NORTH MANCHESTER – Fifth grade students and the teachers of Manchester Community Schools demonstrated their new iPad apps at the most recent school board meeting. The newest learning trends include kids blogging to enhance writing; vocabulary quizzes tailored to novels being read in class; Jeopardy! game formats; iPad lesson plans sent directly to students when they have a substitute teacher; math lesson videos that can be watched at home for when a student is stuck on a problem; and the use of QR codes to read a report that accompanies their artistic projects. The fifth graders also gave their own presentation about why the iPads have been useful. It keeps them from carrying heavy books, saves paper, it is easier to use for tests, has autocorrect and there are over 65,000 educational resource apps for their teachers, the students said. They also interviewed their teachers about why they love the iPads for educational purposes. There are many advantages to the technology and they find that it is more engaging for the kids to use. The only time iPads are a problem is when students misuse them and become distractions. Squire Academy of Manchester Community Schools also paid a visit to the board. Squire Academy was established in 2014 and helps kids complete classes they need to get their diploma. Currently, 42 students are enrolled from grades 7 to 12. There are very few middle school-aged students because of a lack of APEX online courses for those grades, but there are additional courses that APEX offers that the High School does not, such as AP French. The students are involved in service projects and volunteering opportunities with nursing homes and the Early Learning Center. They also have a mommy group for teen moms to learn to make healthy meals and raise healthy families. Students can receive help from Squire Academy and eventually graduate with a diploma from Manchester Community Schools. So far three have graduated and there is potential for 12 more students to graduate this year, the board heard. Dorey Mobley, who is head of this alternative schooling program, brought along three of her most outstanding students to tell of their experiences with Squire Academy. All three girls enrolled at the academy for different reasons, but all have found something special to take away from the experience. Highlights they mentioned included the one-on-one help not found in the high school, finishing classes quickly in order to graduate, and being able to gain maturity and prioritize their life after high school. “It is not enough to be successful in our setting, but they have to be successful in other settings,” Mobley said. Mobley also said her group of students all get along and easily become family. Over time she hopes to be able to take in more students to their school, but at this time they are nearly at capacity. She did request further support and asked for the board to follow their Facebook page. Manchester Community Schools also unveiled a new mission statement: “Globally connected. Locally Engaged.” Principal Jon Lippe of Manchester High School stated that this is a motion for everyone to get behind whether they are students, teachers, secretaries, cafeteria staff or bus drivers alike. The new vision statement is broad enough to let all the arrows connect, he said. “It is easy to remember, it isn’t cumbersome, it is something we will remember. We won’t leave it on a shelf to change five years later,” he remarked. A logo was created to make it pop. It is now a trademark in the school like “Squire Strong” and the “Read it Global” campaigns. The board loves the new statement as a whole and hopes it sees success in the high school and community as well. Teacher performance pay has been approved, but the amount to be received by highly performing teachers continues to change after finalizations. Before the meeting at 5 p.m., Bill Reichhart received an update that the amount would now be about $370 in bonus. This is the fourth time the performance pay had been changed. It will be distributed in the Feb. 26 payroll as long as the state provides this additional performance bonus for these excellent teachers.
