Chrome Book Pilot Program Has Lift Off

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Mrs Barreto's computers class using the newly purchased chrome books.

After a semester of planning by the Technology Committee and the appropriate professional development implemented, the District has launched its chrome book pilot program in all three schools:

• High School: Two classrooms
• Middle School: Two classrooms
• Elementary: Three classrooms

Through rigorous research and studies, the District procured 215 HP chrome books providing 28 chrome books per classroom and 19 chrome books for instruction and training.  A chrome book is much cheaper than a lap top computer. The cost are approximately $295 per chrome book versus $1,000 for a lap top. Chrome books are easily maintained and managed. The maintenance of a chrome book is almost non-existent. Chrome books are virus resistant. They are dependent upon wifi service and the utilization of the internet. As a whole, chrome books are not only inexpensive, by comparison to a laptop or stand-alone computer, but they are cheaper to maintain.

In addition to the chrome books, eight charging carts were purchased. One for each of the pilot classrooms and one for training. A chrome book's battery last approximately 9 hours. They must be charged daily. Google management suite was procured for each chrome book at $25 per chrome book to manage users. There are no programs or software to buy. There is no need for virus protection as all work is stored online in the cloud.

The District has taken careful notes as to how the chrome books have been distributed and are used in hopes to replicated the process on a much larger level this coming fall. Teacher training is a huge component in the implementation. Utilizing Google Docs, Classroom and other applications are key in the successful implementation and use of this tool. Appropriate professional development is imperative 

At this time, the chrome books have been placed in the classroom; however, after talking to students at the high school, they feel it would be much more helpful if the chrome books are checked out to each student on a one-to-one bases. I believe their idea has merit, but I am not sure a one-to-one program would be appropriate at the elementary or middle school. This is why we have implemented the chrome books as a pilot program. The District will be able to study data and determine the needs of the future and save the District from making a costly investment without measure. 

As students progress through the delivered curriculum here at Colstrip Public Schools, having the right tools are imperative. It's like many jobs, the better the tools are, a faster, smarter and cheaper outcome is the result. Chrome books are the academic tool of the future. We want to teach our students transition computer skills that they can utilize beyond their learning here at Colstrip. Web and cloud-based tools like chrome books provide for a cheaper, faster and smarter outcome.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

State Superintendent of Instruction Visits Colstrip High School

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Pictured left to right: Mark Ator, Robin Nansel, Joanne Schrupp,
 Bailey Menahan, Denies Juneau and Bob Lewandowski

I received a call early in the week from the State Superintendent of Instruction office indicating that Denise Juneau would be in Southeastern Montana and would like to stop in at the high school and tour the facilities later in the week. I was happy to hear of her interest to visit the school and excited about having Principal Ator show her the great things we do for kids at the High School. I immediately emailed the staff to share the exciting news and prepared for her arrival.

As scheduled, Superintendent Juneau arrived at the High School at 10:30 AM on Thursday. Like all other visitors, she buzzed in at the front door and was welcomed accordingly. After a few minutes of catching up, Principal Ator took us on a tour of the school through the academic wings. If Superintendent Juneau wasn't impressed by what was going on in our school, I certainly was. We visited calculus, algebra, robotics, history and computer classrooms. Our students were courteous and mannerly. They greeted Juneau with smiles and handshakes. The academic rigor demonstrated by the instructors was equally as impressive. I humbly submit that our school ROCKED! (I am not sure if "ROCKED" is the correct terminology to be used by a superintendent, but that was exactly what we did).

Superintendent Juneau finished her visit by eating lunch in the cafeteria where student Bailey Menahan joined administration. Bailey is part of the the State Superintendent's Student Advisory Board. FFA students, Brett McRay and Ellsie Green, surprised the administration and brought a plate of homemade brownies mixed with "Little Debi" cup cakes over to the table and welcomed and thanked Juneau for visiting our school. McRay said his mother made the brownies and asked Ellsie if she made the cup cakes. She politely said no. Her response brought a smile to Juneau and everyone at the table.  With a brownie and a cup cake in hand, we walked Juneau out; took a few photos and welcomed her back again.

Juneau said she would finish her visit in Colstrip with a scheduled tour of the electrical plant.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

IT BEGINS: District 3-B Basketball

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

The District Tournament begins February 17th through the 20th. All games are at 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM.

Tickets cost are listed below.

• Adult All Session tickets are $27.00
• Student All Session tickets are $20.00
• Available at the CHS office. Last day to purchase them is on Feb 17th during games

If you have any questions please call us a 406-748-4699. You may also get up to date information from the District Facebook Page. 

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Colt Grapplers Best Ever!

by Robert Bob Lewandowski

The banner that will be placed in the high school gym.

Congratulations to the Colstrip Wrestlers as they won the 2016 Class B/C State Championship by outdistancing the runner up Eureka by over 80 points. This year's Colstrip Wrestling team maybe the BEST B/C Team ever, to date, in Montana.

Best B/C Team ever is a bold statement, but it does come with some merit when you read what others around the state have to say about this year's Colts.

The Colts came into the state tournament with outstanding credentials winning major tournaments including the C.M. Russle Holiday Classic, the Tome LeProwse Invitational in Bozeman and the Cowboy Invitational in Miles City. The Great Fall Tribune correctly predicted the State B/C Tournament outcome saying it may be a race for second place this season.

According Dan Killoy, publisher of the Miles City Star in an article titled Colstrip Carves Place in Wrestling History Killoy says of the Colstrip Colts:

I think that during the 2015-16 wrestling season I may be witnessing one of the finest team efforts put together by any school in Montana wrestling history. The 2015-16 Colstrip Colts have put together nothing short of a remarkable season for any school, let alone a school with a population of 200 students. 

Daily Inter Lake sports writer, Andy Viano from the western side of the state said: "Colstrip won the state championship by an astonishing 84-point margin in one of the most dominating team performances in recent state history."

These are just a few of the many news articles that I have read about Colstrip Wrestling in the last few days.  The more I have read about our Colstrip Colts and what they accomplished this year, the more I am inclined to believe that our boys may have risen to legendary status in this community. Being the best is one thing, but BEST EVER is beyond the imagination of many.  It's hard to wrap your mind around such a concept.

I do know one thing for sure, in a community that has recently come under attack by economic and environmental antagonist, winning the State Wrestling Championship as well as some of the largest tournaments in Montana is just what the doctor ordered to pick up spirits and brighten the future of this exceptional community. For this alone, this year's team is deserves the title of BEST EVER!

Make Dust or Eat Dust! Our Wrestlers are out in front and intend to stay there.

CONGRADULATIONS COLTS!

Individual places for the Colts: Champions: Jake Sessions, Clayton Currier and Jackson Currier; Runners Up: Thayne Hage and Ty Bradley; Third Place Winners: Lane Torgerson and Merlin Whitedirt; Forth Place Winners: Lane Bradley and Nakoda Siegel.


WELL DONE!

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

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!"