Principal Alice Pacheco noted the Literacy Center is high-tech with oversized display and interactive monitors where students can do live visits via web cams from observing nesting eagles to deep sea creatures. “It’s very exciting,” as is the hands-on activities such as the touch screen TV being used by a student.

Moving Glen City into the 21st Century blazing the way for other schools

April 27, 2016
Santa Paula News

Santa Paula Unified School Board Members heard how Glen City School is the leader in the district’s elementary schools when it comes to technology and innovation.

“Moving Glen City Into the 21st Century” was presented by Principal Alice Pacheco at the April 13 SPUSD meeting.

“The board asked to highlight the Literacy Center,” unveiled in February but Pacheco said, “I can’t do that without talking about the classrooms that came with it…it’s a package deal.”

Showing slides of the finished Literacy Center Pacheco noted that it was designed to be attractive to students with “good style and a vibrant vibe” to create excitement.

“It’s very inviting…people really like it, it’s kid friendly and interactive,” for students who visit on a regular basis.

Pacheco noted the Literacy Center is high-tech with oversized display and interactive monitors where students can do live visits via web cams from observing nesting eagles to deep sea creatures. 

“It’s very exciting,” as is the hands-on activities including computer technology that includes an hour a semester of creating programming code. 

The center features 20 computers with one mobile laptop cart for checkout where the students work on programming, a session that Pacheco told the board “The kids were really excited…they love it and the mobile cart comes with a printer so they can print their work,” and the certificates they receive showing they successfully coded programing.

The center is open after school and drawing a larger crowd each month: in February there were 194 student visits and in March 254 students that came to the center after school.

Pacheco noted that 21st Century classrooms “Are high-tech, furniture can be moved for whatever settings,” required for presentations and meetings, “There are lots of white boards that promote collaboration for students to work together.”

And speaking of high-tech and collaboration, the center has 15 iPads with iMovie and students have been filming productions ranging from an interview with Benjamin Franklin to weather reports.

A “green screen” is utilized to a show a photo or video backdrop for the speaker to add authenticity to the filmed presentation.

She noted that the skills students use to put together such productions are impressive. 

“You’re welcome to visit the Literacy Center,” where Pacheco said, “It’s apparent we’re giving students experience in technology as well as public speaking,” the latter that requires memorization as well as confidence.

Members of the audience got a kick out of the student produced, directed and starred videos, an ambitious project that Pacheco said has probably produced an interest in the film industry or “even weather reporting!” in students.

During public comment on a separate matter, Phil Harvey noted he last attended a board meeting a year ago, “But I didn’t stay to hear what went on. This has been very interesting, entertaining and educational, I should come more often!”





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