As the inaugural class of the Normandy 9th Grade Academy, the students are receiving a “private school-like” education in a public school setting, district representatives said. The academy, which is designed with gender-based classes and instructors, is the first of its kind in the district.
Beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, the ninth graders will again be involved in another revolutionary change at the school. Netbook computers that will be connected to AT&T’s mobile broadband service will be distributed to the students. The distribution will take place during a Netbook Launch and Reception for parents in Viking Hall, located at 6701 St. Charles Rock Rd.
All ninth graders in attendance with their parents and having their parent’s signed consent will receive netbook computers to be used as part of the daily instructional process. During the launch, parents and students will be reminded of the district’s technology Acceptable Use Policy and receive final instructions on use of the computers. Because the netbooks will connect to AT&T’s mobile broadband service, students will have immediate access to the internet to perform in-class research, word processing capabilities to record important notes and construct assignments during class. They will also have access to instructional software that will assist students in their lessons.
“Netbooks are becoming increasingly popular for business, educational and general consumer use,” said Nancy Garvey, AT&T’s Vice President General Manager for the Greater Midwest Region. “Normandy High School is at the leading edge of this trend in education, and we’re proud to provide the mobile broadband network that will give the 9th graders access to the Web both in school and at home.”
With the academy’s theme of “failure is not an option,” Principal Pamela Atkinson-Hamilton says that the students literally have “education in their hands.”
She said she is excited about introducing the netbooks as a tool that will assist them in achieving academic success. “This new technology will enable students to work individually and together on projects in ways that weren’t possible before and provide unprecedented resources to students’ fingertips,” said Atkinson-Hamilton.