GREAT NEWS FROM BRIDGEPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
July 5, 2007
In Other News
 
Horses: Trails to Learning
 Equestrian Summer Camp
 
Free camp for Bridgeport & Amity #5 students entering grades 6-9. Students will learn basic riding instruction and gain horse management skills.
 
The camp will be held from July 16-27.
 
For application form and further information contact Program Director Christine Patella at 576-7185.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 Barnum School on the March
 

Last month, the Barnum School Marching Band performed in a community parade.  The band paraded down East Main Street to the Compare Food parking lot then onto Washington Park and Harborview Senior Housing building.
 
The purpose of this event was to expose students to marching techniques and to raise community awareness of Barnum’s efforts to partner with more neighborhood businesses and organizations. Barnum’s goal is to enhance its music program by seeking donations of instruments and applying for grants. Best wishes to the Barnum School Marching Band on this endeavor!

 

 
District Computer Teachers Awarded Pitney Bowes Grant
 
 
 
District Computer Teacher Ann Barney was recently awarded a $3,000 Pitney Bowes’ Literacy and Education Fund grant to implement a professional development program entitled Developing a Cadre of Technology Integrations.
 
According to the program description, the primary focus of this project was to develop and implement a Professional Development module that ensures teachers are ready to use and maintain telecommunications and information technologies. Bridgeport provided 19 educators, representing 10 schools, with a comprehensive training module that provides them with an opportunity to improve their own technology skills.  The main emphasis was placed on supporting their ability to use technology to enhance the teaching and learning process. The participating teachers received professional development in the integration of technologies, including emerging technologies (SmartBoards, AlphaSmart and Danas) into curricula and instruction that supports project based learning. The goal of this project was to ultimately prepare students to fully participate in an increasingly technological society and become more technologically literate. Educational and instructional technology will sup port curricular goals that align with the Connecticut Common Core of Learning and Curriculum Frameworks.
 
As a result of their participation in this Professional Development Module, teachers are now able to:
  • Access data a resources to develop curricula and instructional materials in Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science
  • Use the Internet and other technology to communicate with parents and other professional staff in the district
  • Improve classroom instruction in the core academic subjects
  • Create classroom WebPages
  • Familiarize and explore the district’s software that supports literacy and numeracy
  • Implement the use of AlphaSmarts to enhance the writing process
  • Implement the use of SmartBoards in the classroom
  • Implement the use of web mail to support communication
  • Implement the use of Microsoft Office to support reading, math, and science.
At the conclusion of the 40 hours of training, teachers had developed a comprehensive study in Mathematics, Science or Language Art as supported through the use of various technologies.  The program received a variety of positive feedback from participating teachers:
 
“I walked away feeling really empowered.”
 
"I enjoyed the sessions of technology workshops.  I am so glad I was able to take part in it.  I had the opportunity to use and enhance my computer skills.  I learned new tips and strategies and created my first webpage.”
 
“An excellent course that every teacher should be encouraged to participate in.”
 
Congratulations to Ann Barney for her successful work with Developing a Cadre of Technology Integrations.