A Note from Dr. Neubeck
If you watched the local news in the last week, you would have heard about the technology shutdown in the Rochester Public School System. We don't know much about the particulars of the events, but our Technology Department has certainly been paying attention and learning what they can. Unfortunately, situations involving viruses and ransomware are becoming more prevalent around the country and school districts are also possible targets.
Just as the physical safety of our students and staff are a high priority, so is the student and family information that is entrusted to us. In the last few board meetings we have had information from our Technology Director regarding how Byron Public Schools will be moving forward to help prevent cyber attacks. We have incorporated Multi-Factor Authentication on all of our devices which staff use, and will be installing a more sophisticated anti-virus program along with upgrading all of our servers districtwide to better identify possible issues sooner. Overall, we will be spending about $40,000 this year to help meet our needs of protection.
Forty years ago, when I was a 9th grader, our teachers and students did not use the internet to teach and the 5 1/4 floppy disks did not hold that much information. As RPS is finding out, staff and students depend on technology to teach, communicate, and learn. It is imperative that we continue to do as much as we can to make sure there are not interruptions in our students' learning.
It's Great To Be A Byron Bear!
Dr. Mike Neubeck
Superintendent
Byron Public Schools
Email: mike.neubeck@byron.k12.mn.us
Website: https://www.bears.byron.k12.mn.us/
Location: 801 Frontage Road Northwest, Byron, MN, USA
Phone: 507-775-2383
Facebook: facebook.com/byronbears
Twitter: @neubecksupt
POG C's in Action
The Profile of a Graduate is the model we use to live out the District's Strategic Plan on a daily basis. It has been 5 years since we first implemented the Profile of a Graduate and we continue to find ways to teach the six Cs: Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Citizenship, and Character.
Learn more about our Profile of a Graduate!
Social Work Sidelines
Hello! I have a few activities happening in the next few days and weeks that I want to share with you.
NAMI of Southeast Minnesota
NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) hosts support groups, peer mentors, skill building groups, and educational programs. Please see the link for more information.
Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is child abuse prevention month and Voices for Children is hosting a series of brown bag lunch talks focused on different topics related to safety. The talks are all live and web-based and free to attend. They do ask that you register to attend and receive the link.
Wake Up Call Rescheduled
The wake up call drug information for parents has been rescheduled for May 4th. We hope you will be able to attend.
Free Tax Help
Free tax help is available through VITA. You must schedule an appointment time and have all your tax information collected together before you arrive. This service is available through April 18th.
Take care and contact me for any additional information.
Smiles,
Christine Jostock
District School Social Worker, Grades K -12
Email: christine.jostock@byron.k12.mn.us
Location: 601 4th St NW, Byron, MN, USA
Phone: 507-775-2189
Activities/Athletics Ticket Sales Go Online
Construction Update
The construction plans continue to move forward and it will be great to watch our facilities transform over the next 18 months. It is exciting to see the progress and to think about what great facilities we will soon have for our students and our community. Please check out our webcam at https://app.oxblue.com/open/knutson/byronhsathletics and watch the time lapse pictures. We are so appreciative of the community's support.