46°F
weather icon Mostly Cloudy

Schools get lesson in creative teaching

Despite being physically closed, the four public schools in Boulder City have a plethora of learning options for their students.

To help maintain instruction for students, the schools are implementing technology in different ways as they cope with Clark County School District’s closure until at least April 30 at the order of Gov. Steve Sisolak to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We’ve posted a ton of resources on our school website,” said Benjamin Day, principal of Mitchell Elementary School. “There are several online programs that we use at the school that we have made accessible to parents as well. Teachers are contacting families in a variety of ways and making resources available in any way they can. Some teachers have created their own class websites or YouTube channels for kids to visit and access.”

King Elementary School Principal Anthony Gelsone said his staff has put together a list of resources on the school’s website as well as staying in constant contact with the parents and students.

“Our students were able to work from home from a few online programs they normally use at school,” he said. “These are, Lexia, IXL and Reading Counts. Some teachers put together instructional packets and other materials for their students as well as suggesting numerous online sites. Our teachers have been in weekly contact with their students and parents.”

Boulder City High School Principal Amy Wagner said she has encouraged parents to create a routine and utilize online resources through the school and the district. She also said the teachers are giving lessons through Google Classroom and interacting with students through online programs Zoom and Google Hangouts.

“They did several of the school periods that way. … They needed that connection with each other,” she said.

Additionally, Wagner stays in contact with students’ parents and guardians through email and said she is encouraging them to set up a routine for school work while learning at home.

Each Garrett Junior High School student has a Google Chromebook to use for online learning, according to Principal Melanie Teemant.

“Our teachers already use Google Classroom as a platform to deliver assignments and instruction,” she said. “They are now learning to use Zoom, Google Meet and Google Hangouts to teleconference with students and deliver live instruction, class discussions and other forms of telelearning. I will be honest that it is all new to each of us, as well as the parents. There will be a learning curve as we venture into these uncharted waters, but we will make it happen.”

All four schools also utilize the learning resources available at www.ccsd.net. Hard copies of learning packets are available for those who don’t have access to the online programs. They are available at the food distribution site at Mitchell, 900 Avenue B., from 8-11 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Contact reporter Celia Shortt Goodyear at cgoodyear@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow her on Twitter @csgoodyear.

MOST READ
THE LATEST
Meet the ‘new’ judge

If that person overseeing hearings of the Boulder City Municipal Court looks familiar come Jan. 7, there is a good reason for that.

Garrett’s gardening gurus

There’s a good chance that waiting under the tree on Christmas morning for several Garrett Junior High students will be at-home hydroponic kits.

Council votes to approve $3M in spending

In their meeting of Dec. 10, the city council approved well over $3 million in spending in a single vote.

Rowland Lagan honored with city award

For the past quarter-century, Jill Rowland Lagan has gone above and beyond to help promote Boulder City and its businesses as CEO of the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce.

Christmas came early to Boulder City

This past weekend, thousands turned out for a vanity of holiday events in Boulder City including the Luminaria, lighting of the Christmas House and community tree, Doodlebug Bazaar and Santa’s Electric Light Parade.

State breaks ground on new railroad museum

A lot has changed about Boulder City since it was founded nearly a century ago but one thing has remained a constant: The lot on the northwest corner of Buchanan and Boulder City Parkway has always been vacant. But that is about to change as ground was broken on Friday for a long-awaited expansion of the Nevada State Railroad Museum that is slated to open on that corner in the summer of 2026.

Leafy Latitude gets their liquor license

It took more than a year, but the owners of the Leafy Latitude cigar bar on Nevada Way finally got their liquor license approved last week.

Residents grill BoR rep about xeriscape

Vernon Cunningham, deputy public affairs director for the Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Basin Region, was at last week’s meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to make a presentation about proposed signage at the site of the bureau’s headquarters at the top of Park Street.

The joy of giving on Christmas

Christmas is a day about giving to others, gathering with friends and family and enjoying a turkey or ham dinner with all the traditional sides.