Mustang Message
4/26/2015
Message from the Principal
Over the last fifty years, the landscape of Florida’s postsecondary education system has changed. State Colleges, formerly community colleges, now offer degrees typically offered by state universities. Postsecondary technical education at the district level has evolved from vocational schools, to area vocational-technical centers, to tech centers or technical institutes. The most recent change is that tech centers/technical institutes are becoming technical colleges.
At May 12th’s District School Board meeting, the principal of iTech Dorin Oxender and I are proposing that we change our schools’ name to reflect “college” in the name so in essence Lorenzo Walker Technical College would be the school’s new name. Technical college more accurately describes who we are and what we do; it is more highly valued; and enrollment is likely to increase. By changing our name to Lorenzo Walker Technical College, we would give our students a direct connection to continue their education at Florida Southwestern and other public state colleges.
The name recommended name change will not affect the governance, accreditation or funding of the school. The school will continue to be part of School District of Collier County, under School Board Governance and District Administration. It will still be accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Thank you for writing writing letters of support. I invite you to attend the District School Board Meeting on May 12th at 5:00 p.m. where the issue will be on the agenda under “new business”. At the May 12th meeting our post-secondary teacher of the year Bob Jackson and our high school teacher of the year Pat Metcalf will also be recognized.
Tech Corner
Tech Tool Tuesday - Tuesday, April 28th @2:35pm in 2-233 We are looking at Nearpod - a great tool for sharing content with your students (both in the classroom and as ‘homework’) with assessment tools built right in!
Instructional Strategy - Helping Students Reflect on Learning (Marzano element #13) is critical not only for deep and personalized learning, but also to help build the element of student’s growth mindset. A variety of online tools such as blogs and digital word processing tools can help students reflect on their learning. In addition, there are voice recording apps for both devices to help with the reflection process. For this example, I want to highlight Edmodo. As an approved social media tool for learning, you can ask students to respond to reflective questions such as these generic ones (or create subject-specific ones):
What problems did you encounter with this concept/assignment/piece? How did you resolve them?
What did you learn about yourself as you worked on this concept/assignment/piece? Have you changed any of your ideas?
What would you change if you had a chance to do this concept/assignment/piece over?
Students would then have the opportunity to comment on other students’ reflections as well. Sometimes we ask students to reflect at the end of a class session without allowing enough time for really processing. In this case, Edmodo could be accessed from home later for more time to think! If you need access to Edmodo, please let Marie know as she has the codes for both schools on campus.
DId you know … that you can create your own forms using a Google Docs/Drive account? If you already have Gmail, you have access to Google Docs/Drive or you can create an account with any email. Then follow this cheat sheet for step-by-step directions for creating your own forms. You can also reference Secrets to Spectacular Surveys from a previous inservice.
Photo credit to George Couros on Flickr
HAPPENINGS
- Please send good wishes to our Skills USA team: Becca Mahoney, Ben Kurke, Jorge Martinez, Olga Boero, Allyson Diefenthaler, Frantzchi Isaac, Ciarra Hammons, Jenny Velez, Brian Eugene and Hershall Myatt-Chisum who are competing in Lakeland from Sunday-Wednesday for a chance to be in the Nationals competition. Go LWIT SKILLS TEAM!!!
- The National Honor Society is organizing their Spring Blood Drive on Wednesday 4/29, 9:30 am-2:30 pm. If you are interested donating blood, the bus will be parked in the high school parking lot. For more information see Joann Cassio.
- Friday, May 1st packed with day and evening high school activities starting with a Pep Ralley at 1:15 p.m., followed by the Neutron games from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. and the Mustang Talent Show from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. If you are looking for something to do, this are activities that offer fun and laughter.
- LWIT Teachers let your students know that LWIT connections will be held on Friday, May 1st, in Mustang Alley from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Fruit , breakfast bars and cookies will be served.
REMINDERS
- The 2015-2016 School Calendar has been posted on the District's website. Teachers will report on August 10th.
- LWIT teachers let your students know that the next LWIT connections will be held on Friday, May 1st, in Mustang Alley from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Fruit , breakfast bars and cookies will be served.
- The LWIT graduation will be held on May 28th at 6:00 p.m. and the LWTHS graduation will be held on May 29th at 6:00 p.m. Both ceremonies will take place at Gulf Coast High School. Per the CCEA Bargaining agreement, "Unless excused by the Principal, EMPLOYEES shall attend open house/parent nights and/or graduation exercises..." Faculty are expected to attend graduation as follows :
- high school teachers will attend the May 29th graduation,
- post-secondary teachers with high school students only will attend the May 29th graduation
- post-secondary teachers with adult students only will attend the May 28th graduation
- post-secondary teachers with both adult and high school students will attend the May 28th graduation but may choose to attend both ceremonies
- PLT Reflections are due April 30th.
Kudos to . . .
- Darlene Crete for organizing the activities for Administrative Professionals' Week
- Chef Geri, Chef Becca, and students for preparing and serving the Relay for Life survivor's dinner
- Lin Flood and Eileen Schoenkhect for the long hours they put in to complete the Commission on Dental Accreditation self-study
- Lesa Veitia, Carolyn Casserly and Anne Genovese for all there efforts in testing the tenth grade class.
Happy Birthday
Bob Jackson
Staff Meetings and Trainings
- 4/27 LWIT Leadership Meeting, Conference Room, 2:35 p.m.
- 4/ 28 LWTHS Leadership Meeting, Conference Room, 2:00 p.m.
- 4/28 Tech Tuesday, 2-233, 2:35 p.m.
Upcoming Student Events
- 4/27-5/1 Spirit Week, Joann Cassio
- 4/29, Spring Blood Drive, LWIT Parking Lot, 9:30 am-2:30 pm, Joann Cassio
- 5/1 LWIT connections held in Mustang Alley, 9:15 to 10:15 a.m
- 5/1, Pep Rally, Basketball Court, 1:15 Joann Cassio
- 5/1, Neutron Games,Field, 2-6 pm,Joann Cassio
- 5/1, Mustang Talent Show,Dining Hall, 6-10 pm Anne Genovese
- 5/2, Car Wash, LWTHS Parking Lot, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Dawn Peck
LWIT/LWTHS
Email: floresyo@collierschools.com
Website: lwit.edu
Location: 3702 Estey Ave., Naples, FL
Phone: 239 377-0900 239 377-3300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lorenzo-Walker-Institute-Technical-High-School/594212217283585
Twitter: @LwitLwths