Our Lady of Mercy School

While students are on summer break, no doubt they are spending countless hours in front of the TV, in the movie theater and on the computer.  Are you concerned about whether a particular movie is a good choice or if a particular website is safe?  Common Sense Media is an organization that provides resources for parents and educators about their children’s  media choices.  Check it out using the link below.

Be involved in your child’s media decisions!  It’s a big task but this website makes it lot easier.

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Happy Summer!

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The podcasting elective class has produced the KOLM News, a podcast featuring news of interest to kids.  Stories include:

• The Oldest American
• The Cost of College in China
• The Iraq Election
• A New Condor Egg in Pinnacles National Park
• An Escaped Monkey in Florida
• The Easter Egg Roll at the White House

Enjoy!

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Ever wondered where the term “Baker’s Dozen” came from.  This skit, performed by the Podcasting Elective Class of Fall 2009 explains the legend.  This is good for December 6, which is Saint Nicholas’s Day, for the Dutch.

There are more Christmas classics from last Fall’s Podcasting Class coming soon, so stay tuned…

Enjoy!!

Once again, we are recycling used printer cartridges and cell phones as a technology fundraiser.  Each year we raise $1500-1800 for new hardware and software.  In this troublesome economy, here’s a FREE, easy way to help OLM School keep our technology current.  The program, through the Funding Factory, pays us money for each QUALIFYING cartridge and cell phone.  These donations are then re-purposed in the industry.

Which cartridges qualify? Approximately 80% qualify for this program. To find out if your home or business cartridges qualify, visit this link.  If it’s on the list, send it to school with your child.

Pizza Contest

Mr. Somers tracks all cartridge and cell phone donations by class.  At the end of the year, the top three classes will get a pizza party for their class.

Other hints:

• Be sure to bring the cartridge in it’s box, including endcaps.  This helps us to prevent damage when shipping it to Funding Factory so that these cartridges will count for the program.
• Previously recycled or “remanufactured” cartridges do not count for this program.
• We accept cell phones, too!  Check the qualifying list if you are donating a cell phone.

Thanks for supporting the OLM School Technology Program.

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Our Relay for Life team is raising money to help fight cancer as they walk for this important cause.  To earn money, we are raffling off some valuable prizes on April 24.  Listen to this advertisement the Spring 2009 Podcasting Elective class made to help out.

All of our teachers have blogs. They are listed in the sidebar and are available for you and your children to see news and assignments pertaining to their class. They will be updated regularly. We encourage you to read them from time to time. If you use an RSS reader, like Google Reader or Bloglines, you can even subscribe to them and be updated as soon as new posts are published.

Here’s how one video producer describes the process.

The Tech Savvy Marketer explains how to subscribe to a blog

For more information, here’s a good series of short videos explaining what RSS is and how to use Bloglines.

Here’s the first is a series. Click on the video when it’s done to see more.

How to Use Bloglines

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This episode was recorded, edited and produced by the Fall 2007 Podcasting elective class. It features 3 Christmas-themed dramas written by Bob Snook. They are available, along with many others, for public use at www.thewestcoast.net/bobsnook. Many thanks to Bob Snook for allowing us to use his scripts. Enjoy!

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In order to help students and parents learn and understand the OLM Schoolwide Learning Expectations, Mr. Somers has recorded them and has posting it here. Listen to it now, right in your browser, or download it by right-clicking here and playing it on your computer of MP3 player. We suggest that you play it frequently as repetition aids in the learning process. What a great way to learn the SLE’s!

Here’s the text…

SCHOOLWIDE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS

Students graduating from Our Lady of Mercy School should be:

1. Active faith-filled people who:

a. Know the basic teachings of the Catholic Church
b. Live the Gospel Message through service
c. Participate in the faith life of the Church by celebrating the liturgical seasons and Catholic traditions

2. Effective communicators who:

a. Read, write, and speak with understanding
b. Listen attentively
c. Respond respectfully

3. Responsible citizens who:

a. Share their time, talents, and treasures with their community
b. Exercise personal responsibility and stewardship for the environment

4. Successful learners who:

a. Demonstrate a strong foundation in basic subject
b. Use current technology and research skills
c. Practice effective problem solving
d. Understand that learning is a life-long process

Check out our new Student Gallery page to see how OLM Students are using technology as a tool to produce content, instead of consume it.  More will be added as time goes on.

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This Old Time Radio Show originally aired in 1947 as part of the radio series, “Escape.”  This production was a result of a Fall 2005 podcasting elective class under the guidance of Mr. Somers.

We hope you like  A Shipment of Mute Fate. Comments and questions are welcome Enjoy!

And now, A Shipment of Mute Fate, a radio play by Les Crutchfield, based on a story by Martin Storm. Download (15 MB) it now or subscribe to the feed in iTunes and get this and other episodes downloaded to you computer automatically.