Weekend Update: October 11, 2013

First of all, Good Luck to all our Elk teams and organizations this weekend.

The Marching Band is marching today at Sioux Valley.
The Football team is playing tonight at Colman-Egan.
The Volleyball team is playing tomorrow at the Chester Classic.

Go Elks!

Reminder that there will be NO SCHOOL this coming Monday, October 14th for Native American Day.

Cross Country will participate in the Region meet this coming Wednesday in Howard.  Good Luck to all the athletes and parents involved.  Both the Head Coach and the Volunteer Assistant are excited to continue the excellent season.

Nate Wolters in Sioux Falls.

Last night, former SDSU Jackrabbit standout, Nate Wolters, played in the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD for the Milwaukee Bucks.  Wolters got a "ceremonial" start for the game, and acquitted himself well, scoring 10 points.  For more info, see Argus Leader writer Terry Vandrovec's Excellent Coverage.



Did anyone see the PBS Frontline Special "League of Denial"?  It aired on Tuesday, and I watched it (streaming and online) on Wednesday evening.  Really shocking information on there, and it really makes you stop and think what the future of football is.  If you are interested, it is available for online streaming for free, just click on this link.

As far as weekend plans go... the Harmings will be painting some bedrooms.  If anyone is interested in coming over and grabbing a brush or roller, you are more than welcome!  :)

The rest of the weekend?  Well the SDSU Jackrabbits will be traveling to Macomb, Illinois to take on the Leathernecks in Football action.  The Jackrabbits need a win, in a big way.  Got to end the 3 game losing streak.

Go Big.  Go Blue.  Go Jacks!

Go Bolts!

The Chargers don't play until Monday night this week.  Taking on the Colts.  The way the two teams have been playing this year, it looks like it could be a tough one for the Lightning Bolts.  But, I'll keep cheering anyway.




For the Friday Video.... Next Week Pearl Jam is releasing their new album, so here is one of the songs from that....

Enjoy, "Sirens"

Weekend Update for September 6th, 2013

Well, it's been another busy week in the Technology Office.

The new machines for Roland Colony are almost completed (I am working on the last one, right now).

The Smarter Balance Technology Readiness Tool is completed.  This is something all schools in SD have to complete as the testing moves to online this year.  It was actually quite a lengthy process and complicated...took me a long time to get it figured out.

We've had a few staff computers with some issues, I've been able to solve most of them so far, although there are a few still giving me some trouble.

The images for all the student machines have been updated for duplication.  There are a few students who had trouble with their machines in the first couple days who were issued loaners...Their machines are being imaged as I type this.

Chromebooks are off and running with grades 5-8.  All students 5-8 have learned how to log in to the network, and into their chromebooks with their state e-mail credentials.  This is really going to benefit them down the road, especially judging by the number of Freshmen who are struggling with their logins and passwords already... they were used to just logging in with the general "student" credentials...the younger students are developing skills at an earlier age.

Completed the 2nd School Podcast yesterday... that link is available HERE.  These have been pretty fun to do, and really...now that I have the program set up, and the intro and outtro music done...they don't take very long to put together.  I have also been in talks with Mr. Farnham about his communications class doing their own podcast... a student version, I guess you would call it.  Still working out the details, but that could be a really cool opportunity for our students

The WEEKEND:

Good Luck to the Elk Football Team tonight as they take on the O-R-R Raiders in Rutland.

Go Elks!

First Cross Country Meet of the season tomorrow at White.  I'm excited to see what the Elks and Lady Elks can do.  Could be the start of a special season.

Saturday afternoon the SDSU Jackrabbits Football team will take the field against the University of North Dakota.  The game will be broadcast on Midco Sports Net and Fox College Sports Pacific.

Go Big, Go Blue, Go Jacks!

Sunday, the NFL season kicks off for most of the teams.  Hope it is a fun and exciting season for all the fans.

Today's Friday Video is from 3 Doors Down... Enjoy "Kryptonite"!

Friday, Oct 19th: Weekend Update

Cold, rainy, windy, blustery day out there again.

And now, for the Weekend Update.

Good Luck to Justin and Heidi tomorrow at the State CC Meet in Huron.  Go Elks.

Today I will be installing the projectors in grades K-3.  I hope to finish them all today.  If I do not, I may come in for a few hours this weekend, as I want this project finished.

We have returned several computers to Acer for screen repairs already this school year.  Students, please try to take care of your netbooks... use the shoulder strap bag you were provided, and do not throw them around.  Most, if not all, of the cracked screens so far have come from simple carelessness.

I watched last Tuesday's presidential debate while having Twitter open.  That was a whole new world.  I don't think I've ever enjoyed a debate as much.  Of course, I "follow" a number of comedians, and they spend most of their time cracking jokes and making fun of the candidates.

Next Monday is the third and final debate... if you plan on watching, take my advice and follow on twitter as well... very entertaining.

For the weekend, the SDSU Jackrabbits are traveling to face the Northern Iowa Panthers this weekend.  Huge game for the Rabbits, and not an easy opponent.

Otherwise, not a large agenda on the plate of the Harming family.  I'm sure we'll continue to do some things with our new home, and get a bit more squared away.

