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Thursday, March 15, 2018 • Vol. 133, No. 37 • Oregon, WI • ConnectOregonWI.com • $1.25
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Oregon School District
Keeping up appearances Board approves $600K in capital maintenance for 2018-19 SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
Photo by Scott De Laruelle
Netherwood Knoll Elementary School students Scarlett Manke, Sylviah Seeliger, Alyse Block and Jacqueline Welp prepare to test their “snowplows” during recess last week in the school’s new Innovation Center.
Space to grow
Netherwood Knoll Innovation Lab gives kids learning options Unified Newspaper Group
For some elementary school kids, recess is their favorite time of the day. That’s true for some Netherwood Knoll Elementary School kids, too – but not for the reasons you might think. This year, the school has established an “Innovation Lab,” where students in grades K-4 can go to learn, problem-solve and collaborate – even during recess periods usually reserved for kickball or playground games. And it’s quickly becoming a favorite destination. NKE principal Chris Kluck said the idea for the lab started as a wish by staff, led by teacher Pam Sengos and librarian Angie Brauns. The goal was to create a dedicated space for students to have more “inquiry-based experiences” that challenge them to “think critically and creatively” while working together. “The Innovation Lab is a space to create, think, collaborate and innovate in a hands-on way that pushes our learners to grow in new ways,” he wrote the Observer in an email. “The space is also a great complement to the growth of our inquiry-based science curriculums taking hold in the
‘We wanted to have a space for kids to be able to be creative – tinker, explore and have some resources available, so to have a space to store all that and have it accessible was important.’ – Pam Sengos, NKE teacher district.” Kluck said teachers are now “seeing the level of engagement in our learners when given these opportunities.” “This really is the beginning of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) experiences for our learners, and allows them to apply their knowledge and skills in an interdisciplinary way, that will set them up to be successful throughout their OSD career,” he said.
Getting creative Sengos has served as the school’s director of technology for the past 12 years and said there’s been an increased emphasis on getting new technology to students “in their hands,” in the last few years,
including teaching computer coding. “It’s important kids learn how that works that they can actually create something people use,” she told the Observer on Tuesday. “Now, it’s evolved so the tools are in the classroom, and working with the teachers to design units and infuse technology into those when it makes the most sense. Half of my time is being spent in that.” Some of the tools in the lab, like the 3D printer, green screen and Ozobots, had previously been spread out around the building. Sengos said it’s a big advantage just to have the technology all in one room. “We wanted to have a space for kids to be able to be creative – tinker, explore and have some resources available, so to have a space to store all that and have it accessible was important,” she said. After bringing everything together in one room, the next step was letting teachers and students know what they could do there. Now, every class rotates through the center for a variety of projects. “The national technology standards embrace innovative design and critical and creative thinking,” Sengos
Turn to Capital/Page 17
Board plans mailers, focus groups on possible referendum SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
Still looking to make a decision by May on going to referendum this fall to fund new schools, the Oregon school board is getting ready to take its message to the people – and get their reactions. During another “work session” at Monday night’s board meeting, members discussed the four options presented by a district growth task force last month, as well
as estimated enrollments and possible time frames. While they are still a ways from endorsing a final plan, they are continuing “feedback and engagement,” with the goal of getting some community input on plans starting later this month. Superintendent Brian Busler said the district held a communication meeting last week to figure out a threestep process. He said
Turn to Outreach/Page 17
Inside
Pages 8-13 OHS boys basketball coach to announce games at state tournament
Turn to Lab/Page 20
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SCOTT DE LARUELLE
With a couple large projects pending, the O r eg o n s c h o o l b o a r d approved $600,000 in capital maintenance projects for the 2018-19 school year at its meeting Monday night. Some address infrastructure, such as $100,000 to replace the main service disconnect switch and convert two m a j o r ove r h e a d p ow er poles underground at
Oregon High School. District business manager Andy Weiland said the upgrades would solve some recent problems, including trouble with the disconnect switch that popped up at a board meeting earlier this school year, causing “some type of a light show,” he said. Moving some main power lines underground would also improve the building’s “energy security,” Weiland said. “If something would happen to them, we would be out of power for a significant amount of time,” he said. The district also has allotted $29,000 for site preparation and drainage
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