O'Neill Jr./Sr. High School named Apple Distinguished School for 2013-2015

O’Neill, NE - November 2013

O’Neill Public School is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2013 to 2015 for its innovative implementation of technology, specifically in its 24/7 Learning Initiative. 

The Apple Distinguished School designation is reserved for programs that meet criteria for innovation, leadership, and educational excellence, and demonstrate a clear vision of exemplary learning environments.

"The selection of O’Neill High School as an Apple Distinguished School highlights our success as an innovative and compelling learning environment that engages students and provides tangible evidence of academic accomplishment,” stated superintendent Amy Shane. 

"Technology opens opportunities for all learners beyond what once was possible,” added Katie Morrow, O’Neill Public School Technology Integration Specialist.  "We hope to continue to utilize technology to push the educational boundaries and support all students in achievement success.”

Read more about O'Neill's exemplary learning environment by downloading this Multi-Touch book:

Download .ibooks file 

(will only work with iOS device or Mac with the free iBooks app)

Nebraska K-12 Digital Citizenship Symposium

"By your digital footprint you shall be known."

A team of two faculty and two students attended the 2013 Digital Citizenship Symposium.  Held across the state at three locations, students, school leaders, and parents were brought together to learn more about digital citizenship and develop ways to improve actions taken in our communities.  

http://NebraskaDCS.wikispaces.com 

The following are just a few of the important pieces of information shared by the professional speakers of the day:

93% of us are online.  We all should have a "digital driver's license."

"The easiest thing in the world to track is your cell phone.  Your phone, your content, your location...  all of it."  ~Nebraska State Attorney General's Office

Create a positive digital footprint

1) Blog and comment

2) Curate and share (Scoop.it, etc.)

3) Monitor (Google Alerts)

4) Manage ("They Loved Your G.P.A. Then They Saw Your Tweets."Privacy Settings)

Nebraska State Patrol investigator claims that:

80-90% of junior and senior boys could go to jail for crimes they are committing with their cell phone-- that they may not even know about. 

• Deleting is NOT deleting.
• Know who your friends are.
• Manage your privacy settings.
• Be careful what you post.  (backgrounds in photos, logos on clothing, license plates)
• Be aware of your surroundings (others taking photos of you to incriminate you)
• Report, save evidence, and talk to adults or report anonymously
• Many apps share GPS coordinates by default
• Law enforcement CAN capture snapchats without you knowing.
• Every time you use open wifi, there is information saved & stored.

"Geography is no longer destiny. Isolation is no longer security."
~Karen Haase, Attorney of Education Law

Education is the solution.  Managing your digital footprint is NOT hiding.

Judgements are being made about you all the time- whether you think they are or not. 

Be "transparent and trackable"

2010 NASB survey

80% of students on-line; 70% have used social media for educational conversations

Ways to leave a positive digital footprint:

• photos/videos of you doing school or community activities
• family photos, etc.
• positive comments, school spirit
• cool things created for school or for fun
• "follow" reputable pages
• maintain privacy settings
• avoid repetitive 'selfies'

All in all, the day was a great reminder from many different perspective, that digital citizenship should be a priority both in and out of school.

Hour of Code

90 percent of American schools don’t teach computer science. Fewer students are learning how computers work than a decade ago. Girls and minorities are severely underrepresented. And yet, technology is increasingly shaping almost every aspect of how we live our lives.

That’s why Mr. Peterson's 8th Grade Technology class, along with the O'Neill Public Schools administrative team, participated in one of the largest education events in history: The Hour of Code. During Computer Science Education Week (Dec. 9-15), every student in the class will spend at least one hour learning computer science, doing online tutorials featuring Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Angry Birds.

The Hour of Code is a campaign to prove that regardless of age, race or gender, anyone can learn how to not just consume, but build the technologies of the future.

Our students are among over 2 million already planning to try one Hour of Code during Dec. 9-15 worldwide. This movement, organized by Code.org and supported by Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and over 100 others, is a statement that today’s generation of students are ready to learn critical skills for 21st century success.

When: Dec. 9-15, during Computer Science Education Week. 

Videoconferencing with Veterans

ESU #8 sponsored a panel of Vietnam veterans to connect via distance learning to area schools. Mrs. Appleby and Mrs. Morrow organized a two periods of 7th and 8th grade classes to take part in this opportunity.  Students from several schools, including O'Neill High School, were able to connect to the panel of experts at the Service Unit and send their questions to the group via a todaysmeet.com back channel.  The experience was well-received and very insightful according to many participating students and teachers.  Even the Veterans themselves reported their pleasure in partaking in the experience to help bridge the knowledge gap of today's youth about the Vietnam conflict and general service in the military.  It was a perfect learning experience to coincide with Veterans' Day in November and would not have been possible without the technology resources available in our schools.  Thank you to Molly Aschoff at ESU #8 for organizing the event and most especially, thank you to all of our veterans.

