Mecca Glen School has received a $4,000 grant from Direct Energy for Chromebooks, which will go a long way in supporting the sustainability of the Chromebook project.
“It’s just a way to ensure the Chromebooks get paid for,” said Al Libby, Mecca Glen principal.
The school received 80 Chromebooks last fall when it became part of a pilot project, catapulting Mecca Glen among the top schools in Alberta for technological advancements in an academic setting.
Now, every student from grades 4 to 9 has access to a Chromebook and the Internet any time during the school day. “They don’t have to go to stationary labs anymore,” said Libby.
“The opportunities for learning have multiplied because of this project,” he added.
Libby says the Chromebooks have closed the gap in achievement learning, as students with higher learning needs have a greater access to an increased number of resources. “Our teachers are able to provide instruction at varying competence levels.”
The Chromebooks also allows students to work at their own pace and from anywhere because they’re saving their work online in the Cloud program. Libby says students that travelled to Mexico over Christmas break were still able to keep up with class work because they had access to the assignments.
Two parents — Don Kroening and Christine Gustasson — applied to Direct Energy for the grant. Both parents are members of the Mecca Glen Fundraising Society.
The $20,000 project is receiving funds from three outlets: the school’s budget, Wolf Creek Public Schools central office, and the fundraising society.
Over the next three years, the Mecca Glen Fundraising Society is contributing $8,745 toward the project. “This grant from Direct Energy provides $4,000 of that money. So it’s a very generous donation,” said Libby.
