Something Old, but Nothing New

This post, along with the title that actually appeared three years ago, was taken from the very first blog created in our school system and was written 6 months after the blog had been created. The message, taking a good look at the resources right at hand, is just as timely today as it was three years ago.

You each come to this site weekly, but I wonder to what extent you have really explored what is here. If you haven't done so lately, take a moment to examine the links on the right-hand side of the screen. (The Calendar and Common Documents can be accessed from any computer in the school system, but not from home.) You have a very complete school calendar a mouse-click away without having to truck all the way to the office. (Remember, we are only using the paper calendar in the office to record faculty and staff planned absences.) Please take a moment to scroll from month to month and be sure your personal calendar is not missing something.

Take a look at the Common Documents. If you have not looked at the Faculty Handbook all year simply because nobody has Xeroxed the whole thing and put it in front of you, why not put that on your list of stuff to do. I guarantee you will find information there that you have not seen in previous years (and the list of stuff to add to it for next year is growing). If you are asked for a password when you go to open a document, hit "Cancel," and you should be able to get into it.

Need to look at a Student Handbook? It's there. What about that handout on how to set up a Windows XP machine? Ditto. Need a piece of letterhead? It's there.

Every passing month convinces me more and more that a key element of being productive and as stress-free as possible in the world we live in today is getting comfortable with finding, using, and storing data digitally. At Graham, we are far ahead in this area when compared to so many places, but we still have a long way to go.