My son was invited to a couple of laser tag birthday parties at eScape last month. There’s no better place for a kid to release some energy than at eScape. Kids run around in a dark arena up ramps and shoot at their peers to earn the most points and win the game. They really work up a sweat. At the end of the party they get to eat pizza, and play video games.

When I went to pick up the boys, I noticed that one of our Screenflex portable room dividers was in use, I asked the hostess if she could fill me in on how the dividers were helping them. She told me that they purchased 3 dividers and use them a lot to create smaller party spaces when they need them. It was fun to see another facility using Screenflex to tailor make their space.  I liked that since I wasn’t expecting to see them there.

Setting up rooms in a gymnasium are easy with Screenflex

The other day I spoke with a gentleman from Calvary Baptist Church. Pete Hastert, who does everything from electrical work, plumbing and just about all the maintenance of his church. He talked to me in-depth about the history of Calvary Baptist and what led them to purchase Screenflex room dividers. He purchased 4 room dividers from us back in September to use while the church was going through considerable renovations.
This amazing church has gone through a couple of big tragedies only to be blessed with growth. In 1936 a tornado hit the church building and blew much of the roof away. In 1992 a fire burned down the main sanctuary and after rebuilding the sanctuary ten years later, renovations are underway again and services, preschool classes and  other ministries continue with the help of Screenflex portable room dividers.

Here are some ways Calvary Baptist Church uses Screenflex:

Optional Multi-Unit Connector

• Calvary’s gymnasium is 8,000 square feet (80 X 100), so Pete purchased four 16′ x 9″ room dividers to divide the gym in half. FREEstanding room dividers can be strung together with muti-unit connectors to make any length wall desired. To run a MDO (mom’s day out) program, room dividers are set up to create two rooms in the gym.  The preschool program can enjoy gym time on one side of the divider and a study group can meet on the other side of the divider.
• Yearly Valentine’s Day party’s take place in the gymnasium for 360 guests. Calvary sets up room dividers to create a smaller dinning area for the party.
• Multiple events can take place at the same time.
• Dividers are used for creating backdrops for shows.
• While the kitchen is under renovations, a temporary kitchen is set up in the gymnasium where coffee, ice and food items are set up  for the church members using room dividers.
• Small rooms are created during conferences and study groups for a cozier atmosphere.

Here are the reasons why Calvary Baptist selected Screenflex:

Deliberation about incorporating tablets into the classroom is prevalent. The drive for this change is much closer than we think especially with Obama’s push to put an e-book in the hands of every student by 2017. As a parent, teacher or administrator the benefits are clear.

Reasons Why We Need Tablets in the Classroom

Schools spend $7 billion on text books around the country and most of the books in the classroom have dated material. During my college days, text-book rentals were around $40.00 a pop on each book. Inkling, a San Francisco based company sells books by the chapter for $2.99.

My daughter came home from school the other day with a backpack that weighed almost as much as she did. Granted in 5th grade the work load is heavier than previous years but these terribly oppressive backpacks kids have to carry to and from school are hard on their backs and necks. I can’t imagine next year’s backpack load but I’m hoping that all books will be available online.

To my surprise, last month I found out that our school has had a shortage of science books. Two of the four 5th grade classes needed to share their text books because they were piloting this particular science book. When my daughter came home with her study guide for a science test, I noticed that she didn’t bring her science book home. That’s when she told me that the other class got to take the books home because there weren’t enough books to go around. In this situation e-books would simply make sense.

Computers take up lots of space. Options are sometimes limited to placing a row of computers against a wall. As students face the wall while working, collaboration and interaction slows down or ceases to exist.

Benefits of Tablets in the Classroom

Gurnee School District 56 will be implementing the use of iPads for some special education classes to create a multi-sensory product for children with special needs. Kids who might have difficulty using a mouse, can use their fingers to drag and get engaged in the application.

Tablets benefit children with ADHD and short attention spans by adding another form of learning in their curriculum.

Whether you want your child to read a book, learn a language or get extra help with algebra, there are a variety of educational apps that can make learning fun for kids. Some apps are perfect for the classroom while other apps are a nice addition to at home learning.

Teachers can have the freedom of creativity with desk placement in their classroom. If each student had their own tablet, students could sit on the floor or in groups or any arrangement imaginable instead of being confined to  a clunky stationary computer.

Tablets will allow children to work at their own pace.  Gifted students can work ahead while students that need extra help can get the help they need.

Using tablets in the classroom will  inadvertently increase student’s computing skills.  With the technology industry growing by leaps and bounds, teachers could kill two birds with one stone.

Many schools offer resources for students to get textbooks and homework online, imagine the endless possibilities of tablets for your child’s classroom. What kind of PC learning experience does your school provide and what is your view on tablets in your classroom?

