It's just Coffee...RIGHT?

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

A couple blocks from Central Office there is a quaint and friendly coffee shop in what is called "Alison's Pantry."  I don't go there often, but every now and then I get a hankering for something more than just a regular "office" coffee. As you enter the shop there is a dinning room to the left. If you come after 9:00 AM it is usually filled with different customers/characters than the ones pictured here.

Today, I came into Alison's Pantry a little earlier than usual and was invited to sit in the empty chair shown above. Mind you, I have been warned that elite members of our community often meet and have coffee at Alison's. The name of the group is proudly placed in the upper right of this photo.  I am sure that this is that group as there seems to be a great deal of wisdom and fun sitting at the table. Although I didn't have time to sit down today, I welcome the opportunity in the future. Keep an empty chair for me at Alison's, as I will be in.

Just for the record, at Alison's, it isn't just coffee! There is a whole lot more brewing in this friendly coffee shop. This is just an example of Colstrip community values and leadership.

Have a great day and thanks for the invitation!

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

It's a SIGN of Good Things to Come

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

New high school signage.

It has been said: "It is the little things that often set the tone for bigger things to happen." At Colstrip Public Schools we are "lighting" the way with some noticeable changes. Even though the replacement of the "Colstrip High School" sign, this last Wednesday, may be a subtle change, it replaces a partially lit sign of old. This replacement not only illuminates the entrance of the walk into the high school, but it sets the tone of expectation.

At our high school, students can proudly say we are "Colstrip High School." It is a place of educational and physical stewardship. We take care of those that are here as well as the walls of the institution that we attend. There is an expectation of excellence walking in and out of this school. Having only part of the letters illuminated tells a completely different story.

It may have taken six months, but at Colstrip Public Schools, we are illuminating the future of those that enter our high school and we have a sign to prove it. This is just a sign of the good things to come.

Removal of the old sign on January 27, 216.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Network Access and Safety

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

At the December 2015 Regular Board Meeting, the board approved the update of Policy Form 3612-F Authorization for Network Access. This policy supports the revisions to Policy 3612 District Provided Access to Electronic Information, Services and Networks that were made at the November 2015 Regular Meeting. One of the main changes to the policy form is the addition of an educational component before allowing electronic network access to our students. 

The district believes that implementation of education components are necessary in proactively addressing potential dangers and problems a student might encounter online. Therefore, students will be required to complete the educational and digital citizenship components. Even though a similar form was signed at the beginning of the year, it didn't contain the educational component of safety and digital citizenship. Both students and parents will be asked to sign an updated electronic use agreement before February 8, 2016. 

Before signing the agreement of authorization for network access, users will successfully complete the Colstrip Public Schools #19 Internet Safety and Digital Citizenship curriculum basics.

a.     Cyberbullying

b.     Privacy and Information Sharing

c.     Social Networking Safety

d.     Online Predator Safety

Programs like NetSmartz will be used to provide age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on and offline. We will ask Middle and High School students to review videos provided by NetSmartz as a requirement of the Authorization For Network Access. NetSmartz is an interactive, educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) that provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on- and offline. 

For more information, the district will post the applicable Policies, Procedures and Forms on our website under Student Resources. The applicable Policies, Procedures and Forms will be listed under the link to Electronic Information, Services and Networks.

Thank you for your understanding, support and help in making our students' on-line experiences as safe as possible.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

PLEASE STAND BY: Google Transformation and Migration Taking Place

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Remember the old test patterns that used to come over the air from the broadcast station to let you know not to adjust your television set. When hearing that annoying beeeeeep along with the test pattern, you were frustrated because of the disruption to regular programing. Well, today's technical disruptions are not as obvious, but are taking place in the background to bring you the best programing possible. The technology staff at Colstrip Public Schools have been working under a preverbal test pattern the past several months in order to bring our school the following changes.

The past several weeks our district has been migrating our email over from a locally hosted server to Google servers in the cloud. This has been happening at both the student and employee levels. This change should save the district significant money in server maintenance and hardware as well as improve the efficiency and reliability of email service. District email addresses will not change, but where the information is hosted and stored will change. This is the first step in becoming a Google District.

