Newscast anchors from SHSN news.

4th graders from Ms. Mayer and Mrs. Spoon’s classes participated in an exciting videoconference that tested their knowledge of the regions of Texas. The students researched and presented clues about the Coastal Plains Region. The students choose to share their clues using a newscast format; complete with weather, sports, and breaking news. The students then watched presentations from Buda Elementary and a 4th grade class from Killeen, Texas. After some time to discuss the clues and a round of clarifying questions the classes revealed their guesses and mystery regions. All participants were able to correctly guess the regions presented by the classes due to the wonderful presentations. A big thank you goes to Christie Rickert, Distance Learning Specialist for Hays CISD, for creating and moderating the conference. Texas Rocks!

The SHSN reporting team.

Thanks to the WONDERFUL vendors associated with this year’s Hays CISD Technology Showcase, a 2nd grade student at Blanco Vista was able to take home a portable DVD player that he won at the Technology Showcase on May 20th. Many AMAZING door prizes were given out to students and Lauro was so excited to be one of the winners!

May 20th marked the 5th annual Hays CISD Technology Showcase. Blanco Vista had 6 entries and each was spectacular. The twist this year was audio. All of the BVES MultiMedia projects incorporated the use of audio to enhance their projects.

In the picture below, BVES Teacher of the Year, Lilly Brooks and her class prepared MultiMedia presentations over Inherited Traits and Learned Behaviors. Each of the students scanned in pictures of themselves and their families to use in the project and then recorded their own voices to explain the traits they inherited and the behaviors they have learned.

A 4th grade "teacher" with the Interactive Quilt

4th grade students at Science Hall created a Texas Museum for the rest of the school to enjoy. The 4th graders were museum docents, sharing information about Native Americans, plants & animals, early explorers, the Civil War, and the Alamo. All grade levels were able to travel from room to room and ask questions and watch presentations on the different areas. The students enjoyed all the authentic artifacts, dress, and even food provided at the exhibits. In Mrs. Evans’ room the students created an Interactive Quilt to use on the Smart Board. One side of the quilt square had a picture and the other had information about the person. It was great to see students using the Smart Board and learning about the Civil War.

Being a homebound students hasn’t kept WMS student Tristan F. from connecting with his classmates!  Using web cams and Web-Ex to conduct online meetings with the help of Campus Technologist Kathy Gryta, Tristan has listened in on Mrs. Ortiz’s language arts class and Mrs. Flores’ Texas History class.  He has been able to take notes and send and receive assignments from his teachers using email.  This week Tristan was even able to present  his Titanic poster to his class at the culmination of their unit on Titanic.

Remote Learning using Distance Learning Equipment