Culver Community Middle/High School
701 School St.
Culver, IN 46511

Brett Berndt, Prin.
Phone: 574-842-3391
Fax: 574-842-3392
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Preparation for College - Level Studies

Evaluate each student's academic strength                                                               
Challenge
 students to explore their interests and reach their potential
Inspire students to do their best work
                                         Prepare educational opportunities beyond high school

    • SAT®: The best independent measure of a student's college readiness, the SAT is standardized across all students, schools, and states, providing a common and objective scale for comparison.
    • SAT Practice: The SAT is the only college admission test that offers free SAT practice tailored to each student. When students link their College Board and Khan Academy® accounts, they get a personalized study plan based on their results on tests like the PSAT/NMSQT or SAT.
    • PSAT/NMSQT®: Cosponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the PSAT/NMSQT assesses skills developed through years of study in a range of courses, as well as through experiences outside the classroom.
    • AP Potential: Identify additional students who may succeed in AP courses at your institution and increase access and equity with AP Potential.
    • Pre-AP®: See an overview of K-12 professional development resources and services that equips middle and high school teachers with the strategies and tools they need to engage their students in active, high-level learning.
    • SpringBoard® is the College Board’s comprehensive instructional program for all students in grades 6–12. It provides a customizable pathway integrating rigorous instruction, performance-based assessment, and exemplary professional development.
    • Student Search Service® (SSS®): SSS is a free program dedicated to provide information to students about admissions, financial aid, and other postsecondary opportunities without being solicited by commercial entities. 


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chsCulver Community HSWelcome to the Culver Community Middle/High School webpage.  We would like to thank you for visiting our website and hope you find all the information needed in order to have a positive experience.  Here at Culver, we strive for excellence as a COMMUNITY school and stress the CAVALIER WAY! Please don’t hesitate to contact the school if you have any questions.


Culver Community is unique, as it is the only school corporation in Indiana that serves students from four townships in four different counties; Aubbenaubbee Township in Fulton County, North Bend Township in Starke County, Tippecanoe Township in Pulaski County, and Union Township in Marshall County. Our building was opened in 1968, when these four townships consolidated into our current system and formed our Culver Family.


Culver Community Middle/High School is a school comprised of 460 students in grades 6-12.  We offer a full academic program, along with an ever expanding vocational program available to our students. CCMHS also offers many extra-curricular activities, including clubs and many sports.  Our vision is that every CCMHS stakeholder is committed to:

Learning, Respect, Responsibility, and Excellence


As a staff, we are very excited to provide the best experience possible for all students.  We strive to provide growth emotionally and academically. We are preparing students for the future….the Cavalier Way!!!Please don’t hesitate to call the school to hear about our exciting programs.


Thanks


Brett Berndt

Principal

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Q.  Why is Culver Community committed to this technology initiative?
A.  The reasons for this decision are many. Briefly, we must prepare students for their futures beyond C.C.S.C., in both the world of work, and as life-long learners in a global environment.  We must connect student in-school learning with their outside the classroom walls realities. 

Q.  What does the term "1-to-1 Initiative" mean?
A.  Every student in the selected grades is issued his/her own iPad that he/she has access to at all times 24/7.

Q.  What grade level students will get iPads?
A.  Every student in grades 7-12 will receive one for the 2011-12 school year.

Q.  What will be the cost to students / parents?
A.  We are not charging parents or students any additional "1-to-1" fees for the 2011-12 school year.  First, C.C.S.C. leadership has monitored our budget and spending closely and has been planning ahead for this possibility for the past several years.  Second, we review our budget, line-by-line, considering every impact of using technology to replace current "hard-costs" (paper, text books, etc.). In addition, we are working with Apple Education's lease program, which spreads the cost over three years.

Q.  Won't it cost students / parents something more ... sometime in the future?
A.  Perhaps.  But we are committed to keep these costs as low as possible.  At the end of the day, everything we provide for students ultimately comes from our budget or textbook rental.  We are continually looking at alternative sources of revenue to sustain our programs, both in the near and distant future.

