Kenston Schools

December 18, 2014 by Staff Report

Happy Holidays

Kenston Schools will be closed for the winter break beginning Dec. 22. Classes resume for students on Jan. 6.

KIS Students of the Month

Kenston Intermediate School is pleased to announce its Students of the Month for December.

Students selected represent the “Peaceful Environment at Kenston” (PEAK) trait of love. They are: fourth-graders Katelyn Brogan, Hanna Busby, Lauren Hunder, Jack Jacobs, Sarah Jones, Kaitlyn Kowalczyk, Kaila Morris, Jayme O’Neill, Avery Polcar, Taylor Thompson and Bradley Wichert; and fifth-graders Paisley Austin-McManamon, Grace Birch, Claire Carnahan, Tammy Daniels, Brad Delphia, Payten Jackson, Aubrey Marthe, Cailey Rogers, Matthew Stirewalt and Sarah Stohler.

Hour of Code

Kenston students take their first steps in computer coding as part of a global campaign. Coding is a skill that educators around the world are promoting through the Hour of Code campaign this week.

Code.org has created free online games that it hopes will reach 100 million students this year, exposing them to computer sciences by connecting with computer-programming activities. This year, Kenston students had the opportunity to program with Frozen’s Anna and Elsa or Angry Birds.

“Programming and coding is essentially problem solving. There is always a problem set – how do we get this widget to move over there, or look this way? We do it by creating instructions for the machine or program to perform the desired functions – not unlike how we teach any other subjects, or drive to work safely every day,” said Andreas Johansson, director of technology integration. “Coding teaches students to think analytically, problem solve and work with teams to solve complex problems.

In addition to developing logic and problem-solving skills, coding can lead to a job. Code.org cites National Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing that the computing field is adding about 136,620 jobs a year. Meanwhile, about 40,000 students earn degrees in computer science annually, according to data gathered by the National Science Foundation.

If anyone would like to practice coding, visit Kenston’s webpage and search Hour of Code.