Elkin Elementary School students got a bonus in technology learning this year thanks to the persistence of their principal and the PTA.
Principal Tom Caton applied for a Lowe's Hometown Grant from the Charitable and Education Foundation early in spring 2007.
The school was awarded $10,000 in June.
Caton said, "PTA matched the grant to help upgrade the computers and an additional $5,000 was collected through private donors and grants."
This is the second year Caton has applied for the Lowe's grant. In 2006 his application was rejected. Caton writes all of the grants himself with occasional help from parent volunteers. Caton said, "We don't have a grant writer for the school system. We really need one. And we are always looking for outside sources of funding."
The school used the combined technology donations to install 25 new Dell XP computers over Thanksgiving.
Caton said that it took a long time to set up the computer network. They also had to buy new computer counters to support all of the new technology, Caton said. "We turned right around and bought it from Lowe's. We special ordered it in our school colors, blue and gold."
The computers are used by 6th grade students to learn keyboarding skills, computer tools, technique and posturing. They are also integrated into other 6th grade curricula. "Reading class comes in to practice proofreading units and create PowerPoint presentations," Beth Felts, one of two part-time computer instructors said Friday. "Science classes chart graphs on them, and math class makes spreadsheets. We pair with subject teachers to integrate technology into all the classes."
They also have a couple of computers available for special needs students with specialized keyboards and programs like "Type to Learn" for children who are not yet literate. "A lot of the students with special needs can learn with technology easier than textbooks," Kathy Reece, the other computer teacher said.
Future technology needs for the school include purchasing more SMART boards for the classroom. They have one per grade level, which Felts said, "Doesn't work very well because we share them among classes and can't mount them permanently. If you just bump one you have to reset them all over again. It really slows things down."
The new lab is located in part of the school's new modular "mega-unit" building. "There was an overcrowding last school year, and the modular unit was purchased after some debate was held whether to keep the 6th grade class at the Elementary School,"
Caton said. "We were using closets as classrooms for small groups of students." Now the entire 6th grade class is housed in the modular unit.
The 6th grade mega-unit also contains five 6th grade classes and a teacher lounge that Surry Community College uses for its GED courses. Caton said, "We want to support adult learning as well. Tuesday and Thursday nights they use our classrooms free of charge. It helps support parents and the community at
large."
February begins "Technology Month" for Elkin public schools.
Kid Quotes:
Abby Triplette
"I like the new computers because it's easier to type. We have logins now so we can do things on our own. And I love the new flat screens!"
Jesus Rivera
"Keyboarding class is fun now. We try to get faster and are learning to use spreadsheets."
Drew Shinkle
"Our PowerPoints have really improved. We just did one on Anne Frank. We had to do a report with pictures of what she went through. It makes me more interested in
the subject. She really cared about her diary. I found photos of her on a Web site and copy and pasted them into my PowerPoint."Chamber supports area communication
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