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Welcome
to the
Computer
Lab
with
Mr.
Doxzen
Supplies
Needed for Computer Class
A
USB Flash-Drive (1 Gig min.)
Clearly marked or engraved with your student's name
Please
contact Mr. Doxzen for information on great deals on computer
equipment
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Touch typing is an essential skill for succeeding
in this age of technology and information. We strive to teach
our students typing techniques that they will use their entire
lives and so, we use several typing programs for kindergarteners
through eighth graders which teach by using fun lessons and progressively
challenging levels. The student, while having fun, is not conscious
of the learning process but develops an understanding of the keyboard
and a consistently better typing technique. Download
a Color Keyboard fingering chart here.
Kindergarten students learn how to type their
user name and password, without which they cannot gain access
to the fantastic fun of the computer world. Programs such as KidPix,
Kidspiration and Paint are favorites but if they do not use the
correct keys with the appropriate touch... They learn quickly.
As the student's typing skills develop, we allow access to more
advanced typing programs as well as introducing Microsoft Office
with particular emphasis upon MS Word, Power Point, Excel and
Publisher. The student is able to use the skills learned in the
computer lab for many other subjects. Teachers coordinate some
of their lessons with the computer center and students are able
to log-on to their own files from any computer in the school.
With the invaluable support of our parents and
teachers who serve on the Technical Advisory Committee, we are
able to realize networking, programming and technological advancements
many corporations would envy. At this time every classroom has
at least one computer which is connected through our network to
the server. This allows approved users to access their own files
from anywhere in the building. Teachers who are less experienced
with computers are being mentored by those with more advanced
technical skills and experience. Parents, teachers, administrators
and students all work together in an environment of support, nurturing
and traditional Christian faith, hope and charity. I begin every
computer class with this prayer of dedication;
(This is not "Grace")
Bless us,
O Lord, and the works of our hands and of our minds.
May we always use them for your greater honor and glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
The works of our hands and of our minds...that
covers just about everything. If we consecrate the works of our
hands and minds to the glory and honor of God, we will be less
likely to stray from Him. Throughout the school, teachers remind
our students to ask W.W.J.D. (What Would Jesus Do?) and in the
computer lab I ask students, W. W. J. D. O. T. C.? (What would
Jesus do on this computer?).
Internet safety and protecting our students from
inappropriate word, thought and graphics is as essential as teaching
computer skills. Basic Christian principles of ethics, morality
and personal responsibility are instilled from the first lesson
and continued through to the last. The best internet control is
a normal, happy, spiritually balanced child who has a natural
curiosity and absolute need to "explore" their world...their
computer world as well. Inappropriate material on the internet
is found by two ways. The user is actively searching for it or
the user comes upon it by accident. We have taken every precaution
here at Queen of Apostles Catholic School, to make certain that
inappropriate material on the net is not accessable from our network
however, no system is absolute and so, we maintain high expectations
for our students while also monitoring their behavior and computer
habits to help them keep their spiritual balance. At the end of
each school day, we make an act of contrition wherein we pray,
"I promise to sin no more and to avoid whatever leads me
to sin..." We encourage our students to talk openly with
their parents and with us about their experiences, hopes, fears
and joys.
It is our vocation to guide our young through
their formative years, permitting them to discover themselves
and their world in a safe, nurturing learning environment and,
to that end, we shall endeavor to work together to raise our children
as Christ would have us do. God is good...all the time (To borrow
from Fr. O' Hare) we sometimes fall short of that ideal as the
journey is long, sometimes difficult but nevertheless, always
leads us back to the goodness that is God so long as we are open
to His grace and mercy.
