Today's Update
Florence 1 Schools: Friday, May 22, 2020
Technology Staff: Supporting the Foundation for e-Learning in Florence 1 Schools
There are also 14 Curriculum Technology Coordinators, one at each elementary school, and we are receiving some insight into their duties from one of these coordinators.
Doug Brown, Coordinator of Data Integration and IT Support
I also administer multiple systems, including the management software for iPads. As our Tech team has shifted in response to COVID-19, I have found myself assisting our inventive teachers as they find new ways to utilize iPads and other technologies to engage students.
The Florence 1 Tech team’s primary objective is supporting our students and staff and we have found new and innovative ways to accomplish this task despite physical distances.
Wyatt Howle, Systems and Security Administrator
Since COVID-19 we have shifted all of our efforts to make sure everyone is able to connect and access their educational material. This for me typically involves assisting parents and students with how to use their devices and connecting to their online content as well as assisting teachers through the various technical issues that arise.
I think we were well prepared for eLearning like this and while it was quite busy for us when everything first launched, it appears most everyone has settled into the new way things are done now.
Chris Carpenter, Software Applications and Deployment Specialist
Like many other employees across the country, I am deemed as Essential and have come to work everyday since the beginning of the stay-at-home orders. As we supported nearly 17,000 students with their Chromebooks that was part of the Imagine Forward initiative, my team has been working with the schools and their administration to keep our students able to complete their eLearning assignments and in communication with their teachers.
We walk parents and students through troubleshooting their Chromebooks, and schedule replacement meetings all while keeping up the social distancing guidelines of wearing a mask and gloves as we meet up with our guests.
We are all in this together, and we will see each other before long I hope as we all do!
Faith Godbold, Curriculum & Technology Coordinator, Timrod Elementary
Life as a CTC Pandemic Style
Because of this, I outlined and recorded a Google Classroom for Parents series. Each video was first featured on Timrod's Facebook page and the response from parents was overwhelmingly positive! Through this series, parents discovered how to tell what assignments students are given in Google Classroom, how students should turn their work in, how to communicate through private messages, and receive Google Classroom notifications. These videos are also available on the F1S Tech Tools site as a resource for others throughout the district.
Because of my work in the district, I also get requests for help from other teachers and administrators. Whether it is a Chromebook issue, how to best monitor Google Classrooms, or helping a student or teacher with G Suite, it is amazing to me just how far we have come. Through phone calls, text messages, emails, Google chats and Meet, I have been happy to help and serve during this time.
The one thing that stands out to me the most is that we all pulled together and we have made it work. More importantly, the hard work we spent over the past few years training teachers with technology has paid off and it shows! I am thankful for the support of my colleagues at Timrod as well as those in the Technology Department. I am able to do what I do because of these amazing people.
I think the sky's the limit for our district as far as curriculum and technology are concerned. I am excited to see what's next.
Celebrating Arts and Sciences through Videography
SFHS Literary and Art Magazine Staff debuts Ursa Minor
South Florence High School Ursa Minor Staff recognizes students with written and art submissions accepted into the school’s literary and art magazine Ursa Minor which features 42 student authors and 23 student artists.
Some of these student authors are presenting their original poems from the magazine through video recordings (shown below). Students with work accepted in the magazine will receive a complimentary copy of the magazine which is funded by the South Carolina Arts Commission. Please join Katharine Smolen-Morton in celebrating our students’ creativity and their powerful voices.
Poets are Katharine Smolen-Morton, (Storyboard); Trechele Gutierrez, (Spells); Jade Jordan, (Getting Braces); Jake Lee, (Burning Touch); Josh Noble, (A Beautiful Gift); and Hailey Vongsavnh, (Beautiful Chaos). The cover is designed by Jazmin Murphy. Click below.
Southside Middle Presents "Hold Fast to Dreams"
Song Title: "Hold Fast to Dreams"
Composer: Susan LaBarr
Lyrics by: Langston Hughes (1902-1967)
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
West Florence High Biomedical Science Completers Announce Future Plans
Congratulations and Best Wishes to West Florence High School PLTW Biomedical Science Completers!
The Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical Science Program is designed to provide students interested in the medical field with skills and knowledge that will help them be successful in the future. West Florence High School celebrates its first class of Biomedical Science Completers Spring 2020. The class consists of 21 juniors and seniors armed with STEM skills that will assist them in college and the workplace.
Nichole Scipio is the instructor.