Thursday, April 18, 2024

April is English Language Learning Month!

April is English Language Learning month! Pitsco Education plans to celebrate all month long using some STREAM fun; maybe these ideas will inspire you to do the same.

There’s power in STREAM activities – those that emphasize reading and art with STEM. Hands-on STREAM learning truly helps support language development, as it strengthens connections that cross language barriers.

Look to any of these STREAM activities to engage your learners:

STEM Boxes (K-12):
Each one of Pitsco’s STEM Boxes is devoted to providing one student five kits that cross 15 activities and challenges – in both English and Spanish.

Read-Aloud STEM Packs (K-2):
Educators Carly & Adam helped develop three ELA packs all about classroom-favorite books: The Dot, Not a Box, and How to Code a Sandcastle.

iSprowt Packs (3-5):
No matter which of the eight pack options you choose, you’re going to have a blast. Students work in pairs to read, write, draw, predict, and model as they watch science come to life!

Family STEM Night Bundle (K-5):
STREAM is for the whole family! This bundle is packed with everything you need to host your own family-friendly event – including both English and Spanish communication and signage options.

Find more STREAM solutions in Pitsco’s catalogs: www.pitsco.com/Catalogs.

Brochure: 4 Ways to Engage ELL Learners

When shopping directly with Pitsco Education, don’t forget to use code AEPACTE at checkout for your exclusive discount. Valid through May 2026.

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Monday, April 15, 2024

April Knowledge Bites with SchoolsPLP

Join the growing number of schools making the change to SchoolsPLP, a quickly growing credit recovery/alt-ed virtual program in Iowa.

Do your students need something more engaging? 

  • Netflix meets Education: New courses, 4k images, built-in AI beaters, videos that range from 30 seconds to 4 minutes... These are just a few of the things designed to keep students interested in learning.

Do your students need more course options? 

  • SchoolsPLP has 1800 courses available, including 500+ CTE courses from eDynamic & Pointful Education (included in the cost of the license)    

Are you worried about the process of making a program change?

  • There is still time to take advantage of the New Customer License, allowing you to do the set-up, training, & on-boarding now but pay on your next budget cycle.

If you need a refresher on why SchoolsPLP is different, we have two more Knowledge Bites scheduled. Register here:  https://educationaldesignsolutions.com/schoolsplp-reg/.   

*Under our competitively bid contract (#AEPA IFB 024-C), Iowa schools receive contract/volume pricing based on implementation needs.

Upcoming Sessions on SchoolsPLP 

  • April 18th, 12-1pm
  • April 30th, 12-1pm

For more information, reach out to:

Aaron Eusterwiemann
Educational Design Solutions
913-424-2128
aarone@educationaldesignsolutions.com
www.educationaldesignsolutions.com

Book a Time via Calendly 

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Thursday, April 11, 2024

PITSCO Partnership With Twin Science

With PITSCO and Twin Science, you can now infuse STEAM learning in your classroom with curiosity and creativity.

Empower your students to explore ways to help others and improve the planet using technology. Through the hands-on projects and curriculum, your students will investigate sustainable, technological solutions to a variety of real-world problems.

For Classroom Learning:
Robotics and Coding School Kit (92839): Designed for the classroom, the Twin Science Robotics and Coding School Kit enables you to introduce Grades 5-6 students to technology, coding, robotics, and sustainability topics.
 
For Out-of-School Learning: 
Use these hands-on kits in elementary settings such as after-school programs, summer camps, clubs, and more!

 
Explore them all on Pitsco.com!

When shopping directly with Pitsco Education, don’t forget to use code AEPACTE at checkout for your exclusive AEA Purchasing/AEPA discount. Valid through May 2026.

To start your conversation with PITSCO, contact:







Preston Frazier, Iowa Sales
Contract #AEPA 022.5-B AEPACTE
800-835-0686 Ext. 4559
Order Support: orders@pitsco.com
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Wednesday, April 10, 2024

How Students Bypass School Filtering - Deledao

Students are a resourceful bunch so it should be no surprise that many have discovered ways to bypass school filtering systems. Before we explore the challenges this creates, let's take a quick look at how students sometimes use proxy websites to bypass school filters.

How to Get Around School Content Filtering

The internet is a vast and ever-evolving landscape, and tech-savvy students can very easily locate detailed directions on how to get around school content filtering. A multitude of online resources, some hidden in plain sight, offer students step-by-step guides on "how to get around school filters." These resources often point them towards proxy websites...

Click here to read the full article on Deledao's blog.

Download a ProxyGuard flier 
View 2 min ProxyGuard demo

Interested? Contact Jasen Whetstone with Deledao to begin your conversation. Using the AEA Purchasing/AEPA contract (AEPA 021-G), Iowa schools receive a discount on Deledao services. 

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Tuesday, April 9, 2024

A Story Everyone Will Love

Have you ever walked into a school and felt like you were transported into learning spaces from decades or even centuries ago? In these moments, it becomes clear that many of today’s learning spaces are not the result of thoughtful strategy; instead, these spaces have been shaped by the momentum of tradition and thousands of micro-decisions that weren’t made over the years.

Think about the message this outdated design sends about the school’s values and priorities. Consider the story that takes shape in your mind about what the learning experience is like there. Notice how much you already feel you know about the place just from evaluating the space design.  

