All,

Here is the latest snapshot video an update on technology in the classroom. Remember, anyone can submit a question via email to SuperintendentsBlog@GraniteSchools.org and responses will be posted here on the blog. As you can see, I also provide responses to questions that don’t get answered on the snapshot. Check out those questions too.

Sincerely,

Martin

Question:

I like to take a moment to ask you a question about upcoming webpage design program called “Canvas.” For the last four years I have been trying to find a way to connect to students with use of webpage. This summer I was able to come up with a best idea that works for me and my students. I have been working entire summer adding, improving and making my webpage student friendly. However, I have been told that new program will limit my ability to do that. I have to use it since district has been spending a lot of money. I do understand that and I am willing to support it but at the same time I feel my individuality as teacher will be destroyed. Thank you!

Answer:

Canvas is a learning management system that has several components that can be used. In many ways it’s limits are the imagination of the instructor.

The work invested in a webpage can easily be incorporated into a teachers Canvas class. A teacher can still have a webpage, blog, ect and incorporate them in Canvas easily. Webpages can be viewed within a window in Canvas or they can be shared with students as a link to the webpage.

Tying your webpage to your Canvas class has many benefits. The biggest is that Canvas allows you to notify students that something has been added or changed. Additionally,besides enhancing whatever webpage you have already created to engage your students, Canvas will also allow parents to access more information in timely manner as well as facilitate your collaboration on lessons, assessments, project ideas, support materials with every other science teacher in the district!

All,

Here is the latest snapshot video an update on bond projects including air conditioning. Remember, anyone can submit a question via email to SuperintendentsBlog@GraniteSchools.org and responses will be posted here on the blog. Thanks again for your patience through these projects and for all the work you do.

Sincerely,

Martin

Hello all,

I hope most of you have a chance to read this before you break for the weekend.

This past Wednesday I signed several hundred letters to employees who have been with us for 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. That evening I attended the 25-year recognition – all district employees who had reached 25 years. Thursday during the day I participated in a Rotary Club recognition of a group of teachers and Thursday evening attended the Granite Education Foundation Excel Awards dinner. This morning I was pleased to participate with Karen Huntsman as one of our educators received a Huntsman Award.

In all of these events, I’ve heard dozens of genuinely touching stories. I will share one. A little girl came to school in one of our elementaries with a hat she refused to remove. It turned out that as discipline at home (I’m not clear on the details) the girl’s hair was cut horribly. The teacher made contact with the parent and, upon receiving permission, took the girl to the teacher’s own hair dresser to fix and style her hair. Please don’t get hung up on whether or not teacher supply money could be used to reimburse the teacher of if she had to pay for this herself, but consider with me, the way this teacher feels about her students.

The last three days took me back strongly to my own years teaching, special education at Timpanogas and Wasatch Mental Health and math at Independence High. I’m painfully aware that I’ve been out of the classroom for a long time. But I feel to tell all of you in your various capacities that I honor you and your efforts. I thank you sincerely from my own heart for working as hard as you do in this challenging profession.

I know this school year is winding down. I run marathons and know that when I can finally see the finish line a big part of me wants to walk it in. Let’s finish this one strong and then start training for the next one!

I thank you all again,

Martin

As many of you may already know, after 39 years in public education, I am announcing my retirement. I have especially enjoyed the opportunity to serve these past 14 years as Superintendent of Granite School District. Not only have I loved working with the wonderful students and parents of the district, but my work has placed me among some of the finest professionals I have known during my career.

Although we have experienced several challenging decisions over the years as a district, I believe that we have kept the children as our primary consideration. I appreciate the work all Granite District employees have accomplished on behalf of our students.

Read more about the Superintendent’s retirement in our district newletter, Connections.

Considering the difficult economic and financial circumstances in which we find our state, we are making an unprecedented effort to involve our community and employees in our budget process. Below is some information on Granite District’s budgets and specifically which areas could be impacted. The feedback you provide will help the administration and board make these difficult decisions for our next fiscal year.  We hope that after viewing the budget information, you will be able to provide responses to the following four questions listed on the feedback form:

1.      What district programs and services do you view as critical and oppose reducing if that reduction would change the quality and level of service?

2.      What district programs and services do you view as important, but would support reducing in some manner given the fiscal environment?

3.      What district programs and services do you view as non-essential and are willing to do without?

4.      What specific suggestions do you have for developing the FY 2011 budget?

We have provided a comprehensive spreadsheet of information on programs and services that are funded with unrestricted revenues. Please review the video presentation and, utilizing the feedback form, provide your suggestions and input.

Employees will have an opportunity to provide feedback through their community council represenative or through their respective association. Patron feedback forms should be funneled through the PTA organization or your school’s community council or principal. All responses and suggestions should be sent with a signature of the community council chair and principal from each school. Principals should return the forms in person, via email or district mail to the Superintendent’s Office by Thursday, April 1. Feel free to make additional copies of the feedback form as necessary.

Thank you for your time and commitment to the students of Granite School District.

As 2009 comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable holiday season.  Granite School District, its teachers, staff and students have made a number of outstanding accomplishments this year and we look forward to even more good news in the year to come.

The annual state legislative session will commence in January and we will keep you apprised of any information concerning our district as we head into budget discussions.

Once again, I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

A few weeks ago we sent a memo to our principals about sensitivity to their students and communities during the holiday season. The memo was similar to the message we have sent for many years. A copy of the letter is below.

It is well settled that schools are prohibited “from conveying or attempting to convey a message that religion or a particular religious belief is favored or preferred.” However, in the words of the United States Supreme Court, “Music without sacred music, architecture minus the cathedral, and painting without the scriptural theme would be eccentric and incomplete.”

So, when teaching about holidays, it is absolutely appropriate to include instruction about Christmas — sing the songs and display and explain the symbols — but not to preach Christmas. Teaching that Christians believe that the Savior of the world was born 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem may well fit into the curriculum. Teaching this, or the tenets of any other faith, as doctrine properly takes place in homes and churches. The people of our community are of many and varied beliefs. Schools must cultivate tolerance, appreciation and respect for one another.

Said otherwise, our public schools have the right, and perhaps even more, the responsibility, to teach about religion when meeting the objectives of their classes.

We expect that children will be singing Christmas music like “Silent Night,” Hanukkah music like the “Dreidel Song” and other religious and nonreligious music during this holiday season. We are confident that schools will make crafts and put up displays with various religious themes this month within the context of the curriculum.

We again encourage our employees to be sensitive to their communities and make instructional and activity decisions that will allow all of the public’s children to feel they have equal place within our public schools. This having been said, the word “Christmas” will be spoken, written, sung and otherwise used again, again and again in the Granite School District.