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After speaking with Screenflex

Top Notch Customer Service:  Have you ever sat on the phone for what seemed to be hours or been transferred from department to department to find out the only person who can help you is on vacation!  How frustrating, right?  Well, here at Screenflex we know your time is very valuable and we strive to answer your questions as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.  Whether you need assistance with parts, shipping or pricing, we are here to help.

You may contact us by web request, telephone at 800-553-0110 or email customerservice@screenflex.com.

Superior Products:  Our room dividers are made to last!  I have listed some of their many great features below:

• Sound Absorbing
• Durable Acoustical Panel Construction
• 20 Gauge Powder Coated Steel Trim
• 1/2″ Closed Cell Honeycomb Cor
•  Non-woven Fiberglass Facing
• 20 Gauge Galvanized Steel Frame
• 10 pound Fiberglass Matte accepts tacks/push pins/staples
• Fabric/Vinyl Covering 38 colors in stock
• Hinges top to bottom
• Locking End Casters
• Position Controllers to secure panels in place
• Last but not least is our patented End Frame for maximum strength and stability

Don’t be fooled, our Screenflex room dividers are the best on the market!  Watch this short video to be properly informed before making your decision to purchase a room divider.

Friendly Sales Consultants:  Our sales consultants are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the height, length, color, dimensions, delivery and pricing of our Screenflex Room Dividers.  We want to make certain you are ordering the correct product for your application.  We enjoy speaking with people from all different types of organizations – Churches, Schools, Medical Facilities, Factories, Fitness Centers, Corporations, Government Facilities and Hospitality Facilities.  It is our pleasure to help you make an informed decision.

Professional Space Planning Department:  We will create a design per your specifications.  All you have to do is sketch out your existing room dimensions, show us where in the room you would like the portable classrooms and provide the dimensions you would like the classrooms to be.  Our Design Team will create the space plan that is perfect for your specific needs – Free of charge!

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Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota provided a Christian higher education for approximately 6000 students this year from 36 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and seminary school and has educated students since 1871.

Explore the ways Bethel University has used Screenflex room dividers over the years…

• Have you heard the 75-voice campus choir perform?  The Bethel choir is part of the university’s performing arts program and has performed here in the states and throughout Europe and Scandinavia. Screenflex portable walls are set up for student as dressing rooms for various concerts throughout the year. You can check out Bethel’s choir performances on YouTube.
• Middle school band, orchestra, St Paul’s Orchestra and Bethel’s own choir all use temporary rooms which are created with Screenflex portable walls providing waiting rooms for the performers before curtain call.
• St. Paul’s Orchestra performs four times a year in Bethel’s concert hall. The Christmas Festival of Lights performed 4 sold out shows which sat 1500 spectators. Temporary rooms created with dividers provide the privacy needed for performers in a busy concert hall.
• At one of the fundraisers that Bethel hosts, which raised a generous amount of money for the Children’s Shelter Cebu Orphanage in the Philippines, required the use of Screenflex screens during their event. The party took place in Bethel’s gymnasium. While room dividers easily concealed food and the chefs who were busy at work, attendees enjoyed a nice meal without distractions. Chefs needed to serve their guest’s meals closer to the event to keep food hot. This meaningful dinner took place in the large gymnasium and with the number of guests attending hosts wanted to bring the kitchen into the gymnasium to make serving simpler.  A kitchen area was created in the gym to insure hot meals and with Screenflex dividers set up to form a separate kitchen area kept unsightly dishes and warming trays invisible to guests.  Screenflex dividers kept the “kitchen” out of site.
• Dividers have been used as message boards for staff and students. Panels are tackable and can be used for displaying almost anything. Message boards are a great way to find jobs, post jobs or advertise something.
• ACDA celebrated their 100 year Anniversary in November and 400 guests attended this glorious event in the Bethel concert hall and gymnasium. Screenflex dividers were set up to create a relaxing private room for the choir while they waited to perform.

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I have been working with a church in New York who is in desperate need of Room Dividers!  They have a large, open room that is 42′ x 22′ , where the children attend school and have play time.  You know how it is when there are a ton of children in one big room – chaos!   Our room dividers create distinct spaces that remove sight distractions and they help to absorb sound.

Screenflex room dividers are a great way to organize space and create a structured, safe environment.  Also, Screenflex room dividers are on casters – Fully Portable!  If they want to open the room up for a basketball game it would only take minutes to fold up the dividers and store them.

I suggested using ourFREE Space Planning Service .  Our design team is dedicated to creating a better use of your floor space than you ever imagined possible!  They jumped on board and off we went planning.  Our design team created a Three Dimensional plan, which gave a “real feel” for what we proposed.  Also, we provided a one dimensional plan showing the specific partitions we  used for the room layout.

The director was thinking they could make five classrooms in their space and leave room for a basketball area.  While creating the design, our team was only able to organize three classrooms within the dimensions they  provided.  I explained to my client that  five classrooms would only leave room for a few children in each room.  After walking the property they realized our analysis was correct and were very thankful that we brought this to their attention.  The director loves the idea that they will have three classrooms and one open area for the children to play games.

