by Joanna O’Donnell
Eagle’s North Star Charter School received a boost of funding through their first annual fund campaign, successfully raising $77,525 for new technology in the classrooms. The North Star community of parents, staff and friends generously contributed to the annual fund, in record amounts, resulting in tremendous future learning opportunities for the students. The successful campaign enabled North Star to purchase new laptops, Chromebooks and iPads for the classroom as well as new robotic kits for the computer science curriculum. In addition, the campaign provided funding for critical professional development for teachers regarding the use of technology in the classroom.
Shirley Rau, North Star English teacher within the school’s International Baccalaureate program, is thrilled with the opportunities afforded to the students through the generous donations of the North Star community. She said, “We will have the opportunity, as a school, to move from entry level technology integration, on limited devices, towards full integration of technology as a tool for deepening conceptual understanding, promoting student engagement and accelerating the learning of all of our students.”
Further, Secondary Principal, Melissa Andersen commented, “We are already seeing tremendous value with the integration of this new technology in the classroom. Our teachers have seamlessly integrated technology into the classroom with increased use of Google classroom at the secondary level and the use of iPads and Chromebooks in the elementary, providing more individualized learning opportunities for all levels of learners.”
North Star is a community of passionate and accomplished educators, bright and eager students, and engaged and supportive parents. It is a community that comes together to achieve great things for the students. The School is overwhelmed with gratitude for the support they have received from the North Star community.
North Star Charter School (NSCS) is a K-12 public charter school located in Eagle, Idaho. Founded in 2003, NSCS provides students a world-class education characterized by a safe, supportive and structured learning climate that encourages high academic achievement, intellectual confidence, leadership and virtuous citizenship. The school’s charter articulates the vision of its founders to think critically and to become virtuous citizen leaders in our local and world community. NSCS curriculum offers an emphasis on business and economics across grades K-12 and the opportunity to participate in the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) program in grades 11-12.
Learn more at www.northstarcharter.org
