What a way to celebrate 100 years of educating students! When Columbia was founded blackboards, pencils and paper were the state-of-the-art tools students used as learning tools. One hundred years later Columbia is fortunate to be among the first schools in School District 11 to receive a new telephone system, a fully functioning network, computers for the classrooms, a new computer lab, and new educational software to assist students in the learning process. The challenge now is for staff and students to learn the new technology and software. Our entire staff is District 11 Internet Certified and we are striving for 100% OF OUR STUDENTS TO BRING BACK THEIR SIGNED TECHNOLOGY STUDENT USER AGREEMENTS so all our students may use technology as an educational tool.

Each class of students attending Columbia have received a quality education that helped them be a success in life. We have come a long way in educating our students and will continue to bring a high quality of education to our students for many years to come.

Highlights

Student Technology Permission:
Each student at Columbia Elementary MUST have a signed parent permission form to use any of the technology in the school. This Student User Agreement enables the student to use computers and computer programs, have Internet access, and student e-mail. Students not securing parent permission will not be able to use technology of any kind. Our library system is being automated, many of the new educational tools will be accessed through the technology, and students will be required to word process assignments. Please sign the Student User Agreement and give your student permission to use the technology to enhance their education.

Internet Use
Columbia is using Internet as an educational tool. District 11 has set guidelines for the use of Internet in the classroom. All staff and students at Columbia are Internet certified. To be certified students attend an Internet Workshop detailing the guidelines our school will follow when using Internet as an educational tool. The student takes home a Student User Agreement contract and they discuss the guidelines of using the Internet at school with their parents. Both students and parents sign the contract. If you have any questions on how Internet will be used as a focused, educational tool, please call your students' teacher or Ms. Clementi-Moore, CIT.

Grolier On-Line:
District 11 has purchased Grolier On-line for use of teachers, staff, students and their parents. If you have a computer and Internet access you can use this wonderful reference tool from your home. After you log on to the website you will be asked for a user name and password which will change every 60 days. You may ask Mrs. Thomas or Ms. Clementi-Moore for the current passwords. Log on to: http://go.grolier.com

Software at Columbia:
Computers at Columbia are equipped with a multitude of software to enhance the learning experience of the students. Some of the software includes the following: PowerPoint; FrontPage; Claris Works; KidPix, Kidsperation; Reading Counts; Time Liner; Tenth Planet Numbers and Geometry; Type to Learn and much more. Check out our links page to sites that demonstrate and summarize what this software is capable of.