Q.  If students don't pay something, will they take care of their iPad?
A.  Yes, because students won't want to be without them!  OK, this is just part of the answer  but, honestly, this will be enough for most students to take proper care of their iPad.  In addition, we will have students, and parents, sign a contract outlining their responsibility for taking care of their issued iPad.  There will be an expectation that carelessness, and/or intentional damage, to the iPad will become the responsibility of the student, thus the parent.  We suggest parents provide insurance on the device.  But we believe students will value their "tool" for what it will mean to both their educational and personal lives, both during and beyond the school day.

Q.  So - What will parents invest during the 2011-12 school year?
A.  Parent investment during the 2011-12 school year will be to closely monitor student learning, at home, as we do so at school.  We believe this initiative will significantly impact and enhance every child's education.  We want to work closely with parents this next year to evaluate that impact.  We will be asking parents and students to participate in surveys and discussions as a part of this process.  Your investment will be significant!  And thanks in advance!

Q.  Can students purchase their iPad, especially next year's seniors?
A.  We have not made that determination yet.  We would like to make this possible and will do so if we can make it work financially for both C.C.S.C. and students.  We'll keep you informed.

Q.  Why do students need 1-to-1 devices?  Aren't the computer labs at school sufficient?
A.  Our learning environment requires that each high school student (9th - 12th) has access to his/her own technology throughout the school day, and beyond.  While we will maintain computer labs in our school for whole group specific tasks or instruction, valuable learning time is lost taking whole groups to and from the computer lab.  Many computer tasks often require only intermittent tasks that are best integrated with other instructional activities in the teacher's own classroom environment.

Q.  Does my student have a choice of participating in the program?
A.  No.  All students in grades 7th - 12th will participate.  All teachers will include the essential elements of technology into their curriculum.  In some classes, this will involve heavier computer use than others.

Q.  My student already has a laptop. Can they use that instead of using one from school?
A.  No.  In order for our technical support staff to assure student safeguards and the inclusion of all C.C.S.C. required software and technological capabilities, we must maintain an environment with a common technology tool.  We have determined the best tool for Culver Community to be the Apple iPad.  As technology advances, this option may become a reality in the future, but not during the 2011-12 school year.

Q.  If I have more than one student, will they share the iPad?
A.  No.  All 7th - 12th students will be issued their own iPad.

Q.  What will teachers and students do differently?  How will this look?
A.  Teachers and students will be doing many things differently.  This will include how our curriculum is delivered, how it is discussed among students and teachers, and how assignments are submitted to teachers.  We will continue offering parents insights to these changes as we approach August, and as we move through next school year.

Q.  Can students access objectionable material online?
A.  Filtering software is installed on all equipment provided to students to safeguard against students inadvertently accessing objectionable content from outside the school corporation.  The school network also has security in place to screen content.  No system, however, is 100% effective in screening out all objectionable content.  In addition, there is no universal standard on what would be considered objectionable.  Therefore, parents must discuss their expectations with their child about safeguards the child should take when accessing the internet.  We will support parents by also having these discussions with students and providing suggestions to parents to enhance these discussions.

Q.  Will students be spending "too much time" on their computer and online?
A.  While "too much" is relative and some students may already spend "too much" time on computers, this is certainly not our expectation.  1-to-1 computer access and use will supplement and enhance, but certainly not replace, traditional classroom discussion between students and teachers.  Students will spend more time in collaboration with teachers and fellow students and bring more content to those discussions through use of their immediate access to technology.  Much of the computer time that many of today's students spend on the computer will be outside the classroom.  However, that use will be an extension of, and directly connected to, what occurs in the classroom.  This is the primary purpose of implementing a 1-to-1 initiative.

Q.  How do teachers make sure students are working and not just surfing the web during class?
A.  While there will be students who occasionally try to "surf", just as students have historically "day-dreamed" etc., we will install software that can monitor, and control if necessary, all student iPads.

