November 30, 2006

A high-tech Mecca

Graystone goes high-tech with grants, donations and help from parent volunteers

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

To compete in today’s world, everyone must be computer savvy and able to adapt to ever-changing upgrades in the high-tech world. Thanks to an aggressive fund-raising campaign, one school in Almaden has a definite edge after creating a technology Mecca for students and staff.

Graystone Elementary School Principal Dave Beymer, computer support staff Cindy Toffey and computer technician Sara Mijatovich welcome new high-tech additions and upgrades. Photo by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

Graystone Elementary School has just completed the installation of dozens of new computers, three computer labs, two teacher-ready mobile laptop labs and 32-inch flat-screen LCD TVs in every classroom.

Money for the upgrades was pursued through a $10,000 grant from Hitachi Global Storage Technologies and the Hitachi Foundation, Hewlett Packard, a Dell Computer/ Microsoft vote-in contest, fund-raising from Gray-stone’s own Home and School Club, plus some corporate matching funds and VCR donations from parents. All the funds were used to create a high-tech Mecca to educate Graystone students with the latest technology.

“Every year the Home and School Club asks parents what they most want for their children,” said Graystone Elementary School Principal Dave Beymer. “Last year they said they wanted more technology in the classrooms and that was our goal. Technology goes hand in hand with higher API scores. I want to thank the parents and the staff for their continued support.”

After the goal was set, parents and staff went into overdrive discovering unique ways to raise funds for technology upgrades and additions for the student body. A spring walkathon and membership drive raised funds for Graystone’s Home and School Club. Parents Steve and Mimi Kupec applied for a grant from Hitachi as part of the corporation’s Community Action Committee. A call-in vote from Dell Computer and Microsoft garnered over a million votes from Graystone parents, reaping big rewards and also the distinction of being the only elementary school to receive such funds for technology.

Graystone student Derek Smith works in the new computer lab.

But it didn’t stop there. Parent volunteer Michael Rouiller offered his expertise: researching monitors, finding the most cost effective LCD TVs that could be hooked up to TVs, the Internet, DVDs and the teachers’ laptops for a full educational experience for students.

But even before that, Graystone computer technician Sara Mijatovich and Rouiller created a master plan of upgrades and additions to Graystone’s technology. Rouiller also installed the TVs, computers, negotiated and installed wireless applications for Graystone’s high-tech Mecca.

From Home and School Club contributions, grants and contests, each classroom at Graystone Elementary School benefited from the technological enhancements.

“The kids are already using everything,” said computer technician Sara Mijatovich who started volunteering at Graystone 11 years ago and is now part of the staff. “The kids are really excited. Before the new labs we were only set up for half the kids on computers and they only used them for a half hour. Now a classroom of kids can use them for a full hour. It really makes a difference but we still need 11 more computers.”

Graystone Elementary School Principal Dave Beymer and Hitachi Community Action Committee member and parent Steve Kupec join Hitachi Foundation CEO/President Barbara Dyer on a tour of the school’s high-tech additions and upgrades. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

Rouillier agrees, commenting that teachers are excited about streaming video [multi media lessons] that they can now include in teaching presentations. And the dedicated volunteers and staff are already investigating other opportunities for the remaining computers.

“Teachers are now using technology to supplement their curriculum,” said Rouillier. “It’s really neat.”
Principal Beymer is equally pleased with the technology in place at Graystone.

“The problem before for teachers was that the multi-media lessons were more time consuming,” said Beymer. “Now the culture for the school is geared toward easier integration of the enhanced technology with education. And school’s results are measurable.”

Graystone’s 2005-2006 API scores were 939 points, 18 points higher than the 2004-2005 school year when only part of the additional technology was installed.

And so with many hours of dedicated work from Graystone’s staff and parent volunteers, new computers, mobile labs, LCD flat-screens and TVs are supplying students with state-of-the-art technology. The kids are working on skills using Type to Learn and Type to Learn Jr. They’re enjoying math and language arts programs as well as creating stories using Kids Works Deluxe. Upper grades are learning Accelerated Math and keyboarding skills as wells as working on different research topics.

Even Hitachi Foundation President/CEO Barbara Dyer was impressed when she visited Graystone recently to observe their grant at work.

“Hitachi Foundation is the philanthropy arm for Hitachi,” said Dyer. “Many of our companies have Community Action Committees by employees that live in the community and help make the decisions. It’s a pleasure to see all of this. You are one of the Community Action Committee’s grants that we are most proud of.”

Dyer was equally impressed with the thank-you brochures complete with graphics that the students created for her visit.

But the real proof of Graystone’s high-tech Mecca is in their students. When asked what they thought of their new laptops, the kids responded with enthusiastic applause.

“The new computers and TVs are great,” said fifth grader Alexa Kuechle. “They really make a difference.”