Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888

News Release
iPads bring dynamic learning opportunity to Nanwalek

Soldotna, August 17, 2015—Palpable excitement is in the air today at Nanwalek School, where 80 kindergarten through twelfth grade students anticipate receiving their own Apple iPad on Tuesday August 18, 2015.

A year in the planning, the rollout celebration to begin the comprehensive 1:1 technology solution for every student and teacher, including Apple hardware, software, and services, begins at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 18, 2015, with guests and dignitaries present to speak to students, staff, and the community. The upcoming year is a game-changer for Nanwalek School, the only school in Alaska, and one of 114 schools in the country, to receive an Apple grant as part of the White House ConnectEd initiative begun in 2013.

Nanwalek School is located in a small village on the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, across the bay from Homer, Alaska. By giving students access to the latest technology and powerful learning tools, we’re working to transform the classroom into a place of deeper exploration and creativity.

“We are very excited about this opportunity for our students in Nanwalek,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “A key part of any initiative is professional development for our teachers and through the training commitment from Apple, we are confident that the new technology will have a tremendous positive impact for all of our Nanwalek students.”

As a result of the initiative to receive iPads, Apple TVs, and MacBook laptops for teachers:

1. Students and teachers will be introduced to a new level of technology that they have not previously experienced in the village or school. This experience will be enhanced by faster Internet installed by the district through ACS in September 2014
2. Academic core learning will be strengthened through resources and e-books on the devices
3. This grant includes professional development for teachers in differentiation to strengthen core instruction, and intervention processes to increase achievement

Nanwalek School honors cultural identity while developing students to be effective members of society. School goals for the ConnectEd initiative include:

• Students, parents, and community will be our partners
• Teaching will be transformed
• Students will be active learners
• Students will strengthen their academic learning
• Students will have a tool for preservation of language and culture
• Students will have more possibilities for postsecondary options

 Links

• KPBSD News Release, August 17, 2015
• Nanwalek School
• Nanwalek on Facebook
• KPBSD news release, October 31, 2014: Nanwalek School received Apple and ConnectEd grant
• ConnectEd initiative
• Apple
• October 30, 2014, ADN article: iPads for all

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Tags: Apple, Apple TV, education, iPad, Nanwalek School, technology, White House ConnectEd initiative

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Posted in Awards Community Partners News Release by Pegge Erkeneff No Comments Yet