The Winchester Foundation for Educational Excellence dedicated $48,435 to Winchester Public Schools to purchase iPads, interactive projectors, student response systems and Android tablets at Tuesday's school committee meeting. Each elementary school will be participating in a “model classroom” project.

The WFEE highlighted in a news release the emphasis of providing the students of Winchester Public Schools with cutting edge technology in order to better prepare them for the world outside of the classroom.

“This is a major grant for us, and we spent several months discussing it with teachers, principals and the acting superintendent Dick Robbat,” WFEE Executive Director Caren Connelly said. “Dr. Robbat’s strong belief that a pilot project will help launch all elementary classrooms into the 21^st century. His emphasis on ongoing professional development plus structured time for teachers to share their experiences makes this a very strong proposal.”

This grant will set up either two third grade or fourth grade classrooms with additional technology. Teachers will share an interactive projector designed as a more affordable, adaptable version of the interactive whiteboards used in the classroom. Students and teachers will use iPads with educational apps to supplement and enhance student learning.

Last month, WFEE announced the donation of more than $87,000 in professional development and education grants for the coming school year. Those grants include funding for iPads and Android tablets at Winchester High School and iPads at McCall Middle School.

Speech and language therapists across the district will also be receiving iPads to use with students. Teachers at WHS and McCall will use iPads to help differentiate instructions for students with special needs. Librarians at WHS plan to use iPads and iBooks to help students and teachers create a virtual wing at the library.

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