OHS has its own app!

Jon Marvin, a junior student in Mr. Peterson's Digital Media class, has been working for several months to develop the first official O'Neill Public Schools iOS app.  Spending a large amount of time watching available tutorials on the iOS programming language as well as contacting several expert app developers comprised the majority of his process. The app has been submitted and approved by Apple for the iTunes App Store and is available immediately at the following link:   

https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=749491889&mt=8

Be sure to download it today to keep up on the latest happenings at OHS, and if you have suggestions for additions or improvements, be sure to let Jon or Mr. Peterson know!

Eagle Eye Broadcasting

One of the highlights of the 2013-14 school year thus far is the new & improved student broadcasting program at OHS entitled "Eagle Eye Broadcasting."  Led by Mr. Peterson and staffed by various student volunteers, the team live streams many OHS events and activities using the website http://highschoolcube.com

You can view their channel here:
http://www.highschoolcube.com/schools/oneill-high-school-oneill-nebraska

Or view the Eagle Eye Broadcasting website here:
http://eagleeyebroadcasting.com

Whether football games, cross country meets, or choir concerts, the group has done an exceptional job so far of promoting student activities and events via technology and allowing a worldwide audience to celebrate along with us.  Look for much more in store from this group as the school year continues.

2013 Apple Distinguished School application

To apply for the prestigious honor of being designated 'Apple Distinguished School' we annually create and submit an iBook application.  Regardless of how the honor turns out, it is a powerful reflective process from which evolves a product worth sharing with others!  In order to view this year's application, you must download the link either on:

• an iPad with the free iBooks app  OR
• a Mac (updated to Mavericks) with the free iBooks application 

Here is this year's O'Neill Public Jr./Sr. High School iBook application:

http://ops2.esu8.org/staff/katiemorrow/2013ADSapp_O'NeillPublicSchool.ibooks

New & Improved Student Sharing Gallery

Our Student Sharing Gallery for the past 5+ years was damaged beyond repair in the server upgrade over the summer.  However, O'Neill Public School has initiated the process of posting many of the creative videos and student projects to a YouTube Channel.  Visit it at https://www.youtube.com/user/ONeillPublicSchool and subscribe to in order to stay current with new uploads and old classics ones that are still being added as well.

O’Neill Public School’s Student Sharing Gallery (YouTube Channel):https://www.youtube.com/user/ONeillPublicSchool

Winners of the 2013 Nebraska ESU/AG Internet Safety & Digital Citizenship Poster and PSA Contest

The ESUs of Nebraska in partnership with the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office annually sponsor an Internet Safety and Digital Citizenship Poster and PSA (Public Service Announcement) Contest for students in K-12 public and non-public schools in Nebraska. Schools may submit one entry in each of three grade levels (K-4, 5-8 and 9-12) and in one of five categories: Hand-drawn Poster, Computer-generated Poster, audio PSA, video PSA, or Other (creative works that don’t fit into the previous four categories).

The following entries were selected as the 2013 Nebraska winners.

Grades K-4

·             Hand-drawn Poster – Cecelia Wonch (Grade 4) Sandhills Elementary, Halsey NE

·             Computer-Generated Poster – Vivian Slagle (Grade 3) Sargent Public Schools, Sargent NE

·             Open –  Sam Russell, Carter Hunt, Ann Bose, Sara Scarrow, Laurel Stadler, Sophie Grillli, Brenna Balderston, Teramyah Ruskamp, Aliyah Bowers, Mabel Olivas, Gabe Grove, Madeline Gudino, Kaylan Kappers, Sarah Holste, McKenzie Hunt, Jesse Hargett, Jack Benson, Maddy Whetstine (Grade 1) Southern Valley Elementary, Oxford NE

Grades 5-8

·             Hand-drawn Poster – Jose Amaya (Grade 5) of Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island NE

·             Computer-Generated Poster – McKenna Siegel (Grade 6) Litchfield Public, Litchfield, NE

·             Video PSA – Allison Becker & Alexa Dougherty (Jr High) O’Neill Jr High, O’Neill NE

·              Open –  Kylie Broich, Kristen Setlik, Bailey Bryant, Andi Olson, Maddie Beran, Maddie Mazour, Emily Bykerh, Kelsey Plache (Grade 8) of Cedar Hollow (Grand Island Northwest), Grand Island NE

Grades 9-12

·             Computer-generated Poster – Victoria Tuttle (Grade 12) Tekamah-Herman, Tekamah NE

·             Audio PSA – Nick Penteria (Grade 10)Lakeview Jr-Sr High, Columbus NE

·             Video PSA – Makala Hladky (Grade 12) O’Neill High School, O’Neill NE