Q.  Will my child get help in learning how to use the iPad?
A.  Yes.  Specific initial training will be provided during implementation of this 1-to-1 initiative as well as on-going training incorporated into the courses the students are taking.  Many of our students already possess excellent computer skills, and those who are less technically proficient, will have sufficient exposure to quickly come up to speed.

Q.  What technical support will the school offer when the hardware or software doesn't work?
A.  We use a "ticketing system", whereby students can immediately report problems to our technology support staff.  In addition, temporary loaners are available to avoid any significant down-time for any of our students' iPads, when the problem is beyond the student's control.

Q.  Why did Culver Community choose the iPad?
A.  We investigated the available technology tools that would best address our question:  "What technology tool will best support our desired student traits and learning environment?"  We considered tools by Apple:  MacBook & iPad and PC tools:  NetBook and PC Laptop.  After a great deal of study, we determined the iPad to be the superior tool for Culver Community to support our desired learning environment. 

Q.  Please address: "The business world uses PC rather than Apple platform."
A.  There are several ways to answer this question.  First, our learning environment calls for the gaining of technology skills, not the software tools specific to a format, PC or Apple.  We are also using technology to enhance communication, collaboration, and access to content, rather than uses unique to a given format.  Also, many people transition back and forth between PC and Apple platforms and can use both effectively.  We are confident our students will be able to do so, as well.  Finally, another reason for selecting Apple rather than PC is that Apple Education supports teacher professional development, including development of teaching content and instructional strategies, in significant ways, that are not readily available through PC providers.



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Student Use of the iPad

1. The iPad is the property of the Culver Community Schools Corporation and as a result may be seized and reviewed at any time.  The student should have NO expectation of privacy of materials found on an iPad or a school supplied or supported email service.  


2. The Culver Community Schools Corporation iPad is the only approved personal computer allowed.  All other computers are not allowed and are subject to seizure.


3. The iPad comes equipped with both a front and rear-facing camera and video capacities.  As with all recording devices, it is best practice and common courtesy to ask permission before recording an individual, or group.  All Culver Community Schools are closed campuses, with the Culver Community

4. Schools Corporation retaining the rights concerning any recording and/or publishing of any student or staff member’s work or image. Students must obtain school permission to publish a photograph or video of any school related activity.


5. Students are responsible for bringing their iPad to school every day, unless otherwise directed by a staff member. Failure to bring an iPad, or any other class material(s), does not release the student from their responsibility for class work.  If a student repeatedly fails to bring materials to class, including an iPad, the student will be subject to disciplinary action.


6. The student shall bring their iPad to school fully charged.  A student's repeated failure to charge his/her iPad may result in disciplinary action.


7. While personalized screensavers or backgrounds are permitted, inappropriate or provocative images including but not limited to pornographic images, guns, weapons, inappropriate language, threatening language, drug, alcohol, or gang related images are not permitted and subject to disciplinary action.


8. A student may download music with the permission of a staff member.


9. Games, music, videos, and sound use will be at the discretion of the classroom teacher and building administrator.


10. The iPad affords limited electronic storage space. As with all electronic files, it is good practice to back up, duplicate, or archive files to an independent storage space. 


11. The Culver Community Schools Corporation iPad is designed as a tool for school work; any uses of the iPad should be limited to school activities.


12. All students should recognize and guard their personal and private information.  While on the Internet, students shall not reveal personal information, including a home address or phone number, or the address or phone numbers of other students.  


13. Culver Community Schools Corporation encourages students to take their iPad home at night for class work and recharging.  All the rules and regulations that are in effect during the school day extend to the use of the iPad at home.


14. Culver Community Schools Corporation makes no guarantee, written or implied, that materials on the iPad, including student work, will be safe from deletion or corruption, accidental or otherwise.



Parents' Guide to Student Use

Culver Community Schools Corporation recognizes that with new technologies comes new challenges to both teachers and parents. Below is a series of suggestions drawn from a wide variety of professional sources that may aid you, the parent, in effectively guiding your child’s use of the iPad.

