LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
Federal officials on Wednesday approved most of Alaska’s four-y [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
The state government risks losing millions of dollars in feder [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, known for its steep mountains [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead [ ... ]
This Week in Girls on the Run
By Sitkans Against Family Violence
and The Pathways Coalition
During th [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]
By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]
Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Obama Pledges Billions for School Technology
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following account of President Obama’s speech to school superintendents this week is condensed from the text of his remarks provided by the White House.
By Sentinel Staff
More than 100 school superintendents, including Mary Wegner of Sitka, were addressed by President Obama in the East Room of the White House Wednesday as he launched a new effort to assist school leaders in their transition to digital learning.
Sitka School District Superintendent Mary Wegner holds up her cell phone showing the White House logo on coffee cups and napkins at a reception at the White House Wednesday, this afternoon. (Sentinel Photo)
The Future Ready Digital Pledge is part of the President’s ConnectED initiative, which Obama said “empowers teachers with the best technology and the training to make the most of it, and empowers students through individualized learning and rich, digital content.”
ConnectED also seeks to connect 99 percent of America’s students with high-speed broadband internet in their schools and libraries.
The president said more than 1,200 school superintendents have already signed the pledge, in which they agree to:
– foster a culture of learning through technology across their schools
– assist their students and families in the transition to high-speed connectivity
– provide their learners greater access to high-quality digital devices and content
– provide teachers and principals the support needed to use technology in innovative ways
The “ConnectED to the Future” event also featured announcement of new commitments from private and non-profit partners and from the U.S. Department of Education to support educators as they transition to digital learning.
He said the FCC will double its investment in broadband for schools, investing an additional $2 billion over two years, connecting more than 15,000 schools and 20 million students to high-speed Internet. The plan is to connect 99 percent of students within five years.
He announced that his administration is making “two new tools available, first an infrastructure guide to help you make the best decisions based on your resources and needs, and second, a “learning tool-kit” with goals and checklists for teachers and principals.
Also, the president said, his administration will convene 12 regional summits for superintendents and principals over the next year “to help more districts get ready for the future.”
Obama said 10 companies have made commitments totaling more than $2 billion.
“So Apple, for example, has pledged $100 million, which is going to 114 schools across 29 states. Students will get iPads. Teachers will get McBooks -- or MacBooks, depending on how you say it. (Laughter.) Classrooms will get Apple TV.
“And that’s just one of many commitments. Other companies are providing hundreds of millions of dollars in software, eBooks, teacher training. And 100,000 high-need students will receive free wireless service. He announced that two companies that provide online courses are offering some courses free. EdX, which already offers its Advanced Placement-level courses for free, is now making the certification for those courses free as well. More than a dozen training courses will be offered to teachers nationwide for free.
Also, the president announced, the company Coursera will offer free credentials for district-approved professional development courses to any teacher, anywhere in the country.
Login Form
20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.