This is a report on the State of Technology in our school. We have 180 computers on our network. Our Tech Lab has 36 networked computers and 4 printers. All classrooms have 2 networked computers and access to a network printer. There are 3 laptop carts with 16 laptops in each for the 6th, 7th and 8th grade. We have added wireless access points to Bldg. B and in Bldg A.

All K-8 classroom teachers now have a laptop, projector and cart in their classroom. The addition of laptops and projectors in the Kindergarten completes this Technology project which was begun 3 years ago. Teachers use these laptops and projectors every day with your students. Teachers have access to the Math series online, and the Enchanted Learning web site as some examples. All teachers can access their email, Discovery streaming and IG Pro gradebooks.

We also worked very hard to add to our Smartboard inventory in the middle school grades. With the addition of 3 more Smartboards we now have Smartboards in two 5th grades and all 6-8 middle school classrooms.

We recently renewed our contract with Discovery Education to provide Streaming Plus access to all teachers. Teachers have access to over 23,000 still images and 8,000 videos, from educational publishers such a PBS, Scholastic, BBC and more. Discovery Education Streaming Plus is the only digital video based learning resource scientifically proven to increase student learning. It has comprehensive K-12 curriculum coverage in six core subject areas.

The Director of Technology applied for a grant from the Educational Foundation for Student Achievement and purchased a one year membership to iEARN, an online collaborative web site. Our third grade teachers have begun a project with their students. They are participating in the “Folk Tales” project to share their traditions with students in other countries. The students will be able to use this cultural experience to realize that children everywhere are much like them. They will be able to apply the technological skills they learn in the classroom and in their personal life. We would like to expand these projects to other grade levels based on the success of the third grade students.

The other major Technology project for this school year was the implementation of SJGS circulation sent home as an email. We will be greener and save money on paper supplies by sending home circulation in this manner. We currently have over 500 families registered for the circulation email and hope to add the rest as families send their address.

The most exciting news is the new St. Joseph web site. In collaboration with a software company we have designed a new web site based on our requirements. We are now able to post much more information and it will be easier to update the site. This will mean one change for the teachers. We will no longer be using TeacherWeb pages for our class web pages. The teachers will be trained in September on the new class web pages.

We have all stretched our Technology skills this year and I would like to thank the teachers for their dedication and hard work. In education we cannot allow ourselves to become stagnant and Technology is one of the many educational tools we have to engage and entice the minds of our students in relevant and timely ways!

Diane DeLorenzo May 11, 2009

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