|
 |
| (L-R) Linda Fidler and Bonnie Furnanz with
their Best Buy Teach Award and new computer purchased for the Web Tech class to create
educational DVDs |
|
Savannah Christian Middle School has received a $2,000 Teach Award from Best Buy Co., Inc. for integrating interactive
technology into its curriculum.
Mrs. Linda Fidler, Web Tech Advisor, and Ms. Bonnie Furnanz, Technology Coordinator, are pleased that Best Buy Co., Inc. has again recognized their efforts to work with students in order to help them improve their technological expertise. According to Mrs. Fidler, “We plan to use this grant to purchase an Apple MacBook Pro laptop computer. We will use this to produce simple instructional ‘How to Step By Step’ videos on various tech topics.” Ms. Furnanz stated that the goal could be summarized as, “The end product of this project will hopefully be that the students will have enhanced video and audio production skills on dual platforms (Mac and PC) and that the classroom teachers will gain improved confidence with their technological skills.”
Savannah Christian Preparatory Middle School consists of grades six through eight and is located at 2415 East DeRenne Avenue. Facilities include twenty classrooms, a state of the art computer lab, a cafeteria, media center, gymnasium and several athletic fields. The maximum class size is 25, with the average class size about 21 students. There are approximately 365 students in the Middle School. The WebTech class is a year-round exploratory open to outstanding students in the 7th and 8th grades. Students chosen for this class work together during the year to plan, develop and perfect educational websites for middle school students. These websites are then entered into several international contests. In the past years, the WebTech teams have won awards of excellence in the International Student Media Festival and a third place world award in the ThinkQuest competition.
This year, Best Buy Teach Awards of $2,000 were given to 1,300 schools to sustain or enhance existing educational programs. An additional 50 schools were awarded $10,000 for technology-based programs they’ve successfully implemented. Eight school districts will also receive $100,000 awards, which will be announced in May 2008. “Teachers are finding creative ways to engage students by using technology hands-on; we want to support their efforts by helping them enhance or expand these programs,” said Paula Prahl, vice president, public affairs, Best Buy Co., Inc. “We know that schools are the cornerstones of these communities where our employees, customers, and their families live and work.”
Since 2003, the Best Buy Teach Award Program has rewarded schools that creatively integrate interactive technology into their curricula. Over the past four years, nearly 5,000 schools nationwide have received $14 million in Teach Awards, reaching 1.5 million K-12 students. All accredited, public and private nonprofit elementary, middle and secondary schools located within 50 miles of a Best Buy store are eligible.
Visit www.BestBuy.com/CommunityRelations for more information about how Best Buy supports communities and the education and technology-based partnerships and programs.
About the Best Buy Community Commitment
Best Buy believes technology can inspire people to do great things. In fiscal 2007, Best Buy donated a combined $25.3 million to support and strengthen our communities in technology inspired ways:
- Technology-inspired teaching – Best Buy stores have given more than $13 million in Best Buy Teach Awards to help nearly 5,000 K-12 schools in the U. S. bring interactive technology into the classroom.
- Technology-inspired learning – Best Buy stores have awarded more than $13 million in scholarships to nearly 11,000 students nationwide.
- Technology-inspired leading – Best Buy stores encourage volunteerism by providing grants to organizations where employees share their talents.
The company also connects with United Way to meet local community needs, supports national organizations innovatively using technology in youth education, and works with the Red Cross to provide support in times of disaster. For more information, visit www.BestBuy.com/CommunityRelations.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) operates a global portfolio of brands with a commitment to growth and innovation. Our employees strive to provide customers around the world with superior experiences by responding to their unique needs and aspirations. We sell consumer electronics; home-office products, entertainