More than 108 fourth and fifth grade students at LINCS Inquiry Charter School in Whitewater will have individual access to Chromebooks this year thanks to fundraising efforts by LINCS Inquiry Charter School’s Governance Council and the LINCS Family Teacher Partnership, according to a press release issued by the school.
In addition, the Governance Council is seeking an additional $2,500 to ensure that each of the 124 fourth and fifth grade students has a Chromebook to use for schoolwork.
The LINCS Governance Council has raised more than $10,000 toward the individualized technology, under the leadership of Jim Caldwell, president, Melvin Juette, vice-president, Joseph Kromholz, treasurer and Diane Dalzin, secretary. The Family Teacher Partnership added $5,000 from the fundraising efforts of LINCS families and teachers.
Caldwell said technology is a key component in today’s curriculum.
“Our Governance Council members all agree that we want to give students the opportunity to use their own Chromebook at school and for school purposes,” Caldwell said. “This kind of hand-on approach will help our students learn and grow, and is consistent with our goal of meeting the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.”
The books will help foster a deeper level of knowledge, excitement, and sense of wonder about inquiry learning, the press release stated. Students will utilize the Chromebooks to access different programs, and collaborate with experts and other people around the world when conducting inquiry projects and jury presentations and will also be able to utilize the Chromebooks to communicate with their teachers, access the standards they need to work on and keep track of progress made towards goals and standards.
Mary Kilar, principal at LINCS, said access to the books should have far-reaching, positive effects.
“Technology is a key component to help teachers engage, educate, and activate students’ creativity and curiosity, and it fosters their intrinsic motivation to be self-directed, life-long learners who strive for knowledge and understanding both within themselves and in the world around them,” Kilar said.
Governance Council members, the press release stated, hope members of the Whitewater community will also contribute funds for this important technology.
“We hope that people will support LINCS as we continue to engage children’s curiosity, creativity, and ability to function in an increasingly technology-driven environment. With your financial support, we can give our students an opportunity to excel academically and reach their full potential,” Juette said.
More than 340 students attend LINCS Inquiry Charter School, a kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school located at 242 S. Prince St. in Whitewater. The overall goal of education at LINCS is to provide an integrated, multi-age, inquiry-based education to empower and develop global leaders to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, Kilar said.
For more information or to make a donation toward the final $2,500 visit the Governance Council’s gofundme account at www.gofundme.com/9txmcw.
