Thursday, December 11th, 2014
Area school wins video contest
By Jared Mauch
Photo by Jared Mauch/The Daily Standard
St. Marys Intermediate School Guidance Counselor Dan Cook gives high-fives to students as they celebrate winning the grand prize in the Compass Learning Classroom Refresh contest. The school will receive a prize package valued at more than $57,000 that includes 25 Chromebooks, a SMART Board, learning software programs and professional development.
ST. MARYS - St. Marys Intermediate School students and staff broke in celebration upon learning their school had won the grand prize in a national video contest.
Principal Lisa Elson told the students and staff Wednesday morning they had won the grand prize for the kindergarten-fifth-grade category in the Compass Learning Classroom Refresh contest.
The $57,000 prize package includes 25 Chromebooks, a SMART Board, educational software for students and two days of professional development for staff.
"Today, they made the announcement, and we are the grand prize winners. Good job, you guys," Elson told the cheering students.
Each competing school created a short music video showcasing how technology has enhanced learning.
The school's 2 1/2-minute video, entitled "We Wish We All Would Use Technology More," is set to the tune of the Beach Boys' "California Girls" and showcases how the students use technology and how that use has changed over time.
Public voting for the top video in each grade category ran from Nov. 3-Dec. 1. A panel of judges also voted to determine the winners.
"A big thank-you goes to all the voters. It was neat to see the community come together for this," Elson said.
St. Marys competed against schools from Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina and Texas.
"We ended up with over 20,000 votes, which is incredible for the town our size and a school our size," Elson said.
"We could not have done this on our own. We would like to thank all of the public voters," Elson added.
The school was already considered a winner because all finalists received a one-year site license for the Renzulli Learning online program, which helps students research and solve problems and analyze text. It also offers virtual professional development opportunities.
Elson said the school had previously cut a mobile learning device program due to a lack of funding. This prize package will go toward restoring the program.
"Any time you can get equipment for technology, it is helpful," Elson said.
The school could not have afforded the items in the prize package on its own, she said. She was unsure when the school would receive the award.
