"enhancing, expanding, even transforming  teaching and learning..." Autumn Breezes, 2001

Soar High Eagles: Newport Middle School, the 16th public school in Carteret County, is open for business. Built for the 21st century, it's a real gem in terms of form and function.  The walls and loft hide the digital infrastructure--no retrofitting here!  The building is hard-wired for digital data and voice transmission, and a separate infrastructure provides a cable signal to all classrooms.  The building consists of four corridors that combine to form an X-shape.  Each corridor has its own network closet.  The primary network closet is in a generous space with a rack and a Dell PowerEdge 4400.  The switched network connects the schools computers and printers.  Each classroom has three computers, a printer, a TV, a VCR, and a telephone.  Mike McKay is the Instructional Technology Facilitator, Danette Guthrie teaches the technology courses, and Judi Yager (previously with our tech support team) has signed on as an assistant.

As with any new school, finishing touches remain.  The school's technology team and the district's tech support team have been working diligently to unpack boxes, tag all assets, and install and connect all hardware.

Already, though, the technology is being used for instructional gain.  The students below are  learning to keyboard in Danette's class, while Mike and Judi do some last-minute tweaking of a lesson for another class.

The Newport Middle School Eagles will soar with their technology holdings.  From the networked cafeteria environment to the state-of-the-art media center to all points, programs and populations of the newest school community--the citizens of Carteret County can be proud as our school  system continues on its flight to educational excellence.

September 17, 2001