What is a Google District? A Google District, is a cloud based district more than anything else. We are not completely Google, but we will use many of the tools, programs and applications Google provides.   The majority of our digital information and programing will be housed outside of our school walls on the cloud. At this time, our school is preparing to launch a Chromebook Pilot Program to provide even more flexibility. This will happen at the elementary, middle school and high school.

It is the intent of the district to offer our students and employees tools and data storage that are available outside our school walls and the school day. We not only want the flexibility of providing these opportunities, but we want to have them offered for free. As long as a student or employee have data access (internet) they will be able to use and access their Google accounts as well as the many Google Chrome tools, programs and applications that are available.

New learning tools and technology are changing the way we learn and teach. It is the district's intent to embrace these changes in order to offer our students the experiences and understanding of how to use technology and it applications in their future work environments. Whether it be a college, trade school or in gainful employment, we want our students to have access to the work they are doing now so the tools and skills they have developed in school can be applied after they leave.

In the weeks/months to come, you will hear buzz words like Google Chrome, Chromebooks, Google Docs and about applications of students who bring their own devices to school (BYOD).  At Colstrip Public Schools we are driven to be leaders in education and provide our students with learning environments that will have a positive impact on their future. "Make Dust or Eat Dust" is a mantra that is applied at all levels in our system. We must get students out in front and keep them there in order to enhance their opportunities to succeed.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Students Set an Example to Follow

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Article in the Fairfield Sun Times.

When our students go out on the road to participate as well as to support their school, we expect our students to be on their best behavior. With the varsity football team qualifying to participate in the Montana State Class "B" Playoffs, our kids were on the road quite a bit, traveling to two different communities, at far ends of the State. Being away from parents and their routines, students have the opportunity to do one of two things: good or bad.

Note to the Activity Director from the Hampton Inn in Butte.

In my experience as an administrator, I have seen both good and bad; however, here at Colstrip it has been GREAT! I can't tell you how proud it makes me to read a note from a hotel manager to the activity director as well as an article published in a visiting newspaper about the excellent behavior of our kids.

The Hampton Inn and the Fairfield Sun Times had nothing but great things to say about our football team and our cheerleaders. I can't help but share this with our community. We can all be proud of the children raised here. This is MAKING DUST!

It has been said that the true character of a person is revealed by the little things we do, because it is the little things that make a big difference. It is fair to say our kids are making a positive difference and the folks from neighboring communities are taking notice.

Well done staff, students and parents! Our kids are stirring up a little dust and setting an example to follow. Our children are the ambassadors of our community. Their actions speak volumes about our community values.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Championship Volleyball Run - Congratulations Fillies!

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

A final congratulations to the Fillies on the run at the Class "B" Volleyball State Championship. All of Colstrip is very proud of you and your accomplishments. I also want to commend the band, cheerleaders and students for their excellent representation of our school at all of the volleyball culminating events.

Well done Colts and Fillies!

Superintendent Lewandowski

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Pre-Survey Stakeholder Communication

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The Colstrip Public School System is engaged in an ongoing continuous improvement process, of which all stakeholders are a part. Colstrip Public Schools will be sending its parents and guardians an invitation via email to participate in an online survey between the dates of November 24, 2015 and December 6, 2015 as one method of reaching all stakeholders.

If you do not receive an email invitation, please send an email to  survey@colstrip.k12.mt.us and an email will be returned with the online address.

Please know that surveys are a means to systematically engage all of our stakeholders in two-way communication. They provide school leaders and teachers a view into the thinking and perceptions of our stakeholders. Careful analysis of the results enriches understanding of areas of strength and effectiveness as well as those areas that possibly need improvement. The survey results will enable our school leaders to measure stakeholders' attitudes and help target improvement strategies focused on student achievement as well as school and system effectiveness. Taking the survey also will help stakeholders understand the AdvancED Standards for Quality at Colstrip Public Schools and provide a means for learning about what a parent, student and staff members should be looking for in a high quality school system.

Your cooperation and support in completing the survey will be greatly appreciated. Please be on the lookout for your survey invitation!

Sincerely,

Superintendent Bob Lewandowski

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"