Yours in faith, excellence and joy,
D. H. Doxzen, Jr.
Dan Doxzen
Queen of Apostles Catholic School
Computer Science and Technology
Queen of Apostles School's technical plan includes
refurbishing the computer lab's stations after three years. The
lab computers' expected service life is a maximum of three years
for lab service and then an expected three additional years as
classroom stations. This insures that the school will always maintain
modern, up-to-date computer stations throughout the school. Inasmuch
as it isn't feasable to replace every computer in the school every
three years as is necessary for those in the computer lab, it
was intended that, as the older computers in the classrooms fail,
we would be able to use the parts to keep other computers working
longer. Through attricion, we may anticipate loosing perhaps a
third of these old computers over their three year incarnation
as classroom stations in time to be replaced by the lab's stations
which will have been in use for their intended three year service.
The cycle then is repeated. When the lab's computers are replaced,
the older computers will be moved to the classrooms and the, now
six year old computers would be retired or retained as thier usability
would suggest.
Our lab's computers, were replaced over the summer of
2007 with brand new DELL's with flatscreen monitors. We profoundly
thank our PTO for helping to fund the computer classroom's modernization.
This is an effort which directly benefits every student in our
school from Kindergarten to Eighth Grade. Without an up-to-date
computer classroom, our entire technical plan becomes unworkable.
Thank you to everyone who purchased plants in our Spring Plant
and Flower Sale. Your generosity has helped us to keep our technical
program at Queen of Apostles on track. We will be purchasing a
new network server over the summer of 2008 to replace our current
server which has been in operation well beyond its expected "life".
Once the new server is installed, the older servers will be kept
in reserve as emergency back-up servers.
RUBRIC FOR GRADING COMPUTER
SCIENCE (Effort Grading)
(GRADES 4 - 8)
If the student is working and
progressing as expected with regard to the diocese' curriculum
guidelines, you should expect a "3" which is average
and means that the student is working on a level appropriate
to that student's grade and according to expectations.
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| Focus |
Expectation |
Grade |
| Participation |
Arrives on time and prepared to learn; uses classroom
time to maximum advantage; engages in classroom discussion
as appropriate; remains focused on the task at hand; does
not disturb others during lessons
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Attitude |
Maintains a positive outlook toward curriculum; utilizes
good manners at all times while in class; maintains respectful
demeanor towards teacher and fellow students
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| Following
Directions |
Knows and follows classroom rules; understands and applies
weekly classroom objectives
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Grades
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Numerical and/or effort grade received on assignments
including but not limited to worksheets, projects, research
quizzes, and tests based on standards that are required
for their particular grade
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| Projects |
Works well with others or individually to complete assignments;
shows creativity in completion of work; completes work
in timely manner
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A grade of "4" or "5"
in any three categories will calculate to an effort grade
of "4" for the final effort grade for the quarter
which will disqualify the student from being included on
the Honor Roll.
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Diocesan Guide for Grading Effort
1 = Outstanding
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Student is entirely self-motivated,
and is able to tackle problems and to complete all assignments
with no teacher input.
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Student goes beyond the
proscribed directions.
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Work is always done neatly,
completed in a timely manner, and according to directions.
-
Student exhibits skills
beyond grade level
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Reserved for exceptional
performance.
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Student is very self-motivated,
and is able to tackle problems and to complete all assignments
with very little teacher input.
-
Student goes beyond the
proscribed directions.
-
Work is done neatly, completed
in a timely manner, and according to directions with very few
exceptions.
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Students go beyond the
required expectations for the class.
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Student is making the expected
progress with appropriate teacher direction.
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Work is done neatly, completed
in a timely manner, and according to direction in accordance with
grade level expectations.
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Student is satisfying the
required skills and curriculum.
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Additional assistance is
needed on a fairly consistent basis to keep the student focused
on the task at hand.
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Student is performing below
grade level.
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Work is consistently not
done in a timely manner, not done according to directions, and/or
not done neatly.
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Additional resources may
need to be utilized for success.
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Student is always unfocused
or disruptive.
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Student exhibits behavior
that is disrespectful.
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Student makes no effort
to hand in neat work, to complete assignments in a timely manner,
or to follow directions.
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