Mr. Bruns’s Highlander Highlights

Parade of Costumes

Halloween parties were held at the Scotland Elementary on Friday.  Why Friday and not Monday?  Well kids get a little rambunctious on party days like this so it's not really how you want to start out the school week, it's a better way to end the week.  What's that mean for the rest of us?  A sneak peek at the Halloween costumes!  Annually the elementary students and staff put on a parade where they go around the entire school showing off their costumes.  Thanks for the show everyone!  You'll notice I gave a shout out to the young person dressed up as Freddy Krueger...well I just had to as Freddy was the icon of scary from my childhood.  These days I'll bet kids would laugh at Nightmare on Elm Street movies.  After all I watched Paranormal Activity recently, and that show is pure creepy.  If you're bored this weekend, check it out...if you dare. 

Superintendent Alvey Can Walk the Walk

Recently Mr. Alvey was tasked out to "Walk a Mile" in her shoes.  Yankton's women's shelter puts the event on during Rocking Ribfest each September.  These pictures were taken last month, but they are such gems that they're worth taking a look at now.  Mr. Alvey had to walk several blocks in women's high heels along with other macho men to the delight of all in attendance.  

World Geography Hard at Work

I caught these students hard at work repainting the map you will find on the parking lot outside of the elementary.  Every couple of years Gary Pepper's students re-create the map after it disappears.  In this case the disappearance occurred because the lot was resurfaced last summer.

Harriers take 3rd

Congratulations to the Lady Highlander Cross Country Team as they took 3rd place at regions, which means the whole team will be making a trip to Sioux Falls in another week to compete at the state cross country meet. Good luck girls! Haley Brunke took 3rd, Katie Cosman 11th, Kchandra Furney 16th, Sydney Gall 19th, and Sasha Roth 25th. Our lone boy running was Damien Fuerst who took 28th. That's pretty respectable for a 7th grader, look for Damien in years to come. Here I am sharing an action shot from the meet, although it's not the kids in action, it's their parents!!

Fire Prevention Week

Thanks to the Scotland Fire Department for visiting our elementary and giving all students the opportunity to experience what it would be like in a smoke-filled environment...something we all hope none of us will experience, but it's good to have some preparation.

iPad 2 in the Classroom

This year we're implementing iPad 2 in high school classrooms.  As of this writing over 150,000 apps have been developed for the iPad 2.  Not all of them have been developed for educational purposes, but some certainly are educational.  The iPad has really had an impact on my life as I have an iPad 1 I use and have explored several apps and uses that make life a little bit more "wired".  My personal favorites are Evernote, a note taking program that automatically syncs any device (and PC or Mac) you have linked to the account, Dropbox--kind of the same concept but for documents (or Pictures), Outlook Mail, and news.  Games are a neat feature as well, but in school they have to be education-related.  My kids (including 2 year old) might spin circles around your head if you've never worked an iPad, as they are already experts with the device.  The iPad is a very intuitive tool, you just have to play for awhile, and you'd be amazed how quickly you pick up on how to work with them.  They are inherently engaging, just because they are something new and exciting!  I know a colleague who had to buy one, after working with them during an in-service at school.  Not gonna lie....I kind of want the iPad 2 myself....but, I don't know.  Anyways....here's Amber Alvey presenting a demonstration for English II, taught by Mrs. Kristyn Walloch.  Pretty cool that the iPad 2 can take you right into the classroom, and you can publish to the world (if you so desire).  I created a Scotland High School Youtube Channel, which I've also made available to view in school, although students can't view other Youtube channels.  So right now, this is our only public video (I'm sure more will be created soon).  

Half-Time

Scotland High School band performs at half-time of the football game in which the Highlanders hosted the Lake Andes Central Eagles. We did not come out with a W, however the band put on a nice show. Here they are playing the school song Loch Lomond.