A "Happy Welcome" to the 2006 Winter Semester.

Trust your children are having a great start to the 2006 winter semester. This "7th Grade Elective Computer Class" e-mail newsletter system is now up and running! This newsletter will be updated nearly every week on my web site describing important things to know about in my 7th grade technology classes. So please look forward to these newsletters. Thank you for providing me with your e-mail addresses as a means of improved communicating. A short cut or bookmark for reading my weekly newsletters is to go to: <http://www.kuzmich.com/parent_newsletters.html>. I hope that your child is enjoying my 7th grade computer elective classes. If you know of any parents in my 7th grade elective computer classes who aren't receiving it, please notify them to contact me via this e-mail address and I'll add them to my list. Presently, I have nearly 120+ e-mail addresses of parents in my bulk-mailing newsletter e-mail list which means I am communicating with nearly all of my 7th grade parents a minimum of three or four times a month about our unique/innovative class.

Who is the Real Dr. Data?! For the most comprehensive, introduction to understand the unique education your child will receive, please go to: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/Dr_Data_Person.html and you will be guided tour displaying the following information:

Student Contracts Signed and Returned!

Please note that student contracts need to be signed by both the parent and their children indicating that both parties clearly understand Dr. Data's class rules, rewards and consequences plus how he grades, how make up work is done, after school assistance and extra-credit, etc. If your child misplaced it, please download it at: <http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/contract.html>. Note: when the student contract is returned to Dr. Data, your child will earn 100 points in Dr. Data's grade book for that student and 150 points if a working e-mail address is included as a bonus. Deadline for returning the contracts signed by both parent and students was Friday, January 13th, but I will accept them next week with no penalty.

Guaranteed Success!

Hopefully by now, you and your child more fully understand how Dr. Data's guarantees that your child will not fail his class with me by viewing: <http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/Success.html>. There, it offers 15 essential steps that really work and are entitled: Success Guaranteed in Dr. Data's Classes If Students/Parents Follow These Guidelines! If you should every have any concerns about the progress of your child, never hesitate to e-mail and I will respond even if out-of-school or out-of-state. Since I have a wireless Internet connection on my notebook, I have constant Internet connection and can receive and send e-mail from nearly anywhere in the USA. And as you will soon find out, nearly 24/7.

This Week in Class!

Students were introduced to keyboarding skills the Dr. Data way. Namely, students will learn to type without assistance of their eyes, using all ten fingers in a sequential touch typing system (home row method) without fear of needing to use their eyes. Students are literally learning how to type all over again with correct posture, finger placement, and clue sheets with multi-applications: essays, diction and using typing books in multiple manners. Unlimited extra-credit is available by typing at home with computers, typewriters and clue sheets. Simple have the parent write Dr. Data a note of the number of minutes typed and 1 extra-credit point will be earned for every 10 minutes practiced. Note: home practice for extra-credit must be with typing skills and not playing games or browsing the Internet.

All students have been administered 3 tests this week: Class Rules Test, Class Rewards Test and Class Consequence Test. Test your child and ask them to tell you the 5 class rules, 5 class rewards and 6 class consequences for not obeying the class rules.

Note: any school assignments typed for any other teacher will automatically earn 2 extra-credit points for every page typed. Simply bring the graded paper to Dr. Data and it will updated into the child's electronic grade book record.

Upcoming 24/7 Grading System and Extra-Credit Opportunities!

You and your child should be able to view their grades 24/7 at the Carmody Parent Portal at: https://campus.jeffco.k12.co.us/campus/portal/jeffco_IC.jsp: Believe it or not, the weekly grades for the first week of school are already posted for your perusal. You will be able to view your child's grades 24/7 for every teacher. Passwords and usernames will be assigned to you by the Carmody office staff. Simply come to the office and present proper identification and you will be given the necessary information to view your child's grades and progress reports for all of their classes. Dr. Data will go one step further by posting grades daily before he leaves school so attendance, grades and special comments are available for your perusal on a daily basis.

Upcoming Thursday, January 19th: 6th Grade Orientation!

I hope to see all potential 7th grade parents at the annual 6th Grade Orientation Meeting for the 2006-2007 school year on Thursday, January 19th at 7: p.m. in the boy's gym. Dr. Data will conduct two 7th grade elective class orientation presentations for you to learn first hand what Carmody's 7th grade computer class courseware is the very best in Jefferson County. As incentive for you to attend, I will offer 10 bonus points to all students whose parent(s) attend either one of my two presentations that night. You will enjoy my presentations as Dr. Data promises to be very "entertaining."

Creative Curriculum Offerings!

