On Tuesdays, I share a Tech Tip on our social media pages to assist our staff in their use of technology as it relates to their role. With our Elementary Esports Divisionals just a day away I wanted to maintain this theme and share what esports looks like within the context of MVSD. The following table outlines our “formal” esports presence in the division: School Team Name League Affiliation Notes Ecole Macneill “Ecole Macneill Gamers” Minecraft Student Ambassador MVSD Elementary MVSD Elementary Esports Founder 23/24 Minecraft Design Challenge finalists Mackenzie Middle School MS Magic MSEA MY Top 4 23/24 Brawhalla Provincials 2022/23 AAA Rocket League provincial… Read More
More Than Just Play – Elementary Esports Divisionals
On Mondays, I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. This week’s primary focus for the ICT Department is our Elementary Esports Divisionals! This event has been a goal of mine for this calendar year and I am thrilled to see it come to fruition. While our middle- and senior-year students have the option of participating in a variety of games, tournaments, and events through the Manitoba School Esports Association (MSEA), our elementary students do not. Modeled after the introductory events our athletic association offers for elementary students, our esports event will… Read More
March ICT Newsletter
With the start of a new month comes a new monthly ICT newsletter. These newsletters are designed to serve as an outreach to all MVSD staff and provide: general ICT updates (software changes, divisional ICT timelines, tech-themed holidays) upcoming PD for the month tech tips divisional highlights These newsletters are sent out to staff via our divisional email but are also shared through our social media pages and divisional website. March 2024 ICT Newsletter by Kirsten Cali
WOW Wednesday – Laura Joss
On Wednesdays, I highlight some of our amazing MVSD staff on our social media pages. Every day our staff are using tech in new and exciting ways, are learning new skills, and are sharing ways in which ed tech is assisting them in their practice. This week I am excited to showcase another example of how our MVSD staff is utilizing generative AI in their role. Laura Joss, who currently has a K-2 class at Ochre River School, recently shared about her exploration into AI on their school’s Facebook page. In this activity, students worked on their descriptive vocabulary to share details… Read More
February ICT Newsletter
With the start of a new month comes a new monthly ICT newsletter. These newsletters are designed to serve as an outreach to all MVSD staff and provide: general ICT updates (software changes, divisional ICT timelines, tech-themed holidays) upcoming PD for the month tech tips divisional highlights These newsletters are sent out to staff via our divisional email but are also shared through our social media pages and divisional website. February 2024 ICT Newsletter by Kirsten Cali
WOW Wednesday – Activity Time
On Wednesdays, I highlight some of our amazing MVSD staff on our social media pages. Every day our staff are using tech in new and exciting ways, are learning new skills, and are sharing ways in which ed tech is assisting them in their practice. This week Mountain View School Division is hosting Kindergarten registration events across our elementary schools. As such, I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight one of our amazing divisional programs, Activity Time. This program, which is run by our preschool coordinator Sheila Giasson, moved virtually in 2021 and has provided an opportunity to strengthen not only… Read More
Elementary Esports Divisionals – Planning Time!
With a growing esports presence within Mountain View School Division, I set a goal for myself to help grow opportunities for this type of programming. While our middle- and senior-year students have the option of participating in a variety of games, tournaments, and events through the Manitoba School Esports Association (MSEA), our elementary students do not. I am very much in the introductory stages of this event but I wanted to share the process as we progress for those who are thinking about planning an event of their own. At the current time, our planning includes: Location We have three… Read More
WOW Wednesday – SJS Minecraft Club
On Wednesdays, I highlight some of our amazing MVSD staff on our social media pages. Every day our staff are using tech in new and exciting ways, are learning new skills, and are sharing ways in which ed tech is assisting them in their practice. MVSD is on a roll when it comes to esports and I am thrilled to share our newest addition, the SJS Minecraft Club out of Smith Jackson Ukrainian Bilingual School. In a similar fashion to our other elementary esports teams, the SJS Club is using the Minecraft EDU platform to participate in both school- and division-based build… Read More
January ICT Newsletter
Happy New Year! With the start of a new month comes a new monthly ICT newsletter. These newsletters are designed to serve as an outreach to all MVSD staff and provide: general ICT updates (software changes, divisional ICT timelines, tech-themed holidays) upcoming PD for the month tech tips divisional highlights These newsletters are sent out to staff via our divisional email but are also shared through our social media pages and divisional website. Janaury 2024 ICT Newsletter by Kirsten Cali
Reflecting on the Hour of Code – Year 5
On Wednesdays, I highlight some of our amazing MVSD staff on our social media pages. Every day our staff are using tech in new and exciting ways, are learning new skills, and are sharing ways in which ed tech is assisting them in their practice. I, of course, have to celebrate all of our students, staff, and volunteers who participated in last week’s Hour of Code events! The first Hour of Code event that I had an opportunity to plan in MVSD was in December of 2019. Since that time, our events have been held a variety of different ways (thanks Covid)… Read More