Oswalt Academy once again is being lauded for its use of technology in the classroom.
The Shadow Oak campus has been named an "Apple Distinuguished School" for the fourth consecutive year.
The kindergarten-through-eighth-grade International Baccalaureate® (IB) World School, is part of a select class that Apple is recognizing. The Apple Distinguished School designation goes to campuses that integrate the company's technology into its classroom lessons to create 21st Century teaching and learning environments.
“I am so proud that we have been honored with this Apple award four times in a row,” Principal Kevin Despard said in a news release. “It is evident that the hard work of our students, teachers and parents in the area of improving learning through technology has paid off.”
The school has more than 500 one-to-one laptops for students in grades fifth to eighth. The computers are parent-funded and used daily. More than 200 iPod Touches are in use in classrooms for kindergarten through fourth-grade. School officials said that the technology has helped improve academic achievment, with Oswalt's API score reaching 922 this year.
Oswalt,which serves Walnut and is part of the Rowland Unified School District, launched the Laptop for Learning program in 2008. The effort has resulted in the closing of the achievement gap in math and literacy, officials said.
“Our writing scores have soared to 100 percent proficient or advanced in 7th grade and our 8th grade science scores continue to rise, with 97 percent of our 8th graders scoring proficient or advanced,” Despard said. “The key is our outstanding teachers who provide seamless technology integration into their classrooms.”
For more information about Oswalt Academy, visit www.oswaltacademy.org or contact Principal Kevin Despard at 626-810-4109.