·             Open – Alex Atkins (Grade 11) O’Neill High School, O’Neill NE

The winning entries for the 2013 Nebraska contest may be found at http://blog.esu10.org/internetsafety/2013-nebraska-internet-safety-contest-winners/

Winners of the 2013 Nebraska ESU/AG Internet Safety & Digital Citizenship Poster and PSA Contest

Winners of the 2013 Nebraska ESU/AG Internet Safety & Digital Citizenship Poster and PSA Contest

The ESUs of Nebraska in partnership with the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office annually sponsor an Internet Safety and Digital Citizenship Poster and PSA (Public Service Announcement) Contest for students in K-12 public and non-public schools in Nebraska. Schools may submit one entry in each of three grade levels (K-4, 5-8 and 9-12) and in one of five categories: Hand-drawn Poster, Computer-generated Poster, audio PSA, video PSA, or Other (creative works that don’t fit into the previous four categories).

The following entries were selected as the 2013 Nebraska winners.

Grades K-4

·             Hand-drawn Poster – Cecelia Wonch (Grade 4) Sandhills Elementary, Halsey NE

·             Computer-Generated Poster – Vivian Slagle (Grade 3) Sargent Public Schools, Sargent NE

·             Open –  Sam Russell, Carter Hunt, Ann Bose, Sara Scarrow, Laurel Stadler, Sophie Grillli, Brenna Balderston, Teramyah Ruskamp, Aliyah Bowers, Mabel Olivas, Gabe Grove, Madeline Gudino, Kaylan Kappers, Sarah Holste, McKenzie Hunt, Jesse Hargett, Jack Benson, Maddy Whetstine (Grade 1) Southern Valley Elementary, Oxford NE

Grades 5-8

·             Hand-drawn Poster – Jose Amaya (Grade 5) of Knickrehm Elementary, Grand Island NE

·             Computer-Generated Poster – McKenna Siegel (Grade 6) Litchfield Public, Litchfield, NE

·             Video PSA – Allison Becker & Alexa Dougherty (Jr High) O’Neill Jr High, O’Neill NE

·              Open –  Kylie Broich, Kristen Setlik, Bailey Bryant, Andi Olson, Maddie Beran, Maddie Mazour, Emily Bykerh, Kelsey Plache (Grade 8) of Cedar Hollow (Grand Island Northwest), Grand Island NE

Grades 9-12

·             Computer-generated Poster – Victoria Tuttle (Grade 12) Tekamah-Herman, Tekamah NE

·             Audio PSA – Nick Penteria (Grade 10)Lakeview Jr-Sr High, Columbus NE

·             Video PSA – Makala Hladky (Grade 12) O’Neill High School, O’Neill NE

·             Open – Alex Atkins (Grade 11) O’Neill High School, O’Neill NE

The winning entries for the 2013 Nebraska contest may be found at http://blog.esu10.org/internetsafety/2013-nebraska-internet-safety-contest-winners/

iPad Action Research from O'Neill Public Schools

Visit the iBookstore today and download the free Multi-Touch book that shares O'Neill's recent action research project with iPads in 8th grade Language Arts.

If you are on an iOS device, the direct link is here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ipad-action-research-at-ohs/id598140500?mt=11

Or you can visit the iBookstore and search for O'Neill Public Schools, iPad Action Research, or Katie Morrow.

O'Neill Public Schools on iTunes U

O'Neill Public Schools is proud to join the ranks of K-12 institutions with public iTunes U sites.  If you currently visit the iTunes Store, just click on iTunes U and then K-12 to find an alphabetical listing including O'Neill.

Or, visit O'Neill's iTunes U site page directly at:
O'Neill Public Schools on iTunes U

 

Hopefully this is just the start of many more exceptional courses to come!

Nebraska Internet Safety & Digital Citizenship Contest

O'Neill Public School students have again dominated the regional round of the Nebraska Internet Safety and Digital Citizenship contest with the following results:

• Allison Becker and Alexa Dougherty won the PSA Video - Grades 5-8 with 24 out of 28 points. http://ops.esu8.org/users/katiemorrow/weblog/99ab4/Identity_Theft_PSA.html
• Lauren Osborne and Alexis Stevenson's PSA Video - Grades 5-8 received the runner-up with 22 out of 28 points. http://ops.esu8.org/users/katiemorrow/weblog/a4960/Cyberbullying_PSA.html
• Makala Hladky won the PSA Video - Grades 9-12 with 23 out of 28 points.http://ops.esu8.org/users/katiemorrow/weblog/74a6c/Internet_Trail_PSA.html
• Alex Atkins won the Open Category - Grades 9-12 with 26 out of 28 points. http://ops.esu8.org/users/katiemorrow/weblog/4c9c0/Digital_Footprint_PSA.html

All winning entries will be sent on to be judged at the state level.  Congratulations to Mr. Mike Peterson and his students!