PORTLAND, OR - No longer will students at Buckman Arts Magnet Elementary School have to wear teachers' notes pinned to their jackets or retrieve crumpled permission slips from the bottom of their lockers. Soon, all information for parents is going to be available online. Principal Helen Nolen is leading the effort to make communication paperless. With the help of a former Buckman teacher, Nolen has taken the first steps by developing a weblog for her school.

The principal's goal is to improve communication by publishing everything for parents online. Having a school weblog makes that goal feasible. The technology behind weblogs allows fast, easy, and inexpensive publishing on the Web.

Principal Helen Nolen uses the weblog to communicate with teachers and parents.

Nolen's main concerns are equity and access. "I have big ideas," she says, "but first I want to ensure that all parents have access to our Web site." One way Nolan wants to provide parental access to the Web site is by installing "computer kiosks" in the mural-lined entryway of Buckman. "That way," she says, "all parents will be able to get online." Currently, some parents are accessing the weblog to read the principal and parent newsletters and check for upcoming events. But until every parent has Internet access, paper still goes home with the students. Nolen estimates that about 60 percent of her students' homes are wired for Internet access.

Nolen addresses her teachers' varying comfort levels with the use of technology, and exudes confidence when it comes to her colleagues' abilities. "This is a staff of learners. Now that some of the teachers are posting to the weblog, others want to join in," she says with pride. And, all teachers are expected to add at least one page of content to the school weblog. Nolen uses Moveable Type* (a Web publishing software), "because you can have layers, so the teacher who is intimidated by it can just post to one page, while other teachers can build multiple pages. It offers a range of access."

Teachers and other staff members are using the weblog in different ways. The librarian, for example, has posted a suggested reading list and book reviews for students. A first-grade teacher showcases student writing with an "authors' corner." Another teacher has students perform daily journal writing on the weblog, while in a science class, students post mealworm observations and photos. Student artwork also appears in a colorful online gallery.

Currently, Nolen maintains the weblog and a Principal's Page on the site with updates to families and staff. When does she find the time? "The beauty is that it can be used from anywhere. So, I usually post to the weblog in the evening, when I have some time to myself."

Nolen, who got her first computer for teacher use in 1991, is close to her goal of going paperless. "But," she says with a smile, "I keep putting new file cabinets in."

Buckman Elementary weblog is available at http://buckman.pps.k12.or.us/*