Viatorian Parish Leads the Diocese in Technology Use in its School
12/20/2011

Forget the blackboards and overhead projectors. For that matter, who needs backpacks, papers and books? That’s so old school.

At Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Bourbonnais --- the first permanent Viatorian parish in this country --- sixth, seventh and eighth grade students all have laptops, while fifth graders each have personal computers on their desktops.

Students use Microsoft OneNote to take notes on their laptops, read their assignments on electronic books, and take tests all on their computer. They are proficient in creating PowerPoint presentations, circular graphs and Excel spreadsheets. 

Seven years ago, school officials launched its 1:1 laptop initiative in the junior high and this year added desktops for each fifth grader as a means of transition. They are the first in the diocese and the only school in the region to use computers exclusively. Last year, Maternity was named School of the Year in the Joliet Diocese, and in September made front page news with its cutting edge vision of incorporating technology in the classroom.

As a result, they have a waiting list for every grade and host regular “webinars” for other schools interested in launching the initiative.

 “We are committed to providing an education that will support the 21st Century learning style and skills of our students,” says Principal Terry Granger. “Our students are definitely engaged in their classes on a daily basis. They’re wired.”