Gladstone School News Blast
Gladstone Schools • Growing Great People • 10.12.22
Gladstone High launches Information Technology pathway
The new classes include Information Technology, Networking, Linux, Cyber Security & Ethical Hacking, and Server Management. For just $10 per credit, students can earn four to six college credits per class [up to 22 total] in the IT Pathway. They can also take exams to earn CompTIA Industry Certifications. This gives students the opportunity to start college with sophomore standing. Some will join the work force with a high wage salary immediately after graduation.
"Our new IT pathway will provide Gladstone students with industry-level experience in Computer Science and Information Technology," said teacher Dusty Long. "Both fields continue to see tremendous growth, so we want to ensure Gladstone students are prepared for these high tech jobs."
Students are enthusiastic about the new program. Senior Cecilia Quintero plans to take three of the courses in her final year of high school, and junior Nicholas Hartzog plans to take all five. Both are preparing for technology careers.
"Technology is the cornerstone to future living, and the certifications in this class can take you pretty far," said junior Nicholas Hertzog. "It's fun, and I'll be expanding my skills as technology advances."
Kraxberger adds technology electives
The STEAM classroom at Kraxberger Middle School is busy. The sound of buzzers, static, a 3D printer, and musical tones permeate the room, where lights flash and remote-controlled vehicles zip around the space. Here sixth graders are inventors, hard at work designing rovers, music speakers, flashlights, and doorbells through trial and error.
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math, the foundation of many high-demand, high-wage careers. The STEAM course and a class in coding for seventh and eighth graders were made possible by the school's shift to a seven-period day, increasing elective options for students.
"This is an oscillator," explained Bo Crowell, pointing to part of her device. "It changes the pitch. I can also make it continuously play a sound. The device I built is like the musical keyboard I have at home, basically."
After creating electronics inventions, STEAM students will move through a mix of high tech and low tech projects, creating candle-powered boats, foam gliders, balsa wood airplanes, and rockets. They will also experiment with Sphero robots, 3-D printers, and gardening in the school courtyard.
"This is a different kind of class," said teacher Michael Towle. "I want students to be creative and figure things out on their own. Not all of the answers need to come from a teacher or a book."
"Kids are creating amazing things and having a blast," said Assistant Principal Aaron Kerns. "They really love this class."
Playworks builds community on Gladstone playgrounds
Children at John Wetten Elementary and the Gladstone Center for Children & Families [GCCF] are finding fun ways to connect with classmates thanks to a partnership with Playworks, which aims to build a positive playground culture. Funded through a grant from the Heatherington Foundation, the project was a result of the school district's Culture of Care expansion effort last spring.
"Our mission is to teach life skills and foster social growth through play," said Playworks site coordinator Alex Kelley. "We teach school staff to facilitate games so recess is fun and everyone is included. Along the way, kids are learning life skills like conflict resolution that will transfer to the classroom and other parts of their lives."
By teaching playground staff to lead group games like Egg/Tadpole/Frog, Red Light/Green Light, and Duck Duck Goose, adults can make sure all children are invited to join in the fun. They also help children quickly resolve ties or conflicts using a quick round of rock/paper/scissors.
Playworks also introduces fun variations on traditional playground games like Crossover Dodgeball, where the goal is to get everyone to the other side and no one is “out.” This helps make recess more inclusive and collaborative.
"With three staff at recess, usually one of us can run a game," said GCCF Instructional Assistant Amber Hill. "This is helping us find ways to include everyone, while reducing conflicts between students."
5th graders rock neighborhood art project
Fifth graders in Kaitlyn Gillies' class found a fun way to brighten the day of their Gladstone neighbors. They painted designs and quotes on rocks to surprise neighbors across their community.
"The other day we took a quick walk around the neighborhood to hide the rocks at the park and in people's front yards," said Gillies. "We simply wanted to make people happy. Plus, my kids just loved being a part of the bigger Gladstone community and sharing their art. It was a great experience for them!'