School honored for tech efforts

The school is one of 12 Catholic elementary schools from around the country chosen to participate in the National Catholic Education Association's SPICE symposium at the University of Dayton this July. SPICE stands for Selected Programs for Improving Catholic Education.

The theme of this year's symposium is Forming Innovative Learning Environments through Technology. Participants will share information on technology programs and will be presented with ideas to enhance existing programs.

Moving up

"When I came three years ago, they had two mobile computers and no curriculum," explained Patricia Simmons, the school's technology teacher.

There is now a computer lab with 11 work stations, two notebook computers and two additional work stations per classroom. There is a technology plan and curriculum in place, and a technology committee advises Ms. Simmons.

This was accomplished through Federal Title I monies, parish support, grants, donations and fund raisers. Also, a parishioner secured four computers through the New York State Lottery.

All involved

The technology committee plays an important role in the program. Made up of parents of students and people without children in the school, the committee held meetings to determine what technology skills were important for students to develop.

"We went out to the local community and asked them what do you want students to know for their higher education and for jobs," she said.

Many uses

Students come in small groups to the computer room so that each student has a computer to work on. Kindergartners through second graders spend 20 minutes in the lab. Third through sixth graders have 30 minutes.

The lab is also used for math and reading remediation. "It gives them a different way of learning," Ms. Simmons said.

Her advice to other schools trying to get a technology program off the ground is to "just take it slowly. We don't have the money, but we constantly promote the program."

(St. Jude School's website can be viewed at www.rcdaschools.org/stjude.)

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