decision making.  To view the available certificates, visit http://www.lifetimeoflearning.com/techprep/.  Choose "All Certificates" at the top of the page, select the Minnesota West Consortium from the dropdown box and then select your district.  You may view all the certificates or filter by career field.  Contact Gail Polejewski for more info at gail.polejewski@swsc.org. 

Regional Spelling Bee: SW/WC SC's Regional Spelling Bee was held on Tuesday, February 11 in Redwood Falls. Twenty-eight local school winners competed against each other through a written test and three preliminary oral rounds.  Seventeen students with the top scores advanced to the spell down.  After fifteen intense rounds, Alyssa Boynton of MCC Jr. High was declared the champion.  Other winners included 2nd - Asa Ulferts of YME Jr. High, 3rd - Cadence Dove of Dawson-Boyd, 4th - Michaela Bosveld of Marshall Middle School and alternate - Daniel Bauer of Holy Redeemer in Marshall.  The top four students advance to the Multi-Region State Spelling bee on February 25 at Fergus Falls with the winner from that event going on to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC.