New year, plenty of change
New computers. New leaders. An orchard? Those three things mark a new school year in Lake County. Other than the obvious four-day week change in Lake Superior School District, kids will be offered many new twists to the current school year.
- Minnehaha Elementary
New computers. New leaders. An orchard?
Those three things mark a new school year in Lake County. Other than the obvious four-day week change in Lake Superior School District, kids will be offered many new twists to the current school year.
Silver Bay schools will have an orchard planted near the football field with the help of Statewide Health Improvement Program grant money. Principal Joe Nicklay said it’s an “all-school project” built on a sustainability plan.
“We’ve been talking about healthy snacks at school,” he said. Industrial art classes may be used to build boxes in the orchard of 30 apple and 10 plum trees. It will also be fenced off – it’s on the south end of the football field – so no deer should get at it. Junior Chris Kuznik, an Eagle Scout, is also expected to help with the project.
“People are excited, it’s something new,” Nicklay said.
Nicklay said Silver Bay will also use new equipment for a hydraulics/pneumatics robotics program. Two Harbors High School will also use it. The schools will alternate use of the machines by semester. Silver Bay will also have an embroidery machine at its school. All the new equipment is paid for with the help of grants.
An influx of 35 students was expected in Silver Bay. Nicklay said he wasn’t expecting that many new students and it’s “like adding a new class.” Other schools in the district have also seen an increase of students.
Both elementary schools in Two Harbors and Silver Bay will have new computers. Two Harbors’ will have five new computers for every elementary class while Silver Bay will have 20 “netbooks” that teachers can wheel into their classroom and use like a mini-lab.
The computers will be used for individualized learning determined upon national test scores. Minnehaha Principal Pat Driscoll said individual students will be taught at a different pace compared with how they scored on nationwide tests. Among possible areas of study on the new computers include math, reading, science and social studies.
Driscoll said students at the school are planning on starting their own newspaper this year with the help of a grant. The first issued could be delivered in December. Older kids at the school would serve as editors helping design the paper. The district is taking on the printing costs.
She said Fourth Avenue will be blocked off at the end of school between 3:15 and 3:45 p.m. for safety reasons. Driscoll said the goal is to get kids to stop walking between buses. She said all buses will be dismissed at the same time this year, compared to two dismissals last year.
The high school also has a few new faces. Brett Archer, former dean of students, has been named the new principal after Bob Nyberg retired.
Archer’s position will be replaced by a new assistant principal Corey Knighton. He was recently the dean of students in Roseville.
Tags: two harbors, schools, silver bay, four-day week, fccnetwork
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