By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The Carbon County Higher Education Center is the first Wyoming school to offer its pre-engineering high school students a chance to earn college credit through Project Lead the Way.
Project Lead the Way is a national organization that standardizes the program for participating schools. It is recognized by 35 universities across the country. Gail Parsons, the organization’s director of program quality, visited CCHEC on Monday to evaluate the school.
If the school fulfilled a set of guidelines, including proper curriculum, equipment and administration, it passed the test.
“You made it,” she said. Hearing this, John Larson, the program’s teacher, looked back at Parsons blankly, clearly exhausted from the rigorous in-class examination. “You made it,” she repeated.
Larson, vocational educator Dave Urasky and CCHEC Director Dave Throgmorton were all smiles when the news came out.
As a certified school, CCHEC’s students can opt to take an additional final examination upon completion of the course. If the student passes by at least 70 percent, they earn college credit. Any of the 35 affiliate schools will recognize the student’s work in Carbon County.
The program is different from the dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment currently offered by the higher education center. In these, students take a class understanding that their year-end mark will appear on their transcript.
Instead, Project Lead the Way’s program is akin to advanced placement courses because students can choose to take the exam at the end of their course. That score determines whether the student’s work is accepted at the college level.
“If they bomb the exam, it goes into the trash,” Larson said.
In order to teach Project Lead the Way curriculum, Larson must become certified in the course he wants to provide. That means his summer should be full of Project Lead the Way course work in order to add a third class — digital electronics — to his repertoire.
Parsons was impressed with CCHEC’s ability to become the first certified school in Wyoming, given the size of its community.
“It shows you don’t have to be urban to run the program,” Parsons said. She attributed much of the program’s success to the work and enthusiasm of Larson.
Becoming certified means Throgmorton and Urasky have room to let their ideas flourish. They plan to establish an advisory committee to guide the growth of the program. Middle and elementary school curriculum is available, and the CCHEC administrators hope to use it to jump start students’ interest in engineering and technology.
Parsons believed the program could attract women, too. “Draw them in by showing them they can make the world better,” she said. “The coolness of the design doesn’t always cut it for them.”
Throgmorton hopes it will open opportunities for the community to explore their interests in unusual ways. “If the students think it, they can do it,” he said. He referred to one student who is nearly finished with a full-sized electric guitar.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Essay could send students to D.C.
• Carbon County School District 1 promotes Washington, D.C., conference with essay contest.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Answering an essay question could open the door for students to attend a conference in Washington, D.C., as part of an effort to get them involved in battling bullying and other social issues in Carbon County.
The question asks students to draw connections between substance abuse, bullying, domestic violence, community attitudes and community norms. Essays are due April 18.
“The goal is to get kids empowered to be leaders in our schools and have them involved in the solution at several different levels,” said Dave Dingman, a Carbon County School District 1 board member.
Dingman got the idea when he attended February’s Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America conference. He watched as students from across the country spoke and gave presentations on efforts to bridge community gaps caused by substance abuse.
The School Board endorsed Dingman’s idea to take Carbon County students to the 2009 conference. Students would get to represent their county as well as explore the country’s capital.
The competition should be advertised to students in the eighth grade as well as freshmen and sophomores at Little Snake River Valley School, Rawlins middle and high schools, and Saratoga Middle High School. Each school has a representative who promotes the contest and accepts essay submissions.
“(The students) need to show that they have a vision for community in their schools to answer the question and be a part of the solution,” Dingman said. “We as adults have to give them the opportunity to take charge and be who they can be.”
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Answering an essay question could open the door for students to attend a conference in Washington, D.C., as part of an effort to get them involved in battling bullying and other social issues in Carbon County.
The question asks students to draw connections between substance abuse, bullying, domestic violence, community attitudes and community norms. Essays are due April 18.
“The goal is to get kids empowered to be leaders in our schools and have them involved in the solution at several different levels,” said Dave Dingman, a Carbon County School District 1 board member.
Dingman got the idea when he attended February’s Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America conference. He watched as students from across the country spoke and gave presentations on efforts to bridge community gaps caused by substance abuse.
The School Board endorsed Dingman’s idea to take Carbon County students to the 2009 conference. Students would get to represent their county as well as explore the country’s capital.
The competition should be advertised to students in the eighth grade as well as freshmen and sophomores at Little Snake River Valley School, Rawlins middle and high schools, and Saratoga Middle High School. Each school has a representative who promotes the contest and accepts essay submissions.
“(The students) need to show that they have a vision for community in their schools to answer the question and be a part of the solution,” Dingman said. “We as adults have to give them the opportunity to take charge and be who they can be.”
Reading program finds learning gaps
Times staff report
A new elementary-age reading program is working well for Carbon County School District 2.
At a meeting earlier this week, the District 2 School Board heard a report from Mark Shipps, a first-grade teacher in the district. Shipps is the faculty coordinator for the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills test, which began a few years ago. In 2008, the program was fully implemented.
