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Computer History at St. Clement 2007-2008
In 1994 Gerry Meyers, principal, wanted to start a lab at St. Clement and ask volunteers that worked at St. Charles' Lab to help in setting it up, since we were moving to St. Clement. We took all the Apple II computers from around the building and the few that we brought with us from St. Charles and used the old rooms on the third floor front of the building and set it up. A few Macintosh's were bought and a network was established with internet use on them, with disk use on the Apple's. Children came to the lab once a week. Some of the favorite programs from that time were: Speedway Math, and the Oregon Trail.
In 1999 a room opened up on the first floor and the parish was asked to help fund a new computer lab. People came through with flying colors and 33 PC computers were purchased to start the new lab. Microsoft Office was used for word processing and spreadsheets. Math Munchers and Sammy's Science were favorites. Touch Typing was introduce to all grades from 3rd on up.
A second Computer Teacher was hired so that the lab could accommodate students all week long. Students come on a regular basis at least once but sometimes twice a week, for 45 minutes. The lab was now being used for research also, since the Internet is available on all the machines.
In 2003 new XP computers were purchased with auxiliary and Technology money for the lab, with the former computers being transferred to classrooms.
Power Point is being used for research projects in science and social studies. Animations are created for some fun activities. The Cincinnati Enquirer recognized the 4 & 5th graders the last few years for their "Turkey" animations for the annual Dress a Turkey Contest.
The St. Clement Computer Club was established a few years ago as an extra curricular activity for students from grades 4-8. With Mrs. Blessing as moderator the students are learning to use the digital cameras, make posters and greeting cards, and help maintain the computers in the classrooms.
In 2005 Mrs. Maier has challenged the children with making tessellations, animations and graphs. She is also working with the children on using a video camera for the bi-weekly news show, 'Cardinal Cam'. The children also put together the annual year book. Mrs. Blessing keeps all the children 3rd grade and up working on their typing skills and then lets them use the programming on the network or CD "s to strengthen their critical thinking skills in science & math. Zoombinis has been the favorite over the last couple of years. The younger students like Sammy's Science House, Mighty Math Zoo Zillions and Sight Words.
In 2006-2007, with Mrs. Blessing, the Kindergarten has been learning how to maneuver from the desktop to the program of the day with some help from the 8th graders who log on for them. Bailey's Book House is a favorite, we also go to Carnival Countdown and Alpha-Bugs. They especially like to print something out they can take with them. For Valentine's Day we went to a web site www.Starfall.com and printed out a Valentine on which they had to put together a sentence, beginning-middle-end. 1st and 2nd graders are learning to read with Reader Rabbit, finding Sight Words, and Math skills. 3 & 4, & 5th grades, always start out with Typing Practice, then go into Math Skills, recently Zoombinis was introduced again.
Mrs. Maier is doing animations, Power Point in connection with science class, and the Cardinal Cam programs are being shown at least once a month.
Teachers have been researching the use of electronic whiteboards and some will be using them as soon as there purchased.
2007-2008 The beginning of this school year has begun and 6 Smart Boards are up and running. Grades 8-7-6-2-1 and Kindergarten are using them as they integrate this form of technology into their daily routine.
All of the teachers have a web page on which they record the homework so parents can go to the Web Site and look at what is due. We have had a Web Site for severeal years, filled with all the things that are happening at school. www.stcschool.org Parents can check dates of events and when certain things are due. Pictures of the many activities are posted on the Happenings Page. When Awards & Honors are given they are posted. A Calendar and Menu for the Cafeteria are also on line and accessible wherever you can get the web.