Welcome back! Happy 2020 two (let’s hope not!)
 

1. Grade book is open for posting!  As always instructions are here - https://www.theolycenter.org/posting.html.  Please RUN YOUR REPORTS to see if there are any errors – it happens.  BUT give it… maybe 30 minutes AFTER you post your grades.  Many times some of you say you ARE posted but your report is red… Give it a little time for all the data to catch up.  Also since we are not doing Citizenship (we are doing CCLR) the Citizenship column may be all RED.  I do not know if this has been fixed and do not want to check right now.  Be sure to do your CCLR grading instead.  Those instructions are of course on the link above!  Ryan has also sent them and will inform us of any updated/changes/improvements.
   
   
2. Canvas Cross-listing and importing instructions will come soon!  That has not changed.  There is (or was) a big notice in Canvas about second semester classes.  Be sure to read it!
   
   
3. Copier/Printer in 200, the mailbox room.  Remember when we used to be able to print to the copier in room 200?  Two teachers came to me asking about why it does not work anymore.  The codes were removed from the copier.  BUT not if you need to print to it you need your code!  You can use mine if you need one.  It still needs to be set up that way so you do not interrupt another user standing at the machine.  Also, that copier has been moved to the teacher “lunchroom”.  I will get it renamed and instructions to you next week.
   
   
4. MONITORS!  Woohoo!  Your 24-inch monitors are in.  They were to be delivered in the summer with your laptop and dock, but Santa brought them instead!  We are in the process of unboxing and barcoding them.  If you would like yours ASAP please put in a work order.  Otherwise, they will be set up by dept, or hall or some other way that works for us!  Yes, you will be getting a dock and a monitor.
   
   
5. With the laptops… there were some issues with them not booting up or showing a black screen of death or date/time error.  This is because you have not plugged it in it has died a sad death.  Please put in work orders and we can have it revived.
   
   
6. Some of you always wait until you NEED something fixed (It’s human nature I know)  But the longer you wait the longer it takes! On that note… We “Lost” our Network Engineer (Evan moved on) and others are filling in and keeping us working.  Please keep putting in work orders.
   
   
7. Not techie (except that it is a website!) Don’t forget this is PUBLIC information – Go here and click on schools - https://coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts/  :(
   
   
8. Screenbeams - Y’all are rockin’ those!   It is so cool to see so many of you teaching “wirelessly” from your room.  The only thing I would remind of is - If you are staying at your desk… You do not need to wear out your screenbeam, use your PC.  But you will love your dock!
   
   
9. New mics – ditto!  They’re G R E A T.  If you do not think so… you’re not using it!
   
   
10. I had another student bring me a yellow powercord.  PLEASE stop being nice!  (Yes, I know who you are - they’re engraved!) Those are for your ROOM - NOT to be given out to students.  They have a powercord or they can come get another one from mean ‘ol me!

 
You’re the best!!
 
Questions? Please respond!

​News Conference
I would hope by now you know or have heard of a national “book banning” that has hit Utah and GSD.  I have had a few students asking to interview me about this topic for various assignments.  So today (Tuesday) at 2:30 I will hold a mock “news Conference” in the Lecture hall to answer any/all questions about what is going on with the banned book thing.  I think it will be recorded for OlyTV.  If you’re interested or have questions… c’mon down.
 
Chromebooks locked
I have locked the rest of the G4 and G5 Chromebooks.  If you have students with these older (round plug) models their Chromebooks should be useless.  They have been asked all year to bring them down for an upgrade.  There is approx. 100 of them.  PLEASE allow them to come down for a newer chromebook ASAP.  If you see or have any students with any older CB’s send them down for a “Christmas*” present.  (said with caution*)
 
Mid-Terms
Thank you to all who posted but believe it or not… a few of you did NOT get your mid-terms in or missed a few classes.  I only know this because I run the SAME REPORT you are supposed to run but I have to let the admin know.  If you would like to know if it was you… Run your report! If you did not get them posted I would assume you still need to let your parents (and students) know their current grades.  Some of you posted mid-term Citizenship too.  We are not doing “Citizenship” anymore – we are piloting that new stuff and you did NOT have to post that for mid-term.  (#3 on this same link).  Ryan has sent many messages about that as well.
 
Library Closed (for an event)
I will be working with a teacher and hosting an “Explorer’s Event” in the Library on Thursday and Friday (16, 17) the last two school days before break.  Kim will not be in either.  So I will be closing the library for general access as I plan to be very busy with this class.  Please plan accordingly if you are need of our services.

Google has changed where the restrictions are in forms.  By default users OUTSIDE of @granitesd will NOT be able to view  your form.  This makes sense for child privacy reasons.  IF you want other people in the world (such as parents, or community members) to access your form you must UNCHECK the "Restrict to users..." button in the form "Settings."  This function used to be accessible when you shared the link.  Not anymore!

Q. Why would you want to do that?

A. So you do not have to go to your Google Drive in a browser to get to your files.*
A.  It is easier to save files to your G drive that way.  Instead of saving to your C:Drive or My Documents you can save to your G:Drive and have access to that file on all your devices.*

Caveats
​*1 - If you open a document from your G:Drive... It still takes you to a web browser and your Google Drive!
*2 - Of course you can do the same thing with your OneDrive account.

Personally? - I have it installed - BUT don't use it.  It just seems like another link in the chain that could break.  I also have more than one Google account.  And it will take up quite a bit of space on my PC's.  I am okay with accessing/seeing my files in a browser.  BUT I could see advantages to it if you want it installed.  Watch the video below to learn how.

