Virtual Field Trip from Morrill Hall

The staff at Morrill Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln presented a virtual field trip to the 7th grade Earth Science class. The field trip was called "Evolution Examined." The virtual field trip included engaging activities and interaction with studies on finches, flies, and viruses. Arachnids at night and Yellowstone diatoms by day will be highlighted by several University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate students who will share, both live and via video, how they are studying evolution in their work today.

Nebraska School Activities Association Gender Participation Policy

The Nebraska School Activities Association Representative Assembly will be meeting next Friday to vote on new proposals. One of the proposals addresses participation of transgender students in NSAA sponsored school activities.

The new policy would require students to compete based on their gender at birth. The existing policy, adopted by the NSAA Board of Directors in consultation with legal counsel has a procedure to follow for transgender students.

Obviously this has caused a lot of discussion and some concern from many residents of the state. Because there are questions being asked about the existing NSAA policy and what it does and does not do, I am posting a link to the existing policy for anyone who would like to read it.

I am a member of the representative assembly and I will vote based on the advice of the NSAA legal counsel and what is in the best interests of the NSAA and our member schools. We need a fair and equitable field for all students, and we need to make sure we are in compliance with existing state statutes, which allows for changes to birth certificate gender.  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzAgKW5YembwdXNKOENjMEdnejQ/view?usp=sharing

NSAA Winter Academic All-State

Congrats to Aaron Ras (Boys Basketball), Kassi Browning and Hannah Flock (Girls Basketball), and Kylee Cole and Tess Nottlemann (Speech).

Epic Air Traffic Control

After school students were building mini airplanes in Crazy Eights Club today. It was part of the Epic Air Traffic Control project. Learning about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math - STEM.

MTSS Workshop

The Multi-Tier System of Supports Team spent the day working with Nebraska MTSS on the school plan for Individual Student Problem Solving. The basics of the plan are in place and a detailed plan will be completed by the end of the school year. Full implementation of Individual Student Problem Solving for implementing and evaluating student interventions for students with reading difficulties will begin next school year.
This school MTSS Plan will need to be approved by the Department of Education before the school can utilize this process for Special Education identification purposes. We continue to be a leader in the state in regards to MTSS.

 

Dr. Cerny Interview in Washington DC

Here is the series of clips the U.S. Department of Education did with me as part of the Terrell Bell Award. Watch it if you want.

https://youtu.be/sGP5eeTJwsM

Nominate our school for the Grow Rural Education Grant Program to fund a Makerspace

America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education is back again to partner with farmers to nominate Bancroft-Rosalie Community School to compete for $10,000 to enhance math and science education.

Nominating our school district is easy! Farmers simply fill out a nomination on the link below or call 1-877-267-3332 to make your nomination.
http://www.americasfarmers.com/community-outreach/nominate-now-grow-rural-education/

This year the school is requesting funds to set up a Makerspace for the afterschool program. 

A Makerspace is a place where students can gather to create, invent, tinker, explore and discover using a variety of tools and materials. Maker movement advocates have identified several common elements of successful Makerspaces:

They promote learning through play and experimentation.
They’re cross-disciplinary, with elements of art, science and craftsmanship.
They offer tools and materials that encourage students to create rather than consume.

There will be six Makerspace activity areas- 3D Design and Printing, Computer Programming, Electronics, Building, Robotics, and Crafts. Each area will have materials available for all different learning levels from kindergarten through 8^th grade.