Elementary Upgrade
Coarsegold Elementary School receives computers
BY IRENE THIRLWALL - EDITORIAL@SIERRASTAR.CO


IRENE THIRLWALL
Eighth graders Whisper Robinson and Tessa Mills work in the new computer lab at Coarsegold Elementary School.


IRENE THIRLWALL
George Duke, seventh grader, takes a break at one of the new computers.


IRENE THIRLWALL
Two seventh grade classmates smile for the camera and enjoy the new laptop computers.

School these days is much different than it was just a few years ago. The influx of computers and other technologies such as palm pilots, have changed the lives of students forever. Book reports, science fair projects, and even games can and are done by computer.

Because of a donation from the Census Bureau and the Sunrise Rotary Club, students at Coarsegold Elementary School have received a new computer lab with 35 laptop computers, five desktop computers and a large black and white laser printer.

“We really appreciate it. The old computers we had would usually breakdown; these computers are faster,” said Whisper Robinson, 13, an eighth grade student at Coarsegold Elementary School.

Robinson took a break last Friday afternoon and played a game on one of the new laptop computers recently received.

A friend and classmate of Robinson’s, Tessa Mills, 13, also of the eighth grade sat next to her enjoying the use of another laptop in the lab.

Over the Christmas break several volunteers came together to get the new lab set up and ready to go for the students when they came back after the holiday break.

Coarsegold Elementary teachers, Rich Sischo, Tracy Hurd and Jon Corippo joined by two former students, now Yosemite High students, Shane Blackwell and Phillip Lane, all helped to set-up the lab.
Principal Randy Haggard said that the lab was even used by the Madera County Office of Education for tech training. Haggard said that they had the training already scheduled at another location but changed it to this lab when they found out the lab had more updated equipment.
Haggard also said the laptops are more beneficial because they also have wireless capability and the students are able to unplug them and get into groups for certain assignments.

Sischo said they are very flexible and the wireless capability is about 100 feet He also said many of the students have their own palm pilots or borrow them from the school. Teacher Jon Corippo is on his second year of using the palm pilots.

“Everybody in the sixth grade types reports for science fair projects; we do it together and we even cover the language arts part of it. The only part they do at home is the experiment,” Corippo said about the difference of today’s science fair projects and those of just 10 to 15 years ago where the student was given the assignment and asked to complete it in three to four weeks. “That was not teaching.”
Another student working in the lab on Friday, Jan. 14, Ryan Rogers, 13, of the eighth grade had this to say about the new lab, “We have Power Point coming up and this will make it a lot faster and easier. Whoever donated these computers was very nice.”

Shane Herold, 12, of the seventh grade sat in the lab with classmate Ryan Byrd, 12, of the sixth grade working on their new laptop computers.

Herold expressed his appreciation, “I think the Census Bureau was very kind in their donation and these computers are faster.” Byrd seconded Herold’s statement.

Student Brett Sneed, 11, of the sixth grade said this was a new experience for him, “I’ve never had a school that had laptops in their lab. They are faster, easier to handle because they’re smaller and they’re portable. That’s a cool thing and they’re wireless.”

Seventh grader, George Duke, 13, said having the new computers in the lab was a definite upgrade and benefit. “There are a lot more computers so the whole class can use them at the same time.” Duke also expressed the desire to mention his mother: “can I say ‘hi mom?’”
Tom Chedester president of the Sunrise Rotary Club said, “We’re just proud to be a supporter of the elementary schools.” Chedester said that for the last two years the funds raised from their annual car show have been designated to elementary schools in the area who have made requests. “We will continue to support our community and youth.”
The Census Bureau was not available for comment.

Coarsegold Union School District