Today's friday video is from Pearl Jam

Enjoy:  Just Breathe

Friday, Oct. 12: Weekend Update

Congratulations to Justin and Heidi, as they qualified for the State CC meet yesterday.  It was windy and cold conditions in Flandreau yesterday.... proud of all the CC runners.

Good Luck to the Elk football team tonight as they host the Estelline Redmen.

I have the library's computers loaded, and should be putting them in today.  Will be able to start loading the computers for Roland colony soon.

I am planning on installing the projectors next week in Grades K-3.  Hopefully this goes smoothly.

Boys BB Coach Steve Erickson and I have been in discussions about 3rd and 4th grade boys basketball.  Keep your eyes peeled.

This weekend the South Dakota State Jackrabbits host the Western Illinois Leathernecks.  I am hoping to be in attendance.  Go Big.  Go Blue.  Go Jacks.

The Chargers actually play on Monday Night this week, so they won't be active until Monday.

The Harmings will be hanging around Elkton this weekend... doing some more stuff, getting the house in order.  Things are coming together pretty nicely.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

For the Friday Video, I thought I'd play a little Spoon.

Enjoy, "The Underdog"

Region CC and a Funny.

Good Luck to the Elkton Cross Country teams today, as they run in the Region CC Meet in Flandreau!

Hope everyone does their very best today, and sets a personal best for the season.

I'll be leaving at 2:30 pm to attend the CC meet.

Also, I saw this picture last night on some social media site, and thought it was funny, and thought it would be a good "share" for the blog.

This is Genius!  I'm should start doing this at our house!

Great video: Twas the week before finals...

Google in Education posted another great video on using Google products in education.

This time it is using Google+ Hangouts.

Good Luck to the Elkton-Lake Benton Cross Country Team today, as they run in the Dakota Valley Conference meet in DeSmet!

Go Elks!

Tuesday Teacher Tidbits: TEDTalks

Have you ever heard of TED?

No, not this Ted.

Funny Movie, but not what we're looking for.

I mean this TED:  http://www.ted.com/

Quoting directly from wikipedia:  "TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED_(conference)

This website is a cornucopia of videos, with talks on everything from "What we're learning from 5,000 brains" to "The Power of Vulnerability".  TED probably has something that you could use in your classroom, and if not in your classroom, something you can watch and draw inspiration and knowledge from.

One of my personal favorites was the late John Wooden's "the difference between winning and succeeding", which is located here:  http://www.ted.com/talks/john_wooden_on_the_difference_between_winning_and_success.html


Lastly, I thought I'd include a shorter video here on the blog.  It's kind of a humorous look at using statistics to help you create your own TEDtalk.



This Wednesday I will be working in Lake Benton in the morning, and I will be leaving at noon to attend the CC meet in Colman.

Hope everyone has a great week.

Wednesday, September 19th

This morning I will be meeting with Mrs. Erickson's JH class to discuss internet safety.

Not long after that, I will be going to Lake Benton for the morning.

I will be back sometime early this afternoon, most likely.

However, I will also be leaving around 2:30 pm this afternoon to attend the CC meet in Dell Rapids.

Run Hard Today Elkton Cross Country!

Color Day for Homecoming week.  I'm wearing my Pink tie and "off-pink" shirt.

Tuesday Teacher Tidbits 9-4-12

Welcome back to another wonderful week of school in Elkton and Lake Benton!  Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend.

No real "Technology" tools today, just a quick update of things.

First of all, thank you everyone for your patience and understanding as I was gone on Thursday and Friday.  My wife's Grandmother, Arlene Grassel passed away last Thursday.  Shana was very close with her Paternal Grandparents as her Father had died in a tractor accident when she was just an infant, and so she spent a great deal of time with them growing up and throughout her life.  She was laid to rest yesterday in Artesian, SD.  It was wonderful for me to be there for my wife and her family.

In other personal news, we are hoping to close on our future home in Elkton soon.  The banker last week said they were shooting for the 5th, which is tomorrow, but we haven't heard anything since then...it would be nice to close this week, so we could move our things this weekend.  And stop mooching off our relatives!

Anyone remember the 6 Million Dollar Man?  I heard this story over the weekend, about a bionic eye being implanted.  We truly live in remarkable times.  Something to keep in mind when teaching our students, they will grow up in a world much different than the one we did.  Tremendous things are happening, and today's students will be the people inventing things like this, and working in these fields.

Student Computers - I still need to install the North Lab printer for student computers, again please send them down one at a time.  Also, the Sophomores will need Microsoft office installed.  I have some done, but there still are several to do.

Touchscreen computers - I will begin my installing software on the touchscreen computer systems today.  As I said last week, I will hope to finish one each day, and then bring it to the appropriate classroom.

I will be leaving early today (2:30 pm) to attend the CC meet in Garretson.

Tomorrow I will leave around 8:45 am to go to Lake Benton.

Congrats to the Elk Football team, for their dominating performance last Friday against ORR.

Good Luck to the CC team today, as the travel to Garretson to participate in the Jesse James Invitational.