"Thou shalt not perform the duties of a report card administrator."
That's what I've been told my work to rule is all about. It's kind of nice not having to contemplate the three week juggle of disks and the dozens of questions about this and that! Let someone else deal with it for a change! I have no idea how my principal will get the data template from our R drive at school; probably will be sent to him from the Data Warehouse.
Anyway, I'm just going to drop my disk off in his mail slot and that's it, I wait for my printouts to magically appear in time to hand them out.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Philip Yancy: Author of Realistic Christian Expectations
Yancy is probably one of my famous authors. He has grappled with hard, practical questions of the Christian faith, and has gathered tons of information and testimonies that ground his writings in real life experience.
Last night at our small group we were talking about a "ambidextrous faith" that requires two hands to hold onto two purposes: 1) When life is difficult -- and it often is -- it has nothing to do with God's lack of love or care for us; 2) we should keep our perspective as "puny creatures" and look for the good that can come out of it.
Another way of looking at life is to view the past with remembrance of what God has done in the past; to view the future with hope that God will restore the universe to perfection; and to view the present as the one moment that we have control over.
Mother Teresa was once asked by a visiting doctor, "Pray for me."
"What do you want me to pray?" she replied.
"Pray that I may have clarity," he said.
"Clarity is the one thing that you are holding onto that you must get rid of. I've never had clarity when it comes to doing God's work. What is required is faith and trust. So, I'll pray that you receive faith."
How often do I get hung up or hesitate because I think God has not made His will clear enough to me? It is at that point that I must act in faith. It is at that point that God wants me to go deeper.
Last night at our small group we were talking about a "ambidextrous faith" that requires two hands to hold onto two purposes: 1) When life is difficult -- and it often is -- it has nothing to do with God's lack of love or care for us; 2) we should keep our perspective as "puny creatures" and look for the good that can come out of it.
Another way of looking at life is to view the past with remembrance of what God has done in the past; to view the future with hope that God will restore the universe to perfection; and to view the present as the one moment that we have control over.
Mother Teresa was once asked by a visiting doctor, "Pray for me."
"What do you want me to pray?" she replied.
"Pray that I may have clarity," he said.
"Clarity is the one thing that you are holding onto that you must get rid of. I've never had clarity when it comes to doing God's work. What is required is faith and trust. So, I'll pray that you receive faith."
How often do I get hung up or hesitate because I think God has not made His will clear enough to me? It is at that point that I must act in faith. It is at that point that God wants me to go deeper.
The Web Site Dabbler
I've often considered myself to be a dabbler in websites. Today for example, I have spoken with my barber about setting him up a web site for his business. He gave me a photograph to scan and use. What does a barber put on his web pages? Interesting question.
I've maintained our school website now for about three years, and I've designed my own from scratched, and re-designed it as well a few times.
Bottom line: people have to have a good reason to view your web page, or they won't! Just like they probably won't read this one.
I've maintained our school website now for about three years, and I've designed my own from scratched, and re-designed it as well a few times.
Bottom line: people have to have a good reason to view your web page, or they won't! Just like they probably won't read this one.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Information Technology Report to School Council
February 8, 2005
Dear members of the Viscount Montgomery School Council,
This report will give you a description of our school's computer facilities, and also will outline my intended plan of action for doing some research on how to focus and improve the use of the facilities. The report is submitted freely with a simple desire to keep the members of the School Council informed.
The school computer network consists of 45 student workstations, in an array of 34 in the computer lab, 4 in the library, 2 in the Learning Resource room and 5 others in classrooms (3 in primary/junior and 2 in middle school). Each of these machines has internet connectivity. There are also 4 administration workstations. With our student population of about 500, the ratio meets the Board standard of 11 students per computer.
Each of these machines is configured with a wide variety of educational software, and is internet capable.
