Pioneers, Come Get Your iPads

We are very excited about our One-to-One Technology Initiative for all students in grades 5-12! Our teachers have been preparing diligently for a major shift in how we teach and how our students will learn … with iPads.  

We feel it important to answer any questions you have and to do some parent/student training prior to handing the devices to our students. The most commonly asked question so far has been about insurance.  

• The district has a 3-year lease on the iPads and will offer a 3-year insurance policy to parents for just $20.  
• That $20 covers the entire 3-year period and has a $50 deductible.  
• With the insurance, if the iPad is damaged or lost, the student/parent will be responsible for the deductible and a replacement iPad will be provided.
• If you choose not to purchase the insurance, replacement of a damaged or lost iPad will cost $400.  
• Please bring a check or cash to orientation to pay for insurance - credit cards will not be accepted.
• We request that you set up an iTunes account prior to the orientation meeting.  Please bring your iTunes account password and your pioneers.us school email password.

Our goal is to get the iPads in the students’ hands about three weeks before the school year begins so they can “hit the ground running” on the first day of school.  We have set up the following dates and times for a parent/student orientation and training session.  Our superintendent, Dr. Miller, will begin the session by laying out the vision behind this initiative and answering questions you might have.  You and your student will then sign the technology acceptable use agreement and will receive the iPad.  A copy of the acceptable use policy is included in this packet for you to review.

CL5 Students only Monday Aug 13 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Seniors only Tuesday Aug 14 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Juniors only Tuesday Aug 14 10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Sophomores only Tuesday Aug 14 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Freshmen only Tuesday Aug 14 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

If you are unable to make your designated daytime training, evening orientation/training sessions will be held at the following dates/times:

Make-up session Tuesday Aug 21 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Make-up session Tuesday Aug 28 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.           

BOTH the student and parent must be present at the orientation/training.  Fall sports practices will be held at times that do not conflict with these times.  Families with more than one child can call ahead and reserve the time that they will attend together.  For those families, we will have all iPads ready for them if an RSVP is made.  Please RSVP to 679-1000.  A tentative agenda for the orientation/training will include:

• meet in high school cafetorium for an introduction by Dr. Miller
• sign district technology agreement and purchase insurance
• receive your district issued iPad
• participate in a small group training sessions on how to use your iPad
• check out district approved covers
• set up iTunes account if you don't come with one already

As you can see from the agenda, this orientation and training has been designed to help both you and your student feel more comfortable with our one-to-one technology initiative and be ready for day one of school.  On the left side of district website at www.croslex.org under “District Documents” there is a document called “iPad Q&A for Parents and Students”.  It has been updated with the latest information and will answer many questions you have.  In their advertisement about the iPad, Apple says “This Changes Everything!”  As “Pioneers” we have looked at recent data from schools using iPads who have seen dramatic increases in learning.  We believe the iPad is truly “Pioneering” in education.

iPads for All Students Next Year

The Croswell-Lexington School District announces a One-to-One initiative for the 2012-2013 school year and beyond.  Every student in grades 5-12 will receive a WIFI-equipped iPad that will contain digital textbooks, novels, and a multitude of learning tools and applications.  In addition to the One-to-One iPad initiative in grades 5-12, about 150 iPads are already being used in school by students in grades K-4.  Combined with mini-laptops, laptops, and desktop computers, the district will achieve its goal of technology in the hands of every student, every day.

“The district’s goal, as always, is providing the best education possible for our students,” said Cros-Lex Superintendent Dr. Kevin Miller.  “Our core belief is today’s students learn differently than the way we learned.  The world today demands a tech-savvy person.  This One-to-One initiative will help us to prepare our students for requirements desired by colleges and the work force.  Our students have grown up with technology in the palm of their hands.  We want to make sure that this same technology is used to prepare them for success in the 21st century.”

Digital textbooks offer to students tremendous advantages over traditional textbooks. Students will have the opportunity to immediately get a definition of a word they don’t understand or to instantly get access through links to the world wide web or videos on the subject being studied.  Students will also have the ability to highlight and save the text of key concepts to digital notecards to review later.  Digital books are also updated often and contain 3-D images and graphics that can be manipulated by students.

The student iPads will have software loaded allowing them to test digitally and to answer questions digitally through an app called “eclicker” when a teacher does formative assessments (quick testing to see how students are absorbing information in the lesson).  The iPads will be loaded with a graphing calculator app and reading and math applications.  Students will turn in assignments digitally using programs like Google Applications for education.

The devices will be paid for initially by replacing two line items in the district budget; the technology computer-purchase line item and the textbook-purchase line item.  Ultimately, we believe that the shift from traditional textbooks to technology like the iPad will save the district money.  There are dozens of digital textbooks available at no cost.

The district will offer an inexpensive insurance policy to families to replace damaged devices.  A district technology committee will develop policies listing expectations for student use both at school and at home.  District officials plan to visit districts in West Michigan who have already embarked on a One-to-One technology initiative that includes iPads.  Croswell-Lexington will be one of the first districts in Eastern Michigan to roll out a One-to-One iPad initiative for all middle and high school students.  

Professional development for teachers will help them transition from using traditional texts to digital textbooks and the many learning applications offered by the devices.  The district is planning an orientation meeting for students and parents prior to the start of the 2012-13 school year.

“Ultimately, we expect this initiative to fundamentally change the way we educate and the way students learn,” said Miller.  “We’ve already seen the positive impact the iPads have had at the elementary and middle schools.”

TWENTY

20.1 For the first time in school history Croswell-Lexington High School students broke the 20 mark on the ACT.  Our composite score average of all 170 juniors was 20.13 this year.  The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests plus a 30-minute Writing Test.  ACT results are accepted by all 4-year colleges and universities in the U.S.  The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete, including a short break (or just over four hours if you are taking the ACT Plus Writing). Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes.  This is great news, but the Pioneers are not satisfied ...  we are going for 21 next year!

Pioneer Hall Closed

Good News!  The concrete moisture levels in Pioneer Hall & indoor running track have finally come down enough and contractors have the “green light” to begin laying the rubber track.  This will cause us to temporarily close off certain sections of the building beginning with Pioneer Hall allowing them to work.  I thank everyone in advance for their flexibility. We have arranged it so everything is still usable but students will have to take alternate routes to get where they need to. So please plan ahead.

I have included a map of which doors will and will not be accessible during this phase.  The main change is that all student drivers will temporarily enter and exit through the west doors near Mr. Pepin’s room.  Have a great rest of the break.

Go Pioneers!