<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Kenwood Elementary School will host a “Demystifying the Computer” workshop series September 23-27 for parents as part of a school-wide technology initiative. The series, which will take place over the school’s upcoming intersession, will
allow parents to work with Professor Dr. Martin Wolske and his students from the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS). Participants will take apart and reassemble a computer, learn about software, and ultimately
take home a personal computer—all free of charge, courtesy of GSLIS. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We are looking for ways to infuse technology into the classroom, but we also know that access at home is imperative to our students’ digital literacy,” said Superintendent Dr. Judy Wiegand. “This collaboration with the University of Illinois
and Kenwood is one way that we’re looking to build that capacity for students at the elementary school level. Connecting the experts in our community with students and families is a recipe for our collective success in the future.”
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kenwood has adopted a new school mission this school year: Technology and Literacy for the Community (TLC). The school is the first elementary school in the District to bring the Etoys computer programming software to the classroom as part
of a collaboration with Illini For Kids, the University of Illinois Office for Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Engineering (MSTE) and the University of Illinois College of Education. The program has also been adopted at the District’s three middle schools.
Kenwood teachers were trained over the summer on how to use Etoys and developed strategies to use when introducing students to computer programming concepts at a young age.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kenwood’s building will undergo renovation during the 2014-2015 school year that will update the building’s technology infrastructure, in addition to updated classroom spaces, a new gymnasium, a secured front entrance, and updated administrative
spaces. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">District Instructional Technology Coaches will also be on hand for the upcoming training session. “Demystifying the Computer” is open to all Kenwood parents and guardians, and those interested can find out more by contacting the school.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stephanie Stuart<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Community Relations Coordinator<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Champaign Unit #4 School District<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">217-531-0252<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>