It is always fun (and scary) to see what people “believe/repost” and get sucked in to believing is true.  Please always check things out first!  https://rumors.newslit.org/
​
Below is a nice graphic from a Pennsylvania College library!  Or of course you could use your own schools page!
​https://www.theolycenter.org/news-or-not.html

• Country Reports!  - https://www.countryreports.org/

A (for profit) website build by an inspired former student of ours. (here is the article - https://blog.countryreports.org/2011/02/21/where-did-the-idea-for-countryreports-come-from/)
I talked him in to an Alumni account and here is the log-in info! Username:  Olympus PW:  Titans

• Scrible - https://www.scrible.com/

When you start your Research papers with your class, please don’t forget about Scrible.  Scrible gives students annotation, bibliography, outlining, website collection tools and  you can see all their work as they progress through their research.  I would be happy to spend the day (or period) to show your students (and you) how to use this collaborative tool.  We have received MANY positive comments back from students.

• Hamilton tickets!

The Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement is inviting high school students to participate in "One Utah: A 'Revolutionary' Contest." Seventy students will win a ticket to the Broadway touring production of "Hamilton" on Saturday, Jan. 22.
To enter, Utah students are invited to write a letter to Gov. Spencer J. Cox or Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson about how to make Utah better.
Details about the contest here. Here's where to submit your entry.
Submissions accepted through Dec. 14 (cut off at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 14).

• The Viral Rundown is always good (and scary)

​For this week’s Techie Tuesday…
 
I know a few of you were doing “Day of the Dead” activities (and I know this may be a little late but… It is still pretty cool what the West Valley Arts Cultural Center has put together https://www.wvcarts.org/art-online-dia-de-los-muertos.html  I also hope you may have searched the Arts and Culture link I sent last week.
 
Veterans Day

• Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/search/?in=&q=veterans+day&new=true&st= In searching there are over 190,000 entries, so it can be difficult to pick out only a few.
• In the National Archives - https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/veterans-day
• Defense .gov - https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/1675470/5-facts-to-know-about-veterans-day/ 5 facts about the day
• U of U https://veteransday.utah.edu/schedule-of-events/  if you’re looking for something a little more local

 
LanSchool

• For those who are waiting on LanSchool to happen in your room... We have run into a SNAFU and it IS coming soon! 
  
• If you still want it and did not request it earlier on the form, please just put in a work order and we will get it to you.

UEN

• A couple of you have asked about UEN's Pioneer Library for home use.  Great Question and great resources at UEN.  I cannot post the log in here as it is a public site.  BUT I will e-mail it to you and explain how to get it.

In the Library this month will be featuring NonFic(tion) November!  The TA’s are making some display’s for each of the 10 big categories!
 

None of the them are “indexed” or searched deeply by Google!  Which means students may never see these websites unless they get direct links and reason to go there.  Those links and many more can be found on the search engines of TheOlyCenter.org website.  If one of those links perked your interest – go to the search engine page to find the link!  There are a few hundred more of them broken down by discipline for you and your topic.  If you have any topics or links to add please don’t be shy – I would be happy to add them or build you a list.

theolycenter.org/search-engines.html

​To change your “Weekly Checklist” (slideshow) in Canvas… 
1. Go to your Google Drive and find the presentation Tiffany has sent you.  Edit it as needed then…

• Go to File
• Publish to web
• Embed
• Copy the code

  2. Go to Canvas

• Find the page you want it on
• Edit
• At bottom click the </> code button under the current slideshow.
• *Delete the code that is there and paste the new code.*
• Click the </> button and you should see the new slideshow.  You can keep editing the page as normal.
• Scroll Down to click SAVE.

 
*IF YOU have more content on your home page… BE SURE to only replace the <iFrame> code
 
Pro Tip!
If you have MORE than the slide show on you page…. In edit mode hit return a few times (BEFORE the slide show) to separate the content a little bit.  THEN go to code mode </> 

Yep, Each week something similar to this!
 

• In the past I have shown you Arts and Culture and using the Google 3-D viewers (https://www.theolycenter.org/vr.html)
  Here is an explanation of A & C from Google.  It is an overlooked Gem of a resources.  There is content for every department.
• Don’t forget that we all have Nearpod Accts as explained here. Nearpod is an interactive presentation tool that YOU can have total control over ON STUDENT chrome books  (more info from Nearpod.com)
• TIPS Cards  I do have your new cards for you to refer to any Technology questions you may have.  I will get them out to you on Monday during PD.  Please bring your old one to replace.
• A few weeks ago I sent out a survey to see who used LanSchool and who wanted training on it.  Thank you to everyone who responded.  I am hoping to get you trained on Monday during our PD day.  If NOT enough teachers are wanting to use it we can take it off the student devices so please let me know.

Zoom links need to be added to

• Pick-a-time for parents when they get their e-mail
• A Google form for admin. use. (Sent in e-mail)

You get to create your own account.  Go here to pickatime (https://pickatime.com/granitesd) click the blue button to create a new account. Fill out the info.  Use your @graniteschools.org e-mail and I suggest your same AD password.
Then at the top click the "Admin UI" link.

"Pick A Time" has many options and details but you (teachers) really only need to do two (2) things.

1. Add your Zoom link so that parents will get it in their e-mail.
2. Add two 10 min. breaks FIRST.
   Check your schedule before conferences.
   ​No need to add appts. parents will add themselves.