1. Take extra steps to protect your child. Encourage your child to use and store the iPad in an open area of your home, such as the kitchen or family room, so you can monitor what your child is doing online.

2. Use the Internet with your child to help develop safe surfing habits. Children often model adult behavior.


3. Go where your child goes online. Monitor the places that your child visits. Let your child know that you're there, and help teach her/him how to act as s/he works and socializes online.


4. Review your child’s friends list. You may want to limit your child’s online “friends” to people your child actually knows and is working with in real life.


5. Understand sites' privacy policies. Internet sites should spell out your rights to review and delete your child’s information.


6. Limit the time your student is on the iPad. While the iPad is a very engaging device, it is a school work device. Care and constant monitoring will reduce your child’s exposure to excessive use.


7. Report unwelcome or malicious online threats. Report in a timely fashion to the school any online interactions that can be considered threatening.


8. Help your child develop a routine. Many parents have found success by helping create a routine for their child’s computer use. Define a routine as to how the iPad is cared for and when and where its use is appropriate.


9. Take a look at the apps or programs.  It is to the advantage of the students, parents, and school that the parents have a working understanding of the programs and student work found on the iPad.


10. Read and share with your child the Culver Community iPad care and use policies.  By reading and discussing the care and use policies, you can create a clear set of expectations and limitations for your child.



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Culver is a small community in northern Indiana, known for Lake Maxinkuckee, its quiet setting and caring people that give it that home town feeling.  Culver Community Schools Corporation was consolidated in 1968.  It is comprised of four small towns in four townships from four different counties: Bass Lake in North Bend Township, Starke County; Culver in Union Township, Marshall County; Leiters Ford in Aubbeenaubbee Township, Fulton County; and Monterey in Tippecanoe Township, Pulaski County.   Our corporation is a reflection of all four communities, filled with eager students and caring staff.  This is the backdrop of our story, because to understand our story is to understand the dynamics of the people of Culver Community Schools Corporation.  

Our administrative and teaching staff have continually researched new, engaging, flexible learning options for our students. We began with new teaching tools in each classroom with Promethean Boards, iPods and interactive software.  We are initiating a one-to-one program where each student in the high school and middle school will be issued an iPad 2 that they will use and be responsible for.  A large portion of their class books will be digital books on their iPads.   Eventually, as textbooks adoption years roll by, the goal is to have all of our textbooks digitally installed on the iPads.  Technology is advancing at a rapid rate, and we must stay on top of it to give our students as many advantages as possible.

After much research, testing, and discussion with the school board, administrators, technology specialists and teachers, Culver Community Schools Corporation selected Apple Corporation as the provider of iPads for a One-to-One initiative. The iPad cost, battery life, size, function, and simplicity make it more than just a mobile computing device; it's a new way of learning.

The pursuit of alternative funding also began to bear fruit. Culver Community Schools Corporation is using Capital Projects Funding and grant money to fund the program.  Teacher training is scheduled for the summer of 2011, and policies and procedures are currently being developed.  As we prepare for the 2011-2012 school year, the Culver Community Schools Corporation is poised to embrace a new and exciting tool that will help prepare our students for success in the 21st century.



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    • Central Office

      Culver Community Schools
      700 School St.
      Culver, Indiana 46511

      Karen Shuman, Supt.
      Phone: (574) 842-3364
      Fax: (574) 842-4615

      Middle/High school

      Culver Community Middle/High School
      701 School St.
      Culver, IN 46511

      Brett Berndt, Prin.
      574-842-3391
      This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    • ElementarY

      Culver Elementary School
      401 School St.
      Culver, Indiana 46511

      Erika James, Prin.
      Phone: (574) 842-3389
      Fax: (574) 842-3380

      CyberBully Hotline

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      Middle/High School Hotline Phone Number: 574-213-7226
      Culver Elementary School Hotline Phone Number: 574-213-7227
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