Tag Archives: Region 13

Delavan-Darien High School offers Microsoft certification for students

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Walworth County Today: In today’s digital era, computer skills are a must in the job market,so Delavan-Darien High School will now offer students the opportunity to become Microsoft Office Certified, allowing them to prove they are career ready with some of most-used computer software applications on the sales market.

“So many positions in today’s job market demand that students have these essential application skills,” said Cindy Yager, the district’s director of careers and occupations.“Having this certification done while in high school puts our graduating students in a much better position vs. their peers from neighboring districts who were not afforded this excellent opportunity for career readiness. It’s another tool in our toolbox that will prepare our graduates with desirable 21st Century skills in a highly competitive job market.”

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is partnering with Microsoft and offering grant funding so DDHS students in business education courses can take the Microsoft

Certification tests free of charge. Students can take the test after they have completed appropriate coursework and training.

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Racine students take part in hands-on nutrition education

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Journal Times: Grocery shopping may seem like a simple task, but for a teenager, it can be a bit daunting — especially if they’re shopping for a family. That’s why Partners Educating Parenting Students teacher Tania Wilhelmi paired up with UW-Extension to give her students a hands-on, interactive and educational experience inside the grocery store.

“This program is geared toward my students who are all teenage moms. We’re focusing on healthy eating for them and healthy eating for their children and learning budgeting strategies with a WIC focus,” Wilhelmi said.

Students in the Partners Educating Parenting Students program had the opportunity to walk through the grocery store with a nutrition educator to learn about low cost, nutritious foods.

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High-tech executive gives credit to Beloit background

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Imagine a world where you don’t have to remember computer passwords, lug around chargers or squeeze into undersized jeans.

That world is coming soon, according to the Beloit-raised Kirk Skaugen, senior vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group (CCG) at Intel Corporation.

At Intel, Skaugen formulates strategies to improve phone, tablet and personal computer platforms. In a telephone interview Friday, Skaugen discussed the latest emerging technologies and how his education in Beloit helped him shape the future.

“We change the world by selling more than 300 million computing devices a year. If you have an idea and go for it, you can change the world,” Skaugen said.

Skaugen attended Morgan Elementary School, Aldrich Middle School and graduated from Beloit Memorial High School in 1988.

With his father being an engineer at Beloit Corporation, Skaugen said he got interested in math. He also credited his Beloit teachers and the school district’s advanced placement offerings in math and science for propelling his interest in engineering.

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Beloit Farm to School program grows

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School District of Beloit’s Farm to School program is helping to bring in locally-produced fresh fruits and vegetables to its classes and lunchrooms.

Using grant funds, the district was able to hire a nutrition educator and is forming a task force to promote fresh food and nutrition.

“The goal of Farm to School is to implement school gardens, increase local food in school lunches, provide nutrition education in school classrooms in Beloit and strengthen the local economy by supporting Beloit’s local farmers,” said Janelle Marotz, assistant superintendent for business services and Farm to School program coordinator.

Thanks to recently awarded funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the district was able to hire its third AmeriCorp member who works half time as a nutrition educator to bolster the program.

Merrill Elementary has an active school gardening program that provides hands-on activities to learn about plants and nutrition and Hackett Elementary has raised funds for a garden to be planted in the spring.

“We are working to obtain funds to provide gardening opportunities for Converse, Robinson, Todd and Gaston to offer hands-on activities in addition to our nutrition education and fresh fruit and vegetable offerings,” Marotz said.

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Beloit’s Converse School named model site for state

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Converse Elementary School in Beloit was notified by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) it will be featured as a Spotlight School for the second year in a  row. Spotlight facilities in the state are observed and emulated by other schools, according to Converse Principal Stephanie Jacobs.

“It’s a nice way to confirm that what we are doing here is working. It’s also good for the teachers to know their hard work is paying off by receiving the honor and having people come in and see their teaching practices,” said Diane Meier, Spotlight coordinator and third grade teacher.

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