Technology Directions for 2011-2012

WHAT’S NEW FOR SAGE TECH IN THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR

• Google Apps for Middle School & Juniors: Shortly after last year’s spring break, Sage gave its sixth, seventh and eighth graders access to the same suite of Google tools that the faculty and staff had already been using. This trial of Google Apps for Education has proven to be so successful, that 3rd-5th graders in the Junior Division will be joining their Middle School peers in an expanded launch this school year.
• iPads in the Prime Division: Sage second graders are embarking on an exciting adventure! Each student will be assigned one of 15 new iPads for the duration of the school year. These devices, uniquely suited to the needs of young learners, will not only accompany them in the classroom but in their art and music classes as well. In keeping with the school’s commitment to being a leader in education, the teachers, students and Mr. Vega (Director of Technology) will document their experiences, while examining the question “Can mobile devices enhance learning?”
• Junior ChromeBooks: The Junior Division’s laptop cart has been replaced with 20 brand new ChromeBooks. An entirely new approach to laptops, the ChromeBook’s web based operating system is designed for cloud computing. With the Junior students moving to Google Apps for Education, this will be a perfect match.
• New Student Information Management System: Sometimes called a SIMS, student information management systems, allow schools to streamline the process of entering and accessing family data. Sage’s recent implementation of one such system means that our families will have greater control over their contact information, leading to more opportunities to engage Sage online and manage communication between home and school.
• New Website Launched: The new site highlights Sage’s commitment to engaging the larger community and sharing its educational mission with the world via teacher/parent/student contributed blog entries and a whole host of social media add-ons. It also provides a new set of tools to our existing community, allowing for secure internal communication and subscription based news and updates.