Growing with iPad Minis
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Students at St. Joseph's Catholic School in Tillsonburg now have 10 new iPad Minis through fundraising efforts of the St. Joe's Parent Council committee.
With the newly purchased technololgy, the J-K to Grade 4 students have increased portability, and access to new programs and apps.
"I've used an iPad, not an iPad Mini... iPad Mini's are smaller," said St. Joe's student Ava Greguric. "It's awesome."
"I would use it for two reasons," said Asha Agro. "One, of course, games and music. Two, calculating. Also, like texting George Washington."
"Or maybe Barak Obama," Greguric smiled.
The iPad Mini will text, take pictures, and "research for projects..." said Greguric.
"And tells what time it is!" said Luke Rankin-Bird. "I really need that."
"Reminders, too," said Agro. "My teacher always forgets to do attendance."
"And we could get Raz-Kids in it!" said Rankin-Bird, noting a popular app for reading.
"We met Holly the Service Dog, and we could look up about service dogs," said Agro.
The students do have access to desktop computers in the school, but the iPads provide increased portability, interactivity, and convenience.
"It's portable," nodded Agro. "For research, usually we had to go down to the library."
Last summer, volunteers from the St. Joe's Parent Council committee organized an ambitious and successful Family Fun Fair fundraiser at the school featuring visits from Tinkerbell, Spiderman, Santa Claus and the Cookie Monster.
In addition to their high profile guests, and performances by Indigo Lounge, Martial Arts Canada and Danscene, highlights included interactive Junior Firefighter Training provided by Tillsonburg Fire and Rescue Services, Teddy Bear checkups by EMS, a haunted house, bounce houses, intricate face painting, hair streaking, tattoos, carnival games, a DJ, and the creative Secret Agent Mission (secret agents trying to decode and 'win' the contents of a locked brief case), horse and carriage rides, an Easter Egg Hunt, a New Year's Eve countdown, penny table and silent auction, and more. The nine-hour fun fair wrapped up with a Peter Pan movie under the stars with prizes for best pirate/fairy costumes.