Teaching with Technology by Kevin Jones, Technology Director
It’s hard to believe that we are in our 3rd Quarter already! It has been a particularly busy year because of the significant changes in our use of Technology to support student learning at Hope.
The change most obvious to Middle School parents and visitors is the adoption of iPads for each Middle School student. Much of our curriculum is now delivered wirelessly to student iPads, literally lightening the load students have to carry in their backpacks. Our online middle school grading system has been upgraded to Schoology, allowing students to track their assignments and progress directly from their iPads, in “real time”. Parents can also access Schoology from their own accounts.
While these changes are obvious, many of the technology changes have been implemented in the background, mostly invisible to students and parents. We are incredibly blessed to have the support of both 7th Grade parent Chris Hartley and Kindergarten parent Dave Follis, whose technology expertise and generosity have resulted in huge improvements, benefiting all classrooms, staff, and students. Their accomplishments include:
- An upgrade of our school and church network to 10 times its previous speed
- A campus-wide wireless network installation to support iPad use anywhere on campus
- A complete rebuild of one of our most critical computer servers for better reliability
- The addition of new UPS equipment to better protect our servers from power outages
- An increase of our bandwidth by 600%, for better Internet access speed and reliability
Although many things are changing, I am proud to share that the open and trusting culture of Hope is not. Students in the Computer Lab ask, “May I move to another station?” and “Is it OK if I print this out?” Middle School students ask, “Am I supposed to be able to get to this website? It seems like it should be blocked.” and “Is it OK if I click on this thing it’s asking me to do?”
Though we have infused technology into our curriculum and culture at Hope, our focus is not only to support student learning, but to help students learn to use it safely and appropriately as a tool – one that should be used in a balanced way.
Calendar of Events
Wed. 2/11: 8:40 AM Chapel w/Mrs. Kunkel and Glee Club / 2:00 PM PEP Assembly @ SLHS Gym / 3:00 PM Car Decorating in Lowers / No PTH Meeting – Date change to 2/25
Thur. & Fri. 2/12 & 2/13: No School – LEST / ESC Open
Mon. & Tues. 2/16 & 2/17: No School – Mid Winter Break / ESC Closed
Fri. 2/20: Free Dress Day
Wed. 2/25: 6:00 PM PTH Meeting w/LENT Soup Supper
Fri. 2/27: 7:00 PM 7th & 8th Gr. PTH Sponsored Winter Dance
LEST Car Decorating
On Wednesday, Feb. 11, after school the 8th grade class will be decorating car windows from 3:00 to 3:45 pm in the lowers for whoever wants to show their school spirit on your way to Portland and down at LEST. Bring your car by on your way out of town! Go Eagles!!
Chess Club Change
Typically chess club ends after LEST. However, this year, our chess leader Mark Brumberg would like to continue it for grades 3-8. This change is effective Monday, February 23. The time will remain the same, 3:00-4:00 PM. Please let us know in the office if you have any questions.
Post-LEST Celebration and PTH General Assembly LENTEN Soup Supper
The School body and the P arents and T eachers of H ope (PTH) meet 3 times a year for “All School Gatherings”. General school business is conducted and these meetings are for all parents. On Wednesday, February 25th we are having the second of our General Assembly Meetings and a post-LEST celebration. The event starts at 6:00pm in the fellowship hall (lower area of the church on the south side entrance) joining Hope Church members with a Soup Supper Celebration. Please bring a dessert item to share and come see the awards and share in the talents of our Hope kids this evening. A representation of Hope LEST event will start at 6:15pm along with general business items and the evening will conclude by 6:50pm. Everyone is invited to attend Hope Church’s Lenten Service beginning at 7pm following the PTH meeting.
Afterschool Activities – Click Here
New Yoga classes for grades 2-8 starting February 24th & 19th.
Parent Involvement Program Opportunities – Click Here
PTH is hosting their first ever Mid-Winter Dance. PTH has multiple PIP opportunities open to all families. PTH is especially interested in protective dads, uncles, etc. who will help enforce “appropriate” fun. Check out the Current PIP opportunities at http://hls.hopeseattle.org/home/parents/pip/
Recycle Your Shopping Bags
Do you have extra shopping bags lying around? Instead of putting them in your recycling bin for biweekly pick up with your garbage, why not donate them to the PTH and know that they are going to be reused! A recycling container is conveniently located in school lobby.
LEST Gear
Your Hope school apparel orders will be sent home today. If you didn’t get an order in, we do have some shirts available and LEST/school spirit gear! We have seat cushions to save your bum from those hard bleachers for $2, slap bands for $1, Hope Lunch Bags for $12 and reusable Hope bags for $1 ea. We do have five youth medium shirts available for $10 and a bunch of adult extra-large shirts for $10. You can make all purchases in the school office.
