Winning Computes For Mt St Thomas
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday June 13, 2001
Mt St Thomas Public School has won 10 Packard Bell computer packages in the recent Shop for your School competition. Second prize winners Figtree Public School received four computer packages, and Lindsay Park Public one package for coming third. All other participating schools received a Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia on CD ROM. Mt St Thomas Public School relieving principal Keith Tomlinson said winning the competition was a great boost for the students. ``The benefits are enormous for the students as we are currently in the middle of implementing a computer technology program across the school as part of a five-year plan," he said. ``Winning 10 computers has certainly helped boost that plan and will give students greater access to computers for research and publication skills." The Shop for your School campaign was conducted over an eight-week period during April and May at both Westfield Figtree and Warrawong and involved 19 Illawarra primary schools, which all competed for their share of $80,000 worth of computer hardware and software. During the campaign, shoppers were invited to take their receipts from any purchase in any store to the customer service desk where they received point vouchers equal to the dollar spent. They then lodged the vouchers in the mailbox marked with the school of their choice. Mr Tomlinson said the support of the school, and local, community had helped them win the grand prize. ``The community has been quite outstanding in their support of the school, both in the classroom and with promotions like these, and that support has helped us to win this fabulous prize package," he said. The promotion was conducted by Westfield's 29 shopping centres nationally and a total of more than $1million worth of computer packages will be distributed to schools across the country as a result.
Keira High's just excellent
Keira Technology High School has been declared a Centre of Excellence in Middle School Programs. Department of Education and Training director general Ken Boston recently awarded the school the title, due to the school's literacy and learning through technology program for Years Seven and Eight. This achievement is in addition to Keira High being declared a Centre of Excellence in Computer Operations Applications in 1995. The school has also retained its status of a technology high school following an inspection by the Outstanding School Program in 1999. School principal Nerrida Miller said it was important for the school to receive such a positive external evaluation. ``I think it is good for the school's image to be recognised by the Outstanding Schools Program," she said. ``It says they have inspected what we're doing and have given us their stamp of approval - that they believe this program is significantly adding value to students' learning." Mrs Miller said the literacy and learning through technology program, which was initiated six years ago, had been extremely successful. ``In the last four years our ELLA results have improved significantly above state average improvements," she said. ``Following through to the School Certificate, we have again found significant above state average improvements in most subjects, and there have also been significant add on value through to Year 12."
New tutorial centre
Students with severe behavioral difficulties will benefit from a tutorial centre set to be established in the Illawarra. Wollongong MP Colin Markham said the school would be set up as part of the Carr Government's behaviour initiatives program which was announced in this month's state Budget. ``Tutorial centres are small, flexible units where students with severe behavioral difficulties can work with a specialist teacher to increase their literacy, numeracy and social skills," Mr Markham said. ``The centre will operate in a flexible way, allowing students to attend either part or full-time depending on their individual needs. It will also provide specialist support for these students to transition successfully back to school or into further education and training. I'm pleased that the region will now have a facility which offers specific programs to ensure these students have every opportunity to reach their full academic potential."
© 2001 Illawarra Mercury
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