Your own spaces are telling a story, too. Do you know what it is? More importantly, who is in control of the narrative? 

Every space has potential waiting to be unlocked. To get there, you must first win support from teachers, students, families, and your community. That means crafting a compelling narrative about why space design matters and how it supports kids’ success, then marketing that narrative effectively. You’ll need to tell your story, repeat your story, and unpack your story to make sure it’s the one that sticks.  

For more insight and advice on how to share your story with your community, continue reading here on Demco's blog. Demco is an awarded vendor partner with AEA Purchasing providing bid pricing on school and other learning environment furniture.

To begin your conversation with Demco, contact:

Demco
Andrea Jones
Contract #AEPA 022-A, Bid # C10903
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Monday, April 8, 2024

Lighting Energy Study - The Retrofit Companies

Upgrades to building and facility lighting have grown in popularity across the country. As technology improves, bulb manufacturers continually push out products that are more eco-friendly, more efficient, and more beneficial to your budget long term. With so many options and customizable solutions available, where do you start? The answer is with a Lighting Energy Study from The Retrofit Companies (TRC).

In short, TRC’s Lighting Energy Study provides a complete assessment of where a building or campus currently sits regarding lighting and efficiency and identifies what areas to prioritize and budget for in the future. The study covers areas of opportunity to further reduce energy costs and consumption, what a turnkey project might look like, what specific upgrades would save in energy and maintenance costs, and what utility incentives are available. 


Through a competitively bid contract available from AEA Purchasing, a Lighting Energy Study from TRC is available to Iowa schools at a reduced price of $0.04/sq. ft. If a school ends up working with TRC on a project, TRC will reimburse the school for the study amount of the project.


  • For more information on the TRC Lighting Energy Study, click here. 

  • For more details on the approach and the audit process, click here.


Maintenance Savings at Red Wing Schools
Red Wing Schools (MN) purchased a Lighting Energy Study to assess all 8 of their campus buildings. From that study, a project plan was developed that addressed their lighting upgrade needs (consistent product specs, improved light levels, color-tuning SPED lighting, etc.). The details provided in the study allowed them to allocate funds and explain to the school board what they were getting and what they were saving.

A project summary and video is available here. 

If your district is interested in developing a big-picture plan that addresses non-construction, lighting-only needs and how to properly budget for them, TRC is ready to help! To begin your conversation, contact:

The Retrofit Companies
Jake Andrist
Contract # CPC RFP 24.5 – Lighting Audit Services & LED Solutions
Sales and Marketing Manager
JAndrist@retrofitcompanies.com
507-363-0656
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Friday, April 5, 2024

FREE Resources from Blick Art Materials

BLICK Art Materials offers a wide range of FREE resources for educators, in addition to a selection of more than 110,000 products! 

Take a look at some of the ways BLICK supports the classroom and beyond by visiting https://www.dickblick.com/educators/ or downloading this PDF.

Be sure to use code QD20AEP during checkout, and request your 2024 Materials for Art Education catalog at dickblick.com/customer-service/catalogs/.

To begin your conversation with Blick Art Materials and learn how your school can take advantage of AEA Purchasing's bid pricing, contact:

Blick Art Materials
Megan Miller
Contract #AEPA 022.5-B (Industrial Arts & Career and Tech Supplies)
Contract #AEPA 023-D (School & Instructional Supplies)
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Thursday, April 4, 2024

Summer Paper Buy

AEA Purchasing has partnered with The Paper Corporation out of Des Moines to bring Iowa schools and AEAs competitive pricing on cut paper and envelopes.

​Complete information (including the order form) is now available! To obtain your documents, email joni@aeapurchasing.org.

Bid features include:

  • Wide variety of paper weights, colors, and sizes
  • Additional discounts for orders of 840 cartons of white or greater
  • Letter and catalog envelopes
Plus, when you order under this buy, you are not only supporting local educational services but also our economy. Our awarded vendor, The Paper Corporation, is an Iowa-based company proudly located in Des Moines!

​Orders are due May 17, 2024 with delivery expected on or before September 6, 2024. Early ordering is encouraged!


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Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Credit Recovery with SchoolsPLP

 Does your credit recovery program engage your students?

 SchoolsPLP Curriculum - Where Netflix meets Education!

Does this sound like your student’s online credit recovery program?
  • Students don’t like the videos - they are dated, old, or just boring.
  • Videos are too long – 10 minutes or even more – today, can that keep a student’s attention?
  • The classwork doesn’t challenge or interest the student.
  • The child just Googles the answers – it’s too easy to find the answers online. 
 Sound Familiar? 

Are you ready for something better?  Join SchoolsPLP on April 9th to see something different and preview their new curriculum Where Netflix meets Education.

What is SchoolsPLP:
  • Used for Credit Recovery, Virtual Program, Alternative Education, Virtual Instructional Services, Success Programs, Certifications, and more
  • New SchoolsPLP Curriculum – short, engaging videos – AI Beaters – 4k images – and more
  • AEA Purchasing awarded partner (contract #AEPA IFB 024-C)
To learn more, join the webinar on April 9th, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (CTS).

 
For more information or to begin your conversation with SchoolsPLP, contact:

Aaron Eusterwiemann
Educational Design Solutions
913-424-2128
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