Ten schools selected for 2001–2002 Connections program

Program enables technology-driven collaborative learning for grade five and six students

Calgary, AB --- January 26, 2001 --- The SMARTer Kids™ Foundation announces the selection of ten schools from across Canada and the U.S. to participate in the 2001–2002 Connections program. Each school will receive leading-edge technology and teachers will be trained on how to integrate this technology into the curriculum. The program will follow students through grades five and six, culminating with student representatives and their teachers meeting for a fun-filled week in Calgary in May 2002. Throughout the program, students will collaborate on projects and communicate with each other via e-mail. This fully-funded program is entering its third year, with over 500 children already having benefited from Connections.

In January 2001 the selected grade five teachers will meet in Calgary to plan collaborative projects and receive training. The teachers will introduce the program to the grade five students and other grade five teachers at their respective schools. In July one grade six teacher from each school will train in Calgary and return to lead the then-grade-six students through the 2001–2002 school year. Throughout this program, participating teachers will develop a support network and create opportunities for ongoing student interaction.

"We are extremely excited about this year’s program," says Julie Freedman Smith, manager of the Connections program. "The geographical diversity of the selected schools will increase the students’ opportunity to feel connected to the global community. It is our hope that through this connection, students will develop greater self-confidence and, in turn, dream bigger dreams for their future."

"As soon as the Connections program started, I noticed a change in my students," says Linda Kinney, a 2000–2001 Connections teacher at Oakview Elementary School in Centralia, WA. "Students who didn’t normally participate in class discussions are now motivated to stand up in front of the class and share their ideas. They have a new-found excitement for learning and look forward to working on projects with the other schools."

2001–2002 Participating Schools

	Grand Ridge School, Grand Ridge, FL
	Old Fort Elementary School, Old Fort, NC
	Del City Elementary School, Del City, OK
	Bells Elementary School, Bells, TX
	Helen M. Knight Intermediate School, Moab, UT

	Bowcroft Elementary School, Calgary, AB
	Windsor Park School, Calgary, AB
	Blossom Park Public School, Gloucester, ON
	St. Mary’s School, Carleton Place, ON
	Lakefront Consolidated Elementary School, Tangier, NS

Connections Creed
The Connections Creed captures the values and ideas of this program:

Product Donations
All Connections schools will receive a SMART Board™ 580, Floor Stand 570, SMART Board Software and an NEC VT440 projector. These products will be integrated into the curriculum to support collaborative learning projects. The SMARTer Kids Foundation thanks SMART Technologies Inc. and NEC Technologies, Visual Systems Division for these product donations.

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Please note that SMART is in all capital letters.