What color is your iPod ® ?

A collaborative communications project between two countries, two schools… …Real students

Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA Bangor, Northern Ireland, UK Sister Cities since 1999 What countries, where?

Kempsville Middle School Priory Integrated College What color is your iPod®?

Objectives of the communications project  To develop a world class/global school division in Virginia Beach.  To recognize our diversity – Respect for all people.  To gain a better understanding of other world/global cultures.

Objectives cont …  To share instructional strategies that foster teaching and learning.  To integrate 21 st century technology skills into the curriculum and instruction between our pen-pal schools.  To strengthen student writing skills.

What makes it different today?  21 st century technology makes communication easier and more possible by many different ways.  Our world is a much smaller place because of technology  Ways exist today that did not exist back in 2001 when the partnership was first formed to share information.

What makes it different today? Because of technology advancements the students themselves can be much more a part of the project than just an average “pen pal” writing letters.  Students today are online, wired and far more technology savvy than their parents or their teachers.  Today’s students can create, produce and contribute.  Today’s students can take ownership of the project by becoming the…

Authors of…  Snail Mail  (within the Wiki)  Blogs Blogs Creators of…  Wiki Sites Wiki Sites  Podcasts  Virtual Slide Shows Virtual Slide Shows  Videos Videos Participants in…  Video conferencing  Skype Phone Calls  Online chats Online chats  Instant Messaging videos

Phase I – establish a means of communication A Wiki

KMS Wiki – Online presence

KMS Wiki – Share Information

KMS Wiki – Secure, safe environment

KMS Wiki – Members only

KMS Wiki – Members only discussions

Phase II – Writing Assignments Global Audience

KMS Wiki – Work on assignments

Phase III– Delegation goes to Northern Ireland, April 6-12, Students go Virtually Via A Blog

A Blog – Online Journal

A Blog – Share pictures and Videos

A Blog – Where students could post comments

Phase III– Delegation goes to Northern Ireland, April 6-12, Students go Virtually VBTV A+ Moment

The Main Entrance

Integrated – Catholics and Protestants - together Teaching Tolerance and diversity from a totally different point of view

The students wear uniforms.

They are into recycling too!

Cyber Bullying is a problem everywhere!

Music….Chorus….

Art – many students were working on final projects

The students and faculty are planning a Ski trip to New Hampshire, January, 2009

Year 8 (6 th grade) curriculum at a glance

Stars in Jars - reflect good behavior

LSC – Each pupil must successfully pass through stages before re-entering classroom Learning Support Center Their equivalent to our ISS

The teachers’ lounge

Frog and Dr. Smith discussing the day’s schedule over a cup of tea!

Aye…what’s that you say?

Teen Living – making scones!

Classroom rules, rewards and consequences

Fantastic technology – but even stricter filters!

The Pupils are allowed cell phones, but they can’t be on.

The Pupils ride public transportation to school.

Year 8 students writing to our 6 th grade AVID students

Tech Ed Department

Clifton Special Needs School April 6-12, 2008

Hydrotherapy every day

Library - puppets

Mural created from what the students suggested

Tea and scones! Baked by the upper level students!

Multi-sensory room

Padded recreation area

They are going on a Bear Hunt

The halls – all special needs equipment is behind walls in special storage areas.

Padded play grounds

Interactive Smart Boards

Colorful hallways

St. Malachi’s High School April 6-12, 2008

Built in 2000

St. Malachi

The Catholic influence

The view from the conference room – The Mourne Mountains!

Drivers Ed! At 16 students can drive mo-peds

Irish or Gaelic is an almost forgotten language

Gaelic (Irish) for Go St. Malachi!

One of the “gingers” soccer stars

Oakgrove Integrated College April 6-12, 2008

PE – a little soccer time

Phase IV – Video Conferencing V.O.W. Videoconferencing On Wheels

Phase V – Student Trips Student Visitations

Phase V – Student Exchange  Goal – Fall 2009, Priory students visit KMS  Spring 2010, KMS students visit Priory Ardnabannon Outdoor Education Centre South, Eastern Education and Library Board – where our students can stay while in Northern Ireland.

Ardnabannon Outdoor Education Centre South Eastern Education and Library Board

Bird’s Eye view of facilities

Dining Hall

Dinner….

Tour of Outdoor Education Centre

Trevor Quinn – the centre’s director

Camping and hiking trails – Mourne Mountains

Hiking and water boots for everyone!

Parkas and rain gear

Belay equipment for Bouldering

Indoor Bouldering Wall and Archery Range – Thermal Heating

Their Ropes Course

1 of 3 Common Rooms for students to meet

Typical dorm room – mess and all!

Indigenous animals of the area

Curriculum Integration Endless possibilities

Some integration ideas for this coming school year  Math Math Convert US dollar to Sterling Metric measurement to our standard Liters to gallons Celsius to Fahrenheit

Some integration ideas  Math Comparing data and graphs from the Wiki statistics.

Some integration ideas  Science Volcanic formation of Giants Causeway billions of years ago The formation of the Mourne Mountains from the glaciers. How Global Warming could affect the island

Some integration ideas  English Writing assignments, communications, lessons, projects, with their Year 8 students and others

Some integration ideas  English – Creative writing exercise “Frog goes to Holywood”

Some integration ideas  History More history than you can shake a blarney stone at! Potato Famine Titanic Current affairs Our City Governments

What we need…. Continued Commitment of City Council To support and continue Sister City Project

The scenery of… Northern Ireland

Bangor Castle, City Council Chambers

The Giant’s Causeway

Resources  Kempsville Website Kempsville Website  KMS Avid Site KMS Avid Site  KMS Avid Wiki (Public & Private) KMS Avid Wiki (Public & Private)  KMS Avid Blog KMS Avid Blog  Priory Website Priory Website  International Links International Links  Google Earth Virtual Visit  backup backup