I.T. Monthly: November Issue
West Point Consolidated School District
DEAR TEACHERS AND STAFF!!
Thank you for completing the Cyber Security Training! As we wrap up Cyber Security Month, we want to express our appreciation to all who completed the training and successfully identified phishing attacks. Your contribution is crucial in keeping our organization secure. If you haven't completed the training yet, don't worry, you have until December 15th. We will be reaching out to the building principals for those who need help completing the training. Remember CyberSecurity training is required EACH year for all staff!
Please read the newsletter in its entirety and contact us with any tips, tricks, or suggestions to improve our communication. We welcome your feedback and ideas.
-IT Department-
Celebrate Veterans Day
Honoring Veterans on Veterans Day: Engaging Classroom Activities
Veterans Day offers a unique opportunity to educate students about the military, the people who serve, and their reasons for doing so. Consider inviting real veterans to participate in classroom discussions if possible. Below are some activities to help teach your students how to honor and appreciate veterans:
Learn a Veteran's Story
Each veteran’s story is unique. Invite a local veteran to class to share their story, or read articles at the Wounded Warrior Project. Once students have learned about a few veterans, have them write responses to a Wounded Warrior essay prompt.
Create a Portrait of a Veteran
Have students draw or paint portraits of veterans that they know (they can bring in photos of family members who have served) or of famous veterans. Examine some actual veteran portraits at the Veterans Portrait Project.
Create Military-Style Medals
Brainstorm the qualities that make a service member great (bravery, dedication, loyalty). Then, have students each choose one quality and design a medal to showcase that quality.
Create a Thank-You Wall
Have students research veterans, both historical and those that are in their own families. Then, combine photos and text to create a Thank You Wall. Here is a list of famous veterans to get students started.
Make and Send Care Packages to Veterans
Brainstorm a list of things that soldiers might like to have when they are deployed and work as a class to collect and pack care packages. The Military Wife and Mom has a list of snacks, toiletries, and other items that are great for care packages. Military.com has a list of places you can send care packages.
Learn a song
Check out the Veterans Day and patriotic-themed song list from Songs for Teaching and teach students a song that has history.
Imagine Math & Math Facts
Teacher Alerts:
Check to make sure your students are assigned a grade level Mississippi Pathway in Imagine Math 3+. If the student is not assigned a pathway, you can follow the following instructions.
· Assigning pathways to Imagine Math 3+ Students.
Do any of your students have additional pathways assigned that you no longer want to be there in Imagine Math 3+? Use the following instructions to only remove the ADDITIONAL pathways.
· Removing a student's pathway in Imagine Math 3+
Do Math Pay It Forward: Help us raise $1000 for the Mississippi Food Network Charity! The contest began 11/01/2023 and ends on 11/30/2023 (all times local). At the conclusion of the contest, a top donating school will be honored at a Do Math! Pay It Forward Award ceremony. Imagine Learning and local representatives from the food bank charity will host a check presentation ceremony recognizing top student and classroom giving.
Click Here for more information on the contest structure and entry requirements.
Imagine Math PreK-2 Resources:
· Usage recommendations for IM PreK-2 (Increase Usage to Maximize Student Benefits)
· Implementation models for Imagine Math (How to make time in your school day)
· Program features in Imagine Math PreK-2
· Has it been 90 days since your students completed Benchmark I? Assign Benchmark II
· Understanding the Imagine Math PreK-2 Benchmark Test
· Viewing the Benchmark report in Imagine Math
Imagine Math 3+ Resources:
· Usage recommendations for Imagine Math 3+ (Increase Usage to Maximize Student Benefits)
· Implementation models for Imagine Math (How to make time in your school day)
· Locating printable resources and standards alignment documents in Imagine Math
· Has it been 90 days since your students completed Benchmark I? Assign Benchmark II
· Understanding the Imagine Math 3+ Benchmark test
· Viewing the Benchmark report in Imagine Math
· Expected Quantile® growth in Imagine Math 3+
· Teacher-led Motivation Ideas
Imagine Math Facts Resources:
Newsela
It's Hero Season: A Lesson for Veterans Day and More!
We’ve got lots of resources for you to highlight heroes in your lessons this week. Veterans Day is on Friday and National STEM Day is this Wednesday: two opportunities for students to explore the many types of heroes we recognize.
November also means election season is here. It’s a chance for everyone to put on their civics cape and learn about the democratic process. Students can get a primer on the 2023 elections or debate what the voting age should be as they build essential skills.
KAMI
Kami: What's New!
Click Here to see the latest product updates that are rolled out this month.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
FriedTechnology: Free On-Demand Courses for Mississippi Educators!
Browse through the list of courses and register at https://www.friedonline.com/mscourses. Once enrolled, participants have 10 months to complete the course. Course completers will receive a Certificate of Completion and can apply for CEUs or SEMIs within 6 months of completing the course. For more information, please contact ms.help@fried.tech.
APPLE LEARNING VIRTUAL CONFERENCES
Mississippi State University
West Point Consolidated School District: I.T. Department
Website: https://www.westpoint.k12.ms.us/technology
Location: 359 Commerce St, West Point, MS 39773, USA
Phone: (662)494-6364
Katie Roach
West Point Consolidated School District
Email: katie.roach@westpoint.k12.ms.us
Website: https://www.westpoint.k12.ms.us/technology
Phone: (662) 295.9412
Meon Carroll
West Point Consolidated School District
Email: shekia.carroll@westpoint.k12.ms.us
Website: https://www.westpoint.k12.ms.us/technology
Phone: 662.295.0322
Contact us with any questions or tips you may have!
Website: https://www.westpoint.k12.ms.us/technology
Location: 359 Commerce St, West Point, MS 39773, USA
Phone: (662)494-6364