GIRL POWER
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Girls-only retreat builds self-esteem among teens and preteens PAGE A16
LIVING IN GLADSTONE
Last day of class still May 25, but students to attend half day April 30 PAGE A6
A quick guide to the information residents need about their community INSIDE April 5, 2012 Volume 2 • Issue 20 75 cents Send your news to gladstonenews@npgco.com
Schools’ strategic plan gets power boost from Apple technology By North Kansas City Schools The North Kansas City Schools Board of Education adopted a new, community-driven strategic plan in early March designed to ensure high levels of student achievement for all learners. Three weeks later, the school board approved educational technology to boost the plan into action. Beginning with the 20122013 school year, the district will put the power of Apple computing in the hands of every teacher and every high school student as it refreshes aging devices scheduled for replacement. NKC Schools began its 1to-1 technology initiative
for high school students in 2009. It was successful, but the capability of the mini-netbook is limited and insufficient to support the achievement initiatives in the strategic plan. The current three-year lease on the student minis expires in June. At the same time, aging, teacher laptops from 2007 are due to be refreshed. This nexus gave district officials the opportunity to research other options for more powerful technology that also would be more effective for learning and more efficient to maintain. After nearly a year of research and hands-on trials, district administrators recommended a switch from a PC to Apple platform for teachers and high school stu-
dents. In September 2012, each high school student will be issued an 11inch MacBook Air. Teachers will get a head start and each will receive the larger 13-inch MacBook Air during summer professional development workshops. Enhanced security and tracking features will be embedded in the equipment to help prevent loss and assist in recovery of missing devices. Multiple groups of teachers and administrators tested various Apple and PC devices, but the most insightful pilot was among 16 high school students
The district was on the — Oak Park High leading edge in 2009 with School senior • “The Air will its 1-to-1 initiative, but it is be so much more about three years behind efficient.” — other advanced technology Winnetonka High school districts. For examSchool sophomore ple, the Kansas City Kansas • “The Mac has School District has a 1-to-1 so many more capa- program for students at all bilities than levels. Their high school stuthe mini, and dents have MacBook Air lapto have the tops, middle schoolers have same device iPads and elementary stuCONTRIBUTED PHOTOS for all four dents have iTouch devices. years will be KC Schools will continue to representing the four high schools and all four grade good, too.” — North Kansas research 1-to-1 technology for its middle and elementalevels. Here is a sampling of City High School junior • “I started thinking about ry students, but funding limstudent quotes in reaction to the board’s approval of how all of this fits togeth- ited the plan to high school the change in technology. er — the five-year strategic students at this time. NKC Schools already had • “I love the Mac. It gives us plan, rigor, coursework and so many more opportunities. technology. I can actually funds set aside to refresh There is a program to write see it all fitting together teacher laptops and to your own book. I can see at school!” — Staley High APPLE/Page A3 writing classes using it right School junior aw ay.” In September 2012, each high school student in the North Kansas City Schools district will be issued an 11-inch MacBook Air. Teachers will receive the 13-inch MacBook Air this summer.
ALL YOU CARE TO EAT
Gladstone Hy-Vee Easter Brunch Buffet OVER 60 ITEMS TO CHOOSE FROM OMELET STATION
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Donut Holes Assorted pastries Cut Fruit Whole Fruit Fruit Pizza Slice Oatmeal and Toppings Scrambled Eggs Egg Casserole Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole Biscuits and Gravy Bacon Sausage Pancakes with Hot Syrup Spiral Sliced Ham
Fried Chicken Herb Roasted Chicken General’s Chicken Shrimp Cocktail Crab Rangoon Vegetable Egg Rolls Potatoes Gravy Green Bean Almandine Steamed Vegetables Fried Rice 8 Assorted International Cheeses 8 Assorted Fresh Salads 8 Assorted Varieties of Baking Stone Breads
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