San Saba ISD has once again been chosen for a very big honor. For the second time, San Saba High School Students will be presenting their technology skills to the Texas Legislature. SSISD strives to educate well rounded students who are ready for the workforce. Through the skills and confidence learned in the use of technology, SSISD is producing students who are workforce ready.

What is the Texas Capitol Schoolhouse? On Monday, February 4, 2013, the Texas Capitol Schoolhouse and the Capitol Schoolhouse Foundation facilitated actual high tech school classrooms in the basement Capitol Rotunda using state-of-the-art educational technology. “The participating schools clearly demonstrate their effective day-to-day—every day— use of educational technology in teaching their students and preparing them for the 21st century. Visitors to the Capitol will see and experience technology currently in use by the best in Texas classrooms.” Schoolhouse organizer and Executive Director Dr. Deborah Jolly said. “We bring the schools together to show our legislators the wonderful things their technology funding has done for Texas classrooms. Each time the event becomes more and more impressive as the technology use becomes more and more sophisticated,” Jolly added. This year poses to be one of the most exciting years ever! At the beginning of each legislative session, a number of schools are invited to bring a small representative group of their students along with their teachers with current exceptional applications of educational technology. Teachers and students set up their classrooms in the Capitol. Throughout the event, they conduct class just as they do every day in their home districts. This year students, utilizing both PCs and Macs, will be working with video and sound editing, robotics, iPods, iPads, online virtual learning environments, 1 to 1 laptop computing, online interactive learning, with students working on full video production, developing educational gaming lessons, and robotics. All of these districts are using forms of blended technology, games and simulations, and personal learning environments. Legislators and invited guests have the opportunity to venture through actual classrooms to observe and experience educational technology in use by teachers and students. “Educational technology brings schools high tech education tools deployed by our teachers and used by our students to prepare them to be successful in life. These students are eager to show their Representatives and Senators how these tools are used in the education process and how much they benefit from their use.” Dr. Jolly concluded. This year we are very excited about being involved with the National Digital Learning Week group kicking things off in the State of Texas. Participating districts include: Amarillo ISD, Coleman ISD, Coppell ISD, Denton ISD, Irving ISD, Klein ISD, Ysleta ISD, San Saba ISD, Pasadena Virtual School, Texas Virtual Academy (remote sites), East Austin College Prep, Del Valle ISD, and the Texas School for the Deaf.

It is important for the legislations to see what rural schools can do and what we are all about. This type of event gave our students, students from rural Texas an opportunity to be compared to other students from metropolitan areas. It spotlights our students from rural Texas and shows how they can perform well and as skillfully as those in the metropolitan and larger school districts. During the official opening ceremonies a student from San Saba High School was selected for a very special honor. Johanna Crosby presented Legislative Sponsor, Senator Dan Patrick with the official TCSH Bell that started the day’s events. Participating in this event and representing San Saba High School proudly were Johanna Crosby, McKenzie Hibler, Allison Nettleship, and Kristin Reynolds. THANKS go to all the parents and SSISD staff members who accompanied the crew on the event and helped out and supported them through this special occasion.

Parents, let us know how we can help you the first day of school all the way until the last day of school!! Please check the website at www.san-saba.net for school information and follow us on Facebook, too! If you have any question about this article or any other question about school happenings please contact me at 325/372-3771 or email me at lglaze@san-saba.net.