B-R receives ReVision grant for Career and Technical Education.

From the Nebraska Department of Education-

Congratulations on receiving the reVISION Initial grant!

The reVISION process is a strategic approach for schools to analyze their current Career Education system and make plans as needed for adjustments. By participating in the reVISION process, local districts are ensuring that students leave high school with the knowledge and skills required for employment and/or entrepreneurship. This process will also provide opportunities for local districts to design career education programs for students to experience a smooth transition from high school to postsecondary education.

Most importantly, reVISION plays a key part in developing a talent pipeline for economic growth and workforce development in Nebraska. A key component of reVISION is analyzing the alignment between current career education programs and Nebraska’s identified economic and workforce priorities.

The $5,000 reVISION Initial Grant is intended to assist your local district with implementing the reVISION process. Funds may be used to reimburse substitute teachers, teachers’ time outside of contract time, expenses associated with community engagement meetings, travel, and other expenses directly related to the reVISION process.

Handicapped accessibility Construction Project at Neihardt Site

Christensen Construction of Pender is working on the $180,000 addition to the Neihardt Historic Site. The addition will provide handicapped accessibility for the building. Funding was provided by the Nebraska Historical Society through a cigarette tax for public buildings in Nebraska.
Thanks to the smokers who helped make this project possible.

Bancroft-Rosalie School Participates in “Future Ready” Regional Summit

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Summit Focuses on Improving Teaching and Student Learning Outcomes Through Effective Use of Digital Learning

 
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Superintendent Dr. Jon Cerny and five staff members (Joy Nolting, Bev Zwygart, Kyle Elsasser, Stephanie Henry, and James Hulstein) from the Bancroft-Rosalie School recently joined representatives from thirty other school districts for an invitation-only regional education summit focused on improving teaching and student learning outcomes through the effective use of technology. The summit was led by the Alliance for Excellent Education and U.S. Department of Education with support from the Leading Education by Advancing Digital (LEAD) Commission and a coalition of more than thirty-five national content partners.

Held over two days in Chicago, the summit—one of only thirteen regional summits nationwide— was restricted to school districts where the superintendent had signed the Future Ready District Pledge—a promise to develop the human and technological capacity needed to personalize learning using digital tools.

“‘Future Ready’ isn’t about technology,” said Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former governor of West Virginia. “It’s about a more personalized approach to teaching and learning that ensures that all students have the skills they need to succeed in college and a career. Future Ready is about empowering teachers and leaders, helping students take charge of their own learning, and keeping parents engaged and informed.”

Led by trained facilitators skilled at using technology and digital learning effectively, the summit was a highly collaborative event that helped participating districts build teamwork and create regional networks of experts who can learn together as they make the transition to digital learning. The summit focused on a comprehensive set of issues that drive student learning including: curriculum, instruction, and assessment; professional learning; technology, networks, and hardware; budget and resources; data and privacy; use of time; and community partnerships.

Through the work they completed at the summit, the educational leaders from Bancroft-Rosalie School can build digital learning plans that align with instructional best practices, are implemented by highly trained teachers, and lead to personalized learning experiences for all students, particularly those from traditionally underserved communities.

For more information about the Future Ready Regional Summit, visit www.FutureReadySchools.org.

Two B-R students win National Scholarships

WAY TO GO BREE and JERI!!
Found at http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/06/10/743690/10138103/en/Great-Plains-Communications-Announces-Winners-in-National-College-Scholarship-Program-for-Rural-Youth.html#sthash.ImE3PViq.dpuf

BLAIR, Neb., June 10, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Plains Communications is pleased to announce that Jerrica Tietz and Brianna Wegner, both from Bancroft, Nebraska, are the recipients of a college scholarship from Great Plains Communications and the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), the philanthropic arm of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association.
The FRS scholarship program awarded scholarships, ranging from $1500-$5000 to rural youth across the United States. Out of over 1,400 applications received this year, fifty-three scholarships were awarded. The goal of the scholarship program is to help further higher education opportunities among rural high school students. Great Plains Communications strongly supports the youth of the rural communities they serve, and is thrilled to sponsor this worthy program.
"We are honored to be a part of the FRS scholarship program, and to assist students in our rural communities with achieving their academic aspirations," said Todd Foje, CEO of Great Plains Communications. "These two students are truly deserving of this opportunity, and have worked hard to get where they are. Their work ethic and motivation inspire all of us, both here at Great Plains Communications, and in their hometown of Bancroft, Nebraska to strive for excellence."
Scholarship recipients were selected by an independent team of reviewers from the education field. To be eligible, recipients must be sponsored by a NTCA member system, and must indicate a desire to return to their rural communities once their collegiate studies have been completed.
The scholarship program is open to all graduating high school seniors that receive local telecommunications service from Great Plains Communications.

Completed My First MOOC

This spring I tried taking a Massive Online Open Course for the first time. The course was "Digital Learning Transition: Creating Future Ready Schools" was through North Carolina State.
The course gave me a few ideas for some things we can do to utilize our existing technology more efficiently. 

School Board News

The Bancroft-Rosalie Board of Education met Monday, June 8, 2015 at 7:30 pm in Bancroft. Superintendent Cerny presented the May transportation report. Mr. Sjuts reported on possible coaching assignments for the 2016-17 season when high school sports are cooped with Lyons-Decatur. Board consensus was that if the football team would not be eligible for football play-offs then the coop should play 11 man football. In new business, the board reviewed the Food Service Program; approved Morrow, Davies, and Toelle as the school auditor; and approved the use of the sick leave bank by one teacher.

June School Board Agenda

Watch Northeast Nebraska All-star football game June 13 1:00 pm video webcast

The 2015 Northeast Nebraska All-Star Football Classic will be broadcast via video for the first time! Norfolk radio station 94 Rock will be utilizing live-truck technology to broadcast a LIVE video webcast of this year's all-star game exclusively at 94rock.fm! Friends and family will be able to pull up the live video web-stream of the game, anchored by award-winning sportcasters Eric McKay, Brandon Aksamit and Lou Siefker, anywhere in the world on their home computer or mobile device. The multi-camera broadcast will feature live play-by-play, as well as sideline reports and even instant replay so you won't miss a minute of the action. Log on to www.94rock.fm Saturday June 13th at 1 p.m. for the exclusive live video webcast of this year's Northeast Nebraska All-Star Football Classic!”

Bancroft-Rosalie School receives Preschool expansion grant

The Nebraska Department of Education has approved Bancroft-Rosalie Elementary School for a $145,000 expansion grant to provide a full-day preschool program for 4 year olds. Part of the grant ($25,000) is to be used to make modifications to the classroom and obtain necessary equipment and supplies. The remaining funds will be used for staff salaries and benefits. The grant funds are renewable each year.