The primary-junior classes use the lab when their teachers sign them up and bring them. The lab is put to a wide variety of uses, depending on how the individual teachers incorporate the computers into their lesson plans. For example, sometimes the computer is used as an information source through internet search engines and on-line encyclopediae; other times students are developing language skills through vocabulary activities and word processing. In the primary classes, the lab is sometimes used for basic patterning skills and learning letters, numbers and early reading skills. Not all primary classes use the computers regularly. The junior classes use them more often.
Each of the middle school classes are scheduled into the lab three times every ten day cycle, with the computer lab being staffed for these classes. I plan this time in collaboration with other subject teachers, and seek to support and implement the use of the computers in their subjects. I also plan lessons that explore new activities, and build upon previously learned skills, such as word processing and touch typing.
In the coming months, I will designing and conducting a parent survey in order to develop a better sense of what our school community and families have in the way of home computers. Through this survey I would also like to develop and maintain an email list, so that newsletters and other information memos can be sent electronically.
I would also like to facilitate a greater focus on early reading skills by the primary classes, and will investigate how to assist teachers who would like to use the literacy software in the computer lab with their classes.
Finally, our school website is maintained by myself as time permits. I try to keep it current and relevant. The original design was created three years ago by a parent. The URL is www.vmbruins.info Presently we have a number of photo collections available for viewing, and many student web pages as well. Please take some time to have a look at the web site. I greatly value your comments, questions and suggestions regarding the appearance and contents of our school's web site. I believe that it is has great potential for enhancing communication between home and school, and for presenting our positive image and values to the public. You can email me at any time about this. I'd like to also request that the School Council minutes be edited and emailed to me so that they may be published on the school website for viewing by our school community.
Thank-you for your support and interest.
Glen Brown, Computer Studies Teacher
Dear members of the Viscount Montgomery School Council,
This report will give you a description of our school's computer facilities, and also will outline my intended plan of action for doing some research on how to focus and improve the use of the facilities. The report is submitted freely with a simple desire to keep the members of the School Council informed.
The school computer network consists of 45 student workstations, in an array of 34 in the computer lab, 4 in the library, 2 in the Learning Resource room and 5 others in classrooms (3 in primary/junior and 2 in middle school). Each of these machines has internet connectivity. There are also 4 administration workstations. With our student population of about 500, the ratio meets the Board standard of 11 students per computer.
Each of these machines is configured with a wide variety of educational software, and is internet capable.
The primary-junior classes use the lab when their teachers sign them up and bring them. The lab is put to a wide variety of uses, depending on how the individual teachers incorporate the computers into their lesson plans. For example, sometimes the computer is used as an information source through internet search engines and on-line encyclopediae; other times students are developing language skills through vocabulary activities and word processing. In the primary classes, the lab is sometimes used for basic patterning skills and learning letters, numbers and early reading skills. Not all primary classes use the computers regularly. The junior classes use them more often.
Each of the middle school classes are scheduled into the lab three times every ten day cycle, with the computer lab being staffed for these classes. I plan this time in collaboration with other subject teachers, and seek to support and implement the use of the computers in their subjects. I also plan lessons that explore new activities, and build upon previously learned skills, such as word processing and touch typing.
In the coming months, I will designing and conducting a parent survey in order to develop a better sense of what our school community and families have in the way of home computers. Through this survey I would also like to develop and maintain an email list, so that newsletters and other information memos can be sent electronically.
I would also like to facilitate a greater focus on early reading skills by the primary classes, and will investigate how to assist teachers who would like to use the literacy software in the computer lab with their classes.
Finally, our school website is maintained by myself as time permits. I try to keep it current and relevant. The original design was created three years ago by a parent. The URL is www.vmbruins.info Presently we have a number of photo collections available for viewing, and many student web pages as well. Please take some time to have a look at the web site. I greatly value your comments, questions and suggestions regarding the appearance and contents of our school's web site. I believe that it is has great potential for enhancing communication between home and school, and for presenting our positive image and values to the public. You can email me at any time about this. I'd like to also request that the School Council minutes be edited and emailed to me so that they may be published on the school website for viewing by our school community.
Thank-you for your support and interest.
Glen Brown, Computer Studies Teacher
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