O'Neill Public Junior-Senior High School again honored as Apple Distinguished School

O’Neill Junior-Senior High School once again has been designated as an Apple Distinguished School for their continuous innovation in learning, teaching, and the school environment. The current two year award was presented to the staff and students by Brent Catlett, Apple Development Executive, during an all-school assembly on January 5, 2018. 

O’Neill High School Class of 2018 with recent Apple Distinguished School designation

High School Principal Corey Fisher commended the entire school for their continued dedication to teaching and learning in innovative ways with Apple technology. O’Neill’s 24/7 Learning Initiative, which gives every student access to a MacBook Air laptop, has led the way in educational technology implementation for over a decade. The junior-senior high school has been honored as an Apple Distinguished School since 2010 and the current designation will last two years, through 2019. 

“Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence that use Apple products to inspire creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. They showcase innovative uses of technology in learning, teaching, and the school environment and have documented results of academic accomplishment.” (From Apple Distinguished School program materials)

Mr. Fisher spoke of the rigorous application process which included video creation, digital book authoring, and the efforts of staff members to become Apple Teacher certified. High School Faculty who achieved Apple Teacher status were each presented with an award certificate during the ceremony. 

A Development Executive from Apple traveled to O’Neill to present the student body with the award. 

Apple representative presented award to OHS representatives Haley Schmeichel, Student Council President, and Kevin & Katie Morrow, Technology Integrationists

O'Neill's Apple Distinguished School application intro video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4BzCpT2yd0&list=PLAGED2vQqhJgF-41QlqZWC5xq4TANW8Kg&index=8

and the book in the iBooks Store:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dream-believe-achieve-the-oneill-way/id1265700447?mt=11

Dream, Believe, Achieve: The O'Neill Way ... now on the iBooks Store!

O’Neill Public School shares the story of their 24/7 Learning initiative (1:1 learning with MacBooks). Get the newly updated and published book on any device with the iBooks app available at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dream-believe-achieve-the-oneill-way/id1265700447?mt=11

Unranked to Unbeaten: Student Produced Documentary

Mrs. Rylee Dexter's Anatomy classes enriched their study with "passion projects" throughout second semester. Sometimes called "20% Time" or "Genius Hour," the idea is that one day a week (or 20% of their class time) students would be able to pursue a topic of personal relevance to learn more deeply. Student projects took on a variety of forms.  From service projects working with elderly citizens, to entrepreneurial projects such as photography and baking services, the work was entirely driven by the students.  One group leveraged the "Cinderella story" of their recent state football championship season and capitalized on their digital media skills to produce a full-length documentary. You can view it here:

OHS January 2016 Technology News

Holograms 8th Grade Science At OHS

https://slate.adobe.com/cp/JFqt5/  

           Instructional Technology at ESU 8

                http://esu8tech.blogspot.com/2016/01/nppd-stem-lab-visits-esu-8-school.html

Sophomore Speech Class Music Videos

https://drive.google.com/a/oneillschools.org/folderview?    id=0B1IxoJpw2fnrSk5PWktReGkzd3c&usp=sharing

OHS speech teacher Kendra Vanderbeek makes speech class fun!

Ms. Vanderbeek said:

"The purpose of the music video assignment is to get the students to think about words and use non-verbal communication to convey ideas."
 "Also, it’s a fun first assignment that gets everyone comfortable with one another."
 "We get to be silly and have fun and realize that’s okay to do those things with confidence."

What a great use of creative minds and technology!   This a a real tribute to our students' creativity, our faculty and student body's willingness to get involved and let learning be fun! What a great culture to be a part of! 

If you need a little creative inspiration or a reminder how the technology we have at OHS can enhance creativity, or maybe you just need to smile, you can always come back to this post.  I promise -You will smile:)! 

NPPD STEM Lab Comes to OHS

Jennifer Swerczek NPPD Addresses Students

Lowell Brown, Science teacher at O'Neill Public Schools has created a great opportunity for OHS students to experience hands-on learning by bringing a STEM Makerspace lab to OHS.    

This Makerspace STEM lab is being provided by NPPD and facilitated by Jennifer Swerczek. What is a makerspace? It's a space where people can gather to create, invent, and learn.  

Most often a makersspace will include 3D printers, software, and electronics. In this post I have included all of the things students can experience at the makerspace at OHS. 

