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Good afternoon, RJ Grey Families:
In earlier editions of Eye on the Junior High this year, I've written that we have been thinking deeply about technology use at school. While using technology at school presents many advantages, there are certainly challenges, as well. We have seen an increase in damage and distraction over the past number of years. Damage to the devices has grown and is a challenge for us to keep a working fleet of Chromebooks for kids. And the distraction can be a major barrier to learning in the classroom. I've heard from some of you that distraction is a problem at home, too.
We know that assigning a device to students as a tool is helpful, but we don't believe that our middle school students need a device in their hands at every moment of the day, including at home. Our plan is to shift from an environment where technology is everywhere at all times to one where we use technology in a more intentional way. As such, we are going to keep the school-issued devices at school. Chromebooks will not come home with RJ Grey students next year. Our RJ Grey School Council and our Leadership Team have helped create this plan, and we think that moving away from sending devices home will help all of us to keep better control of the physical devices (reducing damage) and will help with the distraction that is ever-present.
Students will still be assigned a device for the year. They'll pick it up from their Homeroom each morning and will deposit it there to charge before dismissal at 2:36. We'll be taking some other steps here at school, too, including changing many of our classroom routines to include leaving the device in a cubby until the teacher decides that the device is necessary. Teachers will shift practices, too, to include assigning homework that doesn't require technology. We're also planning to return to distributing planbooks to students and helping them to develop organization systems for their materials. While any shift in practice will present some challenges, we believe that reducing the amount of screentime and distraction that our students face on a daily basis will be a positive move as we continue to engage our learners. I'll share more information about these changes over the summer.
I hope to see some of you at tonight's Empty Bowls Ice Cream Social. The event runs from 5:30 - 7:30 in our cafeteria areas. It features an art show, select choir performances, and ice cream. Proceeds from the ice cream sales will benefit the Acton Food Pantry.
I hope you have a great weekend!
Jim
Thursday, June 4: Empty Bowls Ice Cream Social, 5:30 in the cafeteria
Friday, June 5: ABRHS Graduation on Leary Field, 5:30 pm
Wednesday, June 10: 7th grade Civics Fair (afternoon and evening sessions)
Thursday, June 11: 7th grade field trip to Mel's Funway
Friday, June 12: 8th grade field trip to Canobie Lake Park
Wednesday, June 17: 8th grade tours of ABRHS with Teams
Thursday, June 18: 8th grade tours of ABRHS with Teams
Friday, June 19: Juneteenth - No School
Thursday, June 25: Schoolwide assembly at ABRHS; Early dismissal at 11:10 am
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