If you are not familiar with our innovative 7th grade computer curriculum covering a wealth of instructional materials, please peruse the curriculum materials at: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/class_syllabus.html. The first three weeks of school will cover keyboarding skills with the AlphaSmarts which are electronic typewrite keyboards or "dumb" terminals. Then we use computers for the rest of the semester by first learning word processing skills for four weeks which will include a two-page pen pal letter to Korean speaking students in Seoul, Korea. Then we study database management for two weeks which includes designing and imputing an original database. Then we learn spreadsheets for a 1.5 weeks with many different "what if" financial analysis applications. Then we learn the finer points of using Internet search engines on how to best use the Internet for researching topics. Then the real fun begins with the making of PowerPoint slideshow presentations, newsletters and making web pages. Then we go to painting and drawing, making computer music applications and finally with how to make computer games with animation and sound effects. Parents are even encouraged to attend classes whenever they want to learn some of these creative applications along with their child. To know approximately when we study each application, please visit: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/Curriculum_Preview.html

Carmody's "Whiz Chips" Club

Important date to mark: Monday's on scheduled Carmody club meetings so the "Whiz Chips Club" will meet regularly every Monday afternoon from 2:15 to 3 p.m. At these weekly meetings, students will learn how to construct computer games. Please encourage your child to attend the first Whiz Chips Club meeting and find out why the Whiz Chips is a great way to enjoy computers. Each club member will also receive a computer game construction software application (Klik & Play) which can be downloaded for free at: http://www.clickteam.com/English/download_main.php3?PID=6 so your child can creatively practice at home beginning today!

After the beginning of the second semester in January, 2005, the "Whiz Chips" Club is sponsoring a computer game contest. Some of your children might enjoy observing an intensive competition. Past information about the Whiz Chips Club can be located at: <http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/whiz_chips_intro.html>. Note: it will be updated soon.

Carmody is presently participating in a beta testing project for MultiMedia Fusion which is an advanced computer game creator application. It is a third-generation upgrade of Klik & Play and Games Factory. Whiz Chips members will be working on writing an instruction materials of how to make computer games covering the following areas: Screen savers, video players, music players, platform games, racing games, word games, educational games and more. of Whiz Chips members, Carmody will get a free school site license to have MultiMedia Fusion installed on all PC Lab computers, saving Carmody thousands of dollars. Dr. Data needs willing members to specialize on making computer games and assisting in organizing instruction materials.

Please have you child indicate if he or she is interested in being a member of "Whiz Chips" Club. Your child can download a 30-day trial version of MultiMedia Fusion at: <http://www.clickteam.com/English/multimedia_fusion.htm> in preparation for their participation in the beta testing of MultiMedia Fusion with its awesome graphics and animation.

Parent Observations/Visitations Welcomed!

Be aware that Dr. Data loves to have parents visit their child's class and have you seat next to your child and watch them working. Yes, parents are an important ingredient in the success of the children in school. And Dr. Data always encourages parents to "sit in." In some cases, you can assist Dr. Data or even teach with me in an area that you are knowledgeable with in computers, such as word processing, spreadsheets, database construction, Internet search engines, PowerPoint, web pages, etc. Last semester, we had several 7th grade parents volunteer to assist me and it was fun for all. Again for sample of curriculum topics and approximate dates, please go to: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/Curriculum_Preview.html

Future Newsletters!

The next newsletter will focus in on the different software applications we are using for instruction and how to purchase these products at a substantial discount! Are there any specific topics that you would like me to address in future newsletters? To begin, I recommend that you go the "Carmody 7th Grade Computer Class Web" site (http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/Carmody_Opening.htm) for further insight about the instruction offered, philosophy and other related topics that will be important for the success of your child.

Closing Comments

If you have any questions about your child's work or class procedures, please don't hesitate to contact Dr. Data at either his e-mail address at: jkuzmich@earthlink.net or his voice mail system at: 303-982-8883. For pressing issues, the fastest way to contact Dr. Data is to call the Carmody main office phone at 303-982-8930 and the receptionist will post a "love note" in his mail box for his prompt attention.,

Don't forget to visit Dr. Data's lesson plans on his weekly voice message system about the week's instruction. This could be particularly valuable whenever your child is absent from school or on a school field trip. Again, do so, please call 303-982-8883 24/7. The message is usually updated by Friday for the upcoming week's instruction or on Mondays.

Hope this installment of Dr. Data's 7th grade elective computer class newsletter is helpful in keeping you up-to-date with your child's activities, grades and well-being in the "7th Grade Computer Class."

In closing, look for Dr. Data's weekly newsletters at: http://www.kuzmich.com/parent_newsletters.html. Normally, he will e-mail you on the day it is posted as a reminder that it is up and available for your perusal.

Till next time,

John Kuzmich, Jr.
(alias Dr. Data )