Author Archives: elcordei

Information on ID Cards and Lanyards

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Students from Mrs. Ahunaʻs drama class take time away from their rehearsal to show off their school IDs.

Just a reminder that students are required to display their SY 2013-2014 ID cards in the pouch of the school-issued lanyard at all times while on campus and on school-sponsored events, unless directed otherwise. Students should promptly and courteously present their cards when asked to do so by a staff member.

If an ID card is lost or stolen, a new one along with an ID pouch and lanyard may be obtained for a $10.00 charge at the school office. (Any ID card that is defaced or changed in any way must also be replaced.) A temporary ID will be provided to the student until a replacement ID is created. Students are required to wear the temporary ID until the replacement ID is issued. If the missing card is found, students should present both the lost and replacement cards and $1.00 to the office staff. The replacement card will be collected and a credit for $10 will be processed. The deadline to return extra ID cards to receive a credit is 5/23/14. Students should have only one ID card in their possession, students found to have more than one ID card will face disciplinary action.

If you have any questions, please see our Vice Principal, Mr. Jay Chow.

 

Discovery Education Offers Free Virtual Event for Parents

one1 Community; 5 Voices is a weeklong series of virtual events that talks about how successful digital transformations take place from the point of view of major stakeholders: from system level administrators, principals, teachers, parents and students.

I am highlighting the parent portion below, but the free registration allows you access to all 5 events.

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Join parent Leon Pridgen from Mooresville, North Carolina this Thursday as he talks about “How parents can help students navigate the digital age.” This “webinar” is sponsored by Discovery Education and once you register, it will be archived so that you can hear him at your own convenience.

The registration link is here.

Is Your Family Too Plugged In?

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For some of our students, the school-issued laptop may be their first digital device, but I have a hunch that for most of our students, they have been plugged in to technology for many years. After all, I have seen toddlers who know how to use smart phones, iPads, Kindles, PSPs, and other digital devices. My own family is guilty of sitting at a restaurant and checking our email, Facebook, Instagram, etc. instead of talking stories. We are a multiple device family and I admit that sometimes our “conversations” happen through texting and IM.

Ruth Davis Konigsburg from Times wrote an article about parents as digital hypocrites who feel like our kids are too plugged in even though we spend just as many hours and more on our own digital devices.

Before your child brings home his/her school-issued laptop in a few months, pay attention to your own family’s media saturation. What devices do people use? How much time is spent on these devices (TV, DVD, Smartphones, computers, laptops, gaming devices, tablets)? If rules are established for media use (no TV or video games on school nights, for example), does everyone follow the rule or is it just for the kids?

Konigsburg’s conclusion to her article is that,

the biggest argument against too much tech too soon is the opportunity cost: What else could my kid be doing when not looking at a screen? Reading, playing outside, exercising, socializing, daydreaming. But if I ever want to teach my children my own values about technology, I would do better by asking that same question of myself.

As a resource for families, the school will be sending out a parent media agreement form that you may use with your child. Use your media observations to maintain or revise your media expectations with your ‘ohana, and connect with the school to get more support and kokua.

What did you learn today?

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The students are so excited to get their hands on their laptops today. Be a part of their excitement tonight by asking them some questions that will connect you to what they did today. You will impress your kids with your super geek knowledge and you can get them to help you with your own tech issues:

  • Which web browser do you prefer (Safari or Firefox)?
  • Can you show me how to add a printer?
  • How long does your computer last before you have to plug in?
  • How do you get your computer in the morning?
  • Tell me about Edmodo.

App for Families

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With all the new movies, videos, games and music coming out, it’s difficult for parents to keep up with all the new media out there. How are parents supposed to know what is appropriate for their child? Common Sense media, a non-profit company, has a new app and website for reviews on software, movies and more.

Check them out at graphite.org or check the iTunes store.

 

A Glimpse Behind the Curtain

When I work with beginning teachers, there is a leap of faith moment, where I ask them to trust in the process, put in the work and then the magic happens – poof. But the real Wizard of Oz was not a lights and magic show. He really was a facilitator who used a little of what he had, but mostly tapped into the strengths of others to help them achieve their goals. The potential was already in the lion, the tin man, the scarecrow and Dorothy. The true magic of the wizard was in planning a strategy to help them to really believe in their own potential.

In the fall when we roll out our 1:1 laptops, it may seem like smoke and mirrors; magic encased in metal and glass. But all of us behind the curtain at Kula Waena are planning a strategy to tap into each child’s full potential. One way that starts is through the SAMR model. The short video tells you what it is, and just know that behind the curtain, our planning and implementing is framed with this model in mind.

E lauhoe mai na wa’a; i ke ka, i ka hoe; i ka hoe, i ke ka; pae aku i ka ‘aina.

Translation: Paddle together, bail, paddle; paddle, bail; paddle towards the land.

 

Internet Safety Parent Tip Sheet

This parent tip sheet from Common Sense Media helps families with strategies for keeping their kids safe online. 100% of our kids are online via email and 72% have profiles on social networking sites (Harris Interactive, 2009). However, young teens sometimes act impulsively and that is natural for their development, but it could spell trouble when it is paired with the anonymity of the online world. Get informed, get proactive and find the original tip sheet here.

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Family Tip Sheet: Common Sense on Boys, Girls, and Media Messages

“The Bachelor/Bachelorette,” “Real Housewives of ____” “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”. . .the steady interest in reality television blurs the line between truth and fiction. Social media can provide that same skewed sense of reality for teens. Find out what you as a family can do to support your teen in developing and practicing media literacy skills as well as helping teens to analyze the gender issues they see on TV as well as to encourage them to not perpetuate harmful stereotypes. This particular article can be accessed here.
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Digital Tattooing on TED talk

Digital TattoosWhat if Andy Warhol had it wrong, and instead of being famous for 15 minutes, we’re only anonymous for that long? In this short TED talk, Juan Enriquez looks at the surprisingly permanent effects of digital sharing on our personal privacy. He shares insight from the ancient Greeks to help us deal with our new “digital tattoos.”

http://youtu.be/Fu1C-oBdsMM

TED (technology, entertainment, design) is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Get access to thousands of TED talks by the most intriguing people around the world – all for free.