It has been 10 years since Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish School in 
Bourbonnais took the plunge: They created a 1:1 laptop program that put a laptop in the hands of every junior high school student.
The groundbreaking program served as a prototype for schools in the Bourbonnais/Kankakee region as well as in the Diocese of Joliet. Now, the school is drawing attention again.
In the April edition of Christ is our Hope magazine, published monthly by the Joliet Diocese, one of its stories examines the latest accomplishments of students at Maternity BVM: earning college credits as Microsoft Specialists.
Technology teacher Steve Langelett explains how to load assignments into the Cloud
“We needed some sort of goal to shoot for,” says Steve Langelett, technology director at Maternity. “Preparing for Microsoft certifications gives them sort of a college final.”
The commitment to immerse students in technology was a joint decision, between Principal Terry Granger, Fr. Richard Pighini, CSV, pastor and Fr. James Michaletz, CSV, then associate pastor.
“It was more of an experiment at the beginning,” Granger says, “of students having access to technology all day, every day.”
Fr. Jason Nesbit, CSV, current associate pastor, loves the idea of students continuing to expand their education through the use of technology.
“They’re often times ahead of their peers,” he says, “but more importantly, they are in a position to help their classmates.”