Technology Initiative

1:1 Wireless Learning in its First Year

WGN Visits Peace
Technology Takes Off at Peace

“The new laptop program will make my high school experience better. With all of the programs they showed us and this information at my fingertips, I will get my work done and stay more organized,” frosh Asia Curry-Smith said after her orientation.

Queen of Peace launched the largest fundraising effort in its history last year. Peace Goes Wireless continues to generate much excitement in the newspapers, on the radio, and in our community. And this August, each student begins using her leased laptop at school and at home.

In November 2006, an anonymous alumna’s $100,000 matching gift jump started Peace’s Tech 4 Learning Initiative, allowing the school to accelerate its wireless and laptop technology upgrade plan by 3 years. To go wireless and outfit each student in each grade level with a laptop, the school needed to raise $400,000. Since December, the school has completed its wireless installation and students have wrapped up laptop orientation sessions.

During these orientations, students learned about laptop maintenance, safety basics, academic resources and software applications. Barbara Smith, Peace’s director of technology integration, taught students how to use the variety of resources available to them: Edline, a program that allows both parents and students direct access to grades, progress, assignments, courses and communication with teachers; Atomic Learning, an online software training tutor; and Vital Resources, a reference tool loaded on their laptops that contains thousands of research materials on music, art history, court cases, public addresses, science and electronic literary pieces.

Imagine how different the classroom experience has become...
Historical moments become vivid realities. News and research are discussed on the spot. Learning becomes an engaging, interactive adventure which, of course, is impossible without modern technology in the hands of our students.

Imagine the opportunity to take an entrepreneurial class in laptop and technology repair! As a teenager, you would be able to diagnose technical problems, troubleshoot, order parts from vendors, hone your customer service skills, and learn how to run a business! In addition to receiving academic credit for the class, students open themselves up to a world of career possibilities.

If ever there was a time when you wanted to become a vital stakeholder in the present and future of Queen of Peace, this is the time. I encourage you to take a look at the articles and informational resources provided for you on this web site. By helping us integrate this program into our curriculum, you not only have a direct hand in ensuring that women of Peace enter the college and corporate world knowing how to utilize technology effectively, but also become powerful, ethical and moral leaders.

With your help our graduates will have collaborated on a much more global scale, improved their research skills, and managed many software applications.

I encourage you to contact Dr. Kathleen Hanlon or myself if you have questions. We would be very eager to set up a time to meet, so we could discuss this program and the many wonderful opportunities it will present. We can be reached at 708.458.7600 extension 250.

Gratefully,

Cindy Kmetty
Development Director