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  register              April 2015
  
Summer Professional Development Catalog:  Be watching your email and regular mail for our summer catalog, which should be out in the next couple weeks. In the meantime, you can also view our current list of workshops at www.swsc.org/workshops.
 
Administrative Programs & Services

SAVE THE DATES!  

  • UFARS Year End Workshops:  The dates for the UFARS Year End Workshops have been scheduled.  The Marshall workshop will be in the morning from 9am - 12pm on June 11th.  The workshop in Hutchinson will be on June 18th and the workshop in Willmar will be June 24th.  Look for registration details to follow later.
  • Annual Health and Safety Workshop:  The Health and Safety Workshop with Dale Sundstrom has been scheduled for June 11th at 1pm at our Marshall office. 

 

Cooperative Purchasing Update  

An Amazing Deal on Adobe Creative Cloud: 
Adobe and the Cooperative Purchasing Connection are partnering to provide our member school districts with the lowest price available on Creative Cloud programming. This offer includes:  $24/FTE*/school district, which allows for installation on every computer in the district;  Access to current and future updates for Adobe creative desktop applications;  

One annual payment with a three year lock on pricing.

*FTE = FT Faculty + (PT Faculty/3) + FT Staff + (PT Staff/2). FTE does not include custodial, maintenance, food service, or bus drivers.

The buying window is June 15, 2015 through July 17, 2015. The program must reach 5,000 FTE combined across all members. This offer will not be available outside the buying window. If you are interested in purchasing the Creative Cloud through this program, please contact Oleg Krylov at CDW-G by email: olegkry@cdwg.com or phone: 866-770-0358.  Click here to read the flyer.  More information about this offer is available online at www.purchasingconnection.org/adobe.

 

Planning for Capital Projects?  Purchasing Connection can help! The following contracts are formally bid and satisfy Minnesota bid law requirements. (MN Stat. 471.345, subd. 15) 

Daktronics - An industry leader in scoreboards, marquees, and electronic displays;

Field Turf - Synthetic field turf, track resurfacing, and tennis court resurfacing and construction;

Fisher Tracks - Rubberized track surfacing and MONDO track products;

Leasing Specialists - National rate comparisons to bring members the best rates for leasing and financing;

Midwest Playscapes - Sales and installation of playgrounds, splash pads, outdoor stadium seating, bleachers, fences, and playground surfaces;

Techline Sports Lighting - Sport facility lighting that now offers LED options;

Tremco Education Solutions - Roofing specialists. Options to repair and re-warranty your existing roof or perform full roof replacements; andUBU - Indoor and outdoor synthetic turf surfaces for: football, baseball, field hockey, soccer, rugby and lacrosse.

 

For more information about any of these contracts, please visit www.purchasingconnection.org or call 1-888-739-3289.

 
Educational Programs & Services

FINAL Sumdog Contest for 2014-15: Please share this information with the elementary and middle school teachers in your school that are involved in K-8 math.

Sumdog 's Southwest/West Central FINAL math contest of the year begins on Friday, May 1st at 8:00 a.m. and will end until the following Thursday at 8:00 p.m. This year, you take part as a class, and compete against other classes in your school and across Southwest/West Central Minnesota.  It's free to take part and there are prizes to be won.

 

During the 2013-14 school year, nearly 5,000 students correctly answered about 1 Million Math Questions!  Students take part by playing the free multiplayer math games on the Sumdog website and they can compete at school or at home. They only need to play for about an hour in total to get a competitive score.  The SW/WC SC's partnership with Sumdog has provided a fun, competitive opportunity for students to get more engaged in math and to improve their skills. While winning is always fun, please don't forget that the goal of the on-line games are to get students more engaged in math and to improve their skills. Even if your school does not participate in the contest, please encourage your students to play the games for free. 

 

In order to join in the fun, teachers should go to:  http://www.sumdog.com/enter_contest.  For questions and technical assistance contact info@sumdog.com.

 

Start It Up! Camp:  Start It Up! is a residential camp for high school students who want to develop their entrepreneurial skills and aspirations. Access tools and resources to support your start-up dreams. Network with successful entrepreneurs and students from across the Midwest.Explore leadership concepts, enhance business skills, and build confidence in a fun and innovative learning environment. The camp will run from  Sunday through Friday, June 21 - 26, 2015 at Minnesota State University - Mankato. The cost is $350 (includes lodging, meals and materials; scholarships available). Apply online - only 50 spots available.  

 

 

Southwest Prairie Regional Center of Excellence 
There are many different activities and trainings being offered through the Regional Center of Excellence, including: Transition to Postsecondary Education and Employment Toolkit (PSST), Dropout Prevention Toolkit:  MEIRS, and Planning for Students' Success Student Learning Goals Workshop Series.

Stay up to date with RCE news and events at www.swsc.org/SWPrairieRCE.  For more information, contact Melany Wellnitz, Director, at melany.wellnitz@swsc.org.

 
Our Core Values:  Service.  Integrity.  Respect.
We support and enhance the work of our members
by providing programs and services that meet their needs.