Fun facts about Massachusetts

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  1. Click the following link:

Massachusetts Facts

  1. Look for the state Flag, Flower, and Bird.
  2. Save each one to your Desktop.
  3. Minimize the Firefox window so that you can see the Desktop.
  4. Look for a document named Mass FACTS BLANK on your desktop, and double-click it.
  5. Type Massachusetts at the top of the page.
  6. Type the labels (State Flag, State Flower, and State Bird) at the top of the three columns.
  7. Use the Insert -> Picture -> From File command to place each picture in the second row of your table.
  8. Save your document.
  9. Print it.

New State Standards for Tech Literacy

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The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education just published a revised edition of its Technology Literacy Standards & Expectations. (Click the link to view it in PDF format.)This document is part of the state’s “frameworks” that spell out what every school should be teaching between Kindergarten and Grade 12. Adherence to these standards is particularly important for our students since most of them will be switching to a public school district after graduating from St. Stephen’s.We are pleased to report that our technology curriculum meets all of the standards set by the state, and in many areas it exceeds those standards. When our students enter middle school in Watertown, Belmont, Waltham, or elsewhere, they will be ahead of their peers in technological proficiency. This is especially true with regard to the creation of Internet content.

FOSS FEST on April 29th!

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 fossfestpost.jpg  On April 29th, St. Stephen’s is opening its doors to the community for FOSS FEST—a special event focusing on Free & Open Source Software (FOSS) in K-12 education. We are inviting teachers, IT staff, and administrators from the greater Boston area to come and see for themselves how FOSS can meet many or all of their educational computing needs. Visitors will be able to “test drive” Ubuntu, Open Office, Tux Paint, and other Open Source programs, and to learn from local experts how to bring FOSS into your own school.This will also be the kick-off event for MassCUE’s newest Special Interest Group, MOSSSIG (http://mosssig.wordpress.com). Our mission is to promote the use of Open Source technology by elementary, middle, and high schools across the Commonwealth, and to lend support to the individuals and teams who are pioneering this effort.  Free & Open Source Software is a unique approach to software development. The human-readable source code is in the public domain where it can be examined and improved upon by other programmers. This has resulted in products that are developed and updated in response to the actual needs of users, and that provide specific solutions to problems that have not yet caught the attention of the commercial software sector.The schedule for the FOSS FEST will be as follows:

4:00 p.m. Doors open. Visitors are invited to “test drive” Ubuntu Linux, Open Office, Tux Paint, and other FOSS products in our computer lab. Local FOSS experts & educators available for informal discussion
4:30 Introduction to FOSS – Michael Selva (St Stephen’s)Keynote Address – Warren Luebkeman (RESARA)
5:15 Question & Answer session, followed by product demonstrations, informal discussion, and a chance to browse the literature table
6:00 Conclusion

St. Stephen’s is located in East Watertown, ½ mile from the Watertown Mall. It is accessible by public transit using the #71 MBTA bus running between Harvard Square and Watertown Center. Ample parking is available on the street and in a private parking lot on Nichols Avenue.  Follow this link for a detailed map. If you plan to attend, please RSVP via email (ms@ssaes.org) or telephone (617-605-7429). 

Minuteman Library Catalog

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Yesterday, the 3rd Graders visited the Watertown Public Library for a guided tour. They were introduced to the Minuteman Library Network catalog, which contains books from Watertown and many other town libraries, including Waltham, Belmont, Arlington, and Cambridge, Lexington, and Winchester. Here is a link to a special Kids Catalog:

Minuteman Library Kids Catalog Using the above link, visit the Catalog and find each of the following:

  • a book about the Red Sox
  • a book by Dr. Seuss
  • one of the books you brought back yesterday

Announcing: The LINK of the Week Contest

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Every week, I will pick the best suggestion for an INTERESTING or USEFUL link. The prize is two TUX BUX. The winning entry will be posted on Monday.

To suggest a link, make a COMMENT to this message, and write at least one good paragraph about your recommended site. Be sure to include:

  • the NAME of the web site (usually visible in the title bar at the top of the
  • the URL or location of the site (http://something.com/somewhere)
  • at least 3 reasons WHY it is interesting or useful to other students.

Be sure to check your spelling and punctuation before you submit it. Make sure that you wrote about the SITE itself.

Good Luck!

Setting up your own web page

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  1. Click on the following link to go to the login screen for your web page:
  2. Type your nickname in the “Username” box, and then press the TAB key once
  3. Type your password in the “Password” box, and then press the ENTER key once
  4. When you are asked about your password, click “Remember”
  5. When you get to the “Dashboard” page, click the “Bookmarks” menu, and then click “Bookmark this page”
  6. Type “my web page” in the box, and then press ENTER.