“I really think it’s successful,” Shipps said. “It’s really making a difference in how we teach our students.”
The test identifies students who are likely to struggle with reading proficiency. It also helps teachers target solutions for those kids.
The program revealed significant learning gaps for some students, according to District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates. The challenge of the program is to collect the right data and understand the results.
“It is working,” Shipps said, “but we need to continue to refine it.”
At the meeting, board members also:
• Agreed to outsource the annual floor refinishing project for district schools to save time and money. Under a contractor, the refinish process should take two days and cost less than $10,000. Previously, local labor cost nearly $15,000 for four weeks of work.
• Reviewed driver guidelines to ensure student safety during extended school outings. The guidelines outline what to do in the case of bad weather and driver relief.
• Awarded asbestos removal contracts amounting to $120,000 to Casper’s Enviro Engineering and Safetech, Inc., in Billings, Mont., for Elk Mountain Elementary School and Medicine Bow Elementary School, respectively. The Medicine Bow contract hinges on School Facilities Commission funding. The Elk Mountain asbestos removal should begin once classes finish, while Medicine Bow’s should begin as soon as funding is secured. Demolition bids should be opened and awarded by the end of the week.
• Saw a presentation from construction consultant Joe Jones displaying plans for the new Elk Mountain school. The project is about 70 percent complete. An open meeting with the architect and district officials is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Elk Mountain school to firm up details, including technology.
A new elementary-age reading program is working well for Carbon County School District 2.
At a meeting earlier this week, the District 2 School Board heard a report from Mark Shipps, a first-grade teacher in the district. Shipps is the faculty coordinator for the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills test, which began a few years ago. In 2008, the program was fully implemented.
“I really think it’s successful,” Shipps said. “It’s really making a difference in how we teach our students.”
The test identifies students who are likely to struggle with reading proficiency. It also helps teachers target solutions for those kids.
The program revealed significant learning gaps for some students, according to District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates. The challenge of the program is to collect the right data and understand the results.
“It is working,” Shipps said, “but we need to continue to refine it.”
At the meeting, board members also:
• Agreed to outsource the annual floor refinishing project for district schools to save time and money. Under a contractor, the refinish process should take two days and cost less than $10,000. Previously, local labor cost nearly $15,000 for four weeks of work.
• Reviewed driver guidelines to ensure student safety during extended school outings. The guidelines outline what to do in the case of bad weather and driver relief.
• Awarded asbestos removal contracts amounting to $120,000 to Casper’s Enviro Engineering and Safetech, Inc., in Billings, Mont., for Elk Mountain Elementary School and Medicine Bow Elementary School, respectively. The Medicine Bow contract hinges on School Facilities Commission funding. The Elk Mountain asbestos removal should begin once classes finish, while Medicine Bow’s should begin as soon as funding is secured. Demolition bids should be opened and awarded by the end of the week.
• Saw a presentation from construction consultant Joe Jones displaying plans for the new Elk Mountain school. The project is about 70 percent complete. An open meeting with the architect and district officials is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Elk Mountain school to firm up details, including technology.
Calendars more congruent
Times staff report
Calendars for Carbon County District 2 schools now match within communities.
Though next year’s calendars still vary across the district, each schooling area should see holidays that coincide between primary and secondary schools.
Each calendar was approved by School Board members during a Monday meeting.
School administrators tried to create common staff development days and similar Christmas and spring break vacations. Any variance is limited to the final weeks of school.
For instance, Brad Barrow matched Hanna Elk Mountain Medicine Bow Junior Senior High School’s starting date and holidays with the elementary school’s. His in-service days coincide with Saratoga Middle High School’s. Barlow is the principal for HEM.
“It is difficult to make the schedules start after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day,” said Larry Uhling, principal of Saratoga Middle High School. He was responding to questions about the length of the school year, which ends in June this year.
Most of the changes respond to community concerns voiced in surveys issued earlier this year, according to District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates.
Calendars for Carbon County District 2 schools now match within communities.
Though next year’s calendars still vary across the district, each schooling area should see holidays that coincide between primary and secondary schools.
Each calendar was approved by School Board members during a Monday meeting.
School administrators tried to create common staff development days and similar Christmas and spring break vacations. Any variance is limited to the final weeks of school.
For instance, Brad Barrow matched Hanna Elk Mountain Medicine Bow Junior Senior High School’s starting date and holidays with the elementary school’s. His in-service days coincide with Saratoga Middle High School’s. Barlow is the principal for HEM.
“It is difficult to make the schedules start after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day,” said Larry Uhling, principal of Saratoga Middle High School. He was responding to questions about the length of the school year, which ends in June this year.
Most of the changes respond to community concerns voiced in surveys issued earlier this year, according to District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates.
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