e g h iin Ti er l THE
March 23, 2010
Volume 50 Issue 21
1015 Division St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
Local schools preparing for new standards Alex Entz Senior Writer
Some significant changes in the educational process are headed toward students all over Iowa. A bill signed into law last year by governor Chet Culver has created what is known as the Iowa Core Curriculum. The Iowa Core Curriculum specifies particular skills that students need to develop in general fields such as math and social studies during certain parts of their education. This state-wide educational framework will begin to come to fruition this coming July when the implementation plan for every high school across Iowa will be due. The ICC itself, however, does not require full implementation until 2014. Jim Janssen is in charge of implementing the Iowa Core Curriculum in Waverly
More than money
Shell-Rock and Cedar Falls. “Cedar Falls is well on its way to developing its implementation plan,” Janssen said. “The Cedar Falls district is electing to develop a K-12 implementation plan by June 30 (in place of just a framework for the high school). The best rationale comes from the system strengths gained from planning, implementing and supporting the Core Curriculum with all K-12 staff at the same time,” Janssen said. Principal Rich Powers illuminated the need for the ICC. “We are teaching to educate our students to a higher level,” Powers said. “Students need more education than they did 20 years ago, and localized, vocational teaching has fallen by the wayside.” Some curriculum will have to be shuffled around and changed to make way
for the new system. “We are in the process of looking back through our curriculum to make sure that we cover the required content,” Powers said. “This is not a huge piece for us in Cedar Falls, but we will need to work on utilizing technology to solve problems.” Janssen also talked about local leadership committees representing the district and the community. Mandated by the ICC, these groups are largely responsible for writing up the implementation plan. “The committee has met twice, started to study the desired outcomes of the ICC, and has delivered its first round of training to all district educators,” Janssen said. “At its December meeting, they will review a sample implementation plan and take initial steps to construct its own.” The Iowa Department
2008,” Hall said. Even with 11 years of piano under her belt, she still has to keep up with the job, constantly adding new tunes to her repertoire. “I try to learn new songs regularly so it doesn’t get too repetitive,” Hall said. “Most of the tunes are jazz, popular songs or from Broadway.” In a typical week, she works from anywhere between six and 15 hours. Not only is she being paid, but she also is gaining valuable experience for her potential future.
“Piano is my first love. I will always play! I am considering majoring in music in college,” Hall said. Hall reaps benefits not only the job, but also from the opportunities that accompany it. “I love my job! My boss and coworkers are wonderful people. Also, there are a few ‘regulars’ who stop by to listen to the music and chat every week. Some of them are in junior high and others are elderly persons — they are fun people,” she said. “There have been times when a customer who
of Education has stated that end-of-year tests are being developed to test students on their grasp of material required under the ICC. An official decision regarding whether or not the tests will be used in the Cedar Falls district is still being looked at, as the tests are not required. “We want our students to demonstrate that they know how to use it, and we believe that it is important to use such measures,” Powers said. School districts around the state received a portion of the money allocated to pay for the implementation of the ICC. Janssen explained how the district has decided to use its money. “To date, Cedar Falls has used these funds to support the essential, first step of implementation — initial training for all teachers and principals. I suspect that
these funds will continue to be used in this fashion next year as well,” Janssen said. Powers talked about the effect that the ICC will have on not only students but also the staff. “We are stressing the four R’s: rigor, relevance, relationship and reflection,” Powers said. Though teachers are being trained to teach to the new system’s requirements, the biggest changes for them will come simply from checking their curriculum for those four defining R’s. The purpose of the ICC is to gauge the development of Iowa children, and to ensure that all are receiving the same base education that will help them to excel on standardized tests and beyond high school and well into their futures. “People want to know if they are getting a good return on their investment,” Powers said.
: CFHS senior enjoys hobby in job
Vincent Stigliani Editor-in-Chief
As many high school students wash dishes or bag groceries to earn money, senior Chelsea Hall does what she loves: piano. Hall, who has been playing piano for 11 years, began playing at Von Mauer a year and a half ago. Her job entails playing in the center of the store, providing music for customers as they shop. “I got the job by applying and auditioning. I began in the summer of
Chris Pierce Photo
Senior Chelsea Hall on the job at Von Mauer, where she plays piano multiple times a week. hears me play will offer me a gig playing a party or
wedding, which is always a great opportunity.”