I generated several quotes reflecting different height options that would work for their room.  At first the director requested the 6’8″ tall room divider but I explained that because the height of their door is 6’8″ tall, she would need to step down to the 6′tall room divider to clear the door.

This church is just starting up but is so excited about creating a fun, safe environment for their growing Children’s Ministries.  It is our pleasure at Screenflex to be able to help churches maximize their existing space for youth and adult ministries!

The American Association of School Administrators will be hosting their National Conference on Education this week in Houston, Texas.  Join Screenflex in booth #626. Kevin will be showcasing our FREEstanding portable room dividers.

Here’s a link to view the conference brochure.  Also don’t forget to view the 3 Reasons why you can’t miss the National Conference on Education this year.

Screenflex Portable Room Dividers are the world’s most versatile dividers.  Flexible, functional, economical… your possibilities are endless with Screenflex!

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Check out our decorated Screenflex room divider.  Get in the spirit of Valentine’s Day.

As you can see, Screenflex Room Dividers are tackable and easy to decorate.  Create two or several classrooms in seconds.  Use the sound absorbing panels for art work, school displays, lecture materials or just about anything.  To complete your classroom or training room, add a dry erase board. This is a functional and affordable solution for managing your space needs.  Screenflex Room Dividers come fully assembled for instant use.

Did You Know?

• 141 Million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged every Valentine’s Day.
• In addition to the U.S., Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Italy, Japan and Denmark celebrate Valentine’s Day.
• There are 6,000 marriages that take place in the United States every day.
• Girls of medieval times ate specific foods on Valentine’s Day to make them dream about their future spouse.
• Casanova ate chocolate because he thought it made him viral.
• Physicians of the 1800′s advised their patients to eat chocolate to help clam their pining for a lost love.
• Over $1 billion of chocolate is purchased for Valentine’s Day in the U.S. alone.
• 58 million pounds of chocolate is sold for Valentine’s Day every year.

Valentine’s Day Quotes

• When love is not madness, it is not love. Pedro Calderonde la Barca
• Loving is not just looking at each other, it’s looking in the same direction. Antoine de Saint
• All you need is love.  But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt. Charles M Schultz
• Today is Valentine’s Day – or as men like to call it Extortion Day! Jay Leno
• Love is the flower you’ve got to let grow. John Lennon

My husband has been working out of our home for over 16 years.  There are definite advantages of self-employment or working from home. Avoiding a long commute and the value out of getting more time to spend with your family are just a couple of reasons why working from home yields you gratification. Running a business from your home can also have it’s turns. As far as home offices go, it can be quite an undertaking trying to keep your “home” from creeping into your office space. Here are a few tips that can help you keep your office an office.

Settings

Use a designated space for your home office. Placing a desk in the corner of your living area might not be the best idea for a productive office setting.  Try using a spare bedroom or empty space for your office.  If an independent office is not a possibility, you can purchase a room divider to give yourself some privacy and physical boundaries.

Keep Kids Separate

Kids can be fanatics about invading mom or dad’s work space. They like to play or do homework near by.  It brings them closer to you however keeping your kid’s toys and school work separate from your work space is crucial. Toys and kid’s projects in your office makes for distractions.

Clutter Free

What do they say?  ”As the office is cleaned, so the mind can be cleaned. As you enjoy a clean office, you will enjoy a clean and uncluttered mind.” There is something to be said for a clean space when you are conference calling a customer or receiving a video call.  If whatever is in your background is messy, always use a back drop for a professional appearance. Take a look at this fun informational video that describes and provides a solution to a conference call in a messy office. Remember, clutter will drain your energy and focus.

Dress For Success

Even though you are at home, wearing your P.J.’s to your office is just not cool.  Comfort is a many splendor thing but P.J.’s will make you want to crawl back into bed.  You wouldn’t wear P.J.’s to work so don’t wear them to your home office.

When It’s Time To “Go Home”

Contrary to popular belief, just because you work from home doesn’t mean you have to work 24/7.  As you work during the day undisturbed, you also want to share undisturbed time with your family. When you call it a day, do just that.  Your family will appreciate finally getting you for themselves.

Working from home has it’s perks. For those of you who work from a home office, how do you manage your day?  What have you found to be a successful balance between home and work?

Video Transcript:

To set up your portable wall, simply roll it into position, unlock the storage latch, set up the acoustical panels in any configuration desired. To complete a classroom or training area, add an optional marker board.
To set up several rooms in any large area, it is now as easy as one, two, three, and yes, to prepare your room for it’s next use, it’s just this easy.

These useful portable classroom set ups are just a couple examples of what Screenflex can provide. Dividers come in various heights and lengths and offered are 36 color options.