The NPPD STEM lab is currently set up in the OHS library and will be here through January 29, 2016. Anyone who is interested should feel free to stop and take a look and maybe even play with some of the gadgets!

NPPD STEM LAB

Make it DO

• What can you make existing equipment DO with logic, programming, and creative ideas?

Equipment:

Sphero Robots (2) http://www.sphero.com/education CeenBot (1) http://ceenbot.unl.edu/

MakeyMakey (2) http://makeymakey.com/howto.php 

http://makeymakey.com/guides/

Sparkfun Inventors Kit (6) https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Kits/RedBoard_SIK_3.2.pdf

Rasberry PI Starter Kits (2) https://www.raspberrypi.org/resources/

Make it NEW

• A “maker’s” take on circuitry, robotics, coding, and unique adaptations of different tools.

Equipment: 

Afinia H800 3D printer (1) http://www.thingiverse.com/

Carvey 3D CNC Machine 

Make an IMPACT

• Making a difference in this world through social innovation takes a keen eye on the needs of your community. Using sensors, tools, and innovative skills, you can make an impact on someone’s life.

Equipment:

Arduino Sensor Station (2 redboards + multitude of sensors) https://www.arduino.cc/

Thermal Camera

Smart Home Little Bits Kits (2 kits) http://littlebits.cc/

Make it YOU

• You are uniquely you. Here is your chance to be creative with design, circuitry, wearables, and personalized touches. Make your statement here!

Equipment:

Lilly Pad Wearables Lab (6) http://lilypadarduino.org/

Conductive paint http://www.bareconductive.com/make/5-things-you-can-do-with-your-electric-paint-50ml-jar/

Vinyl Cutter http://www.instructables.com/id/Vinyl-Cutting-for-begginers/

Sophomores Win First Annual Class Commercial Competition Homecoming 2015

     The first annual themed class commercial competition was held during home coming week at OHS in conjunction with Eagle Olympics. The theme was: "Why is your class the Best Class."     

     This idea was spearheaded by senior leader and student council president, Andrew Burival. Andrew wanted to see change brought to the spirited week of festivities that take place during homecoming week at OHS. For years past classes were given time during the school day to decorate their respective hallways. The hallways were then judged and points awarded to classes with the best decorated hallways. Andrew said, “Let’s do away with this tradition and have a 21st century competition-- after all we are an Apple Distinguished School!" Second year principal Corey Fisher replied, "Who can argue with that?"So he turned it over to Andrew, the class sponsors, and the students in grades 9-12.

     Students took the bull by the horns. Each class wasgiven approximately 90 minutes from start to finish to plan, record and edit their commercials. To kick off Eagle Olympics each commercial was played for the student body and judged by a panel of judges. Spirit points were awarded based on places received in the commercial competition. Guidelines are listed below. All in all this was a great event, and a great way showcase the creativity, leadership and "can-do" attitude of students here at OHS!     

      Congratulations to the Sophomore class for 

their first place finish in this years event!  We all

can't wait to watch this event cultivate in the 

Eagle Olympics Commercial Guidelines

FOCUS—

“Why is your grade the best at OHS?”

Each class will create a video about why their class is the best class to be in at OHS.

60-90 seconds

Can plan before but cannot film before. Have to stay on campus/the city block during filming.

JUDGING---

25 points Participation & Class Chant or Song

25 points School & Class Spirit Demonstrated in the Commercial

25 points Creativity

25 points Appeals to the Student Body Audience & Shows Why Your Class is the BEST

The Student Council is sponsoring a Spirit Contest for Homecoming Week. GRADES 9-12 will compete against each other for the spirit award. Points will be accumulated by each class for:

1. Eagle Olympic Commercial –
1. 20 points for 1st
2. 10 points for 2nd
3. 5 points for 3rd
2. Dress Up Theme Days –
1. 2 males & 2 females – 10 points each
2. Extra credit points are awarded for each class sponsor who dresses up. 2 points for each sponsor, each day with a max of 2 sponsors per day
3. Judging will be in the gym at 7:50 a.m. Monday-Friday
3. Powder Puff/Iron Man Games –
1. 20 points for 1st
2. 10 points for 2nd
3. 5 points for 3rd
4. Eagle Olympics –
1. 20 points for 1st
2. 10 points for 2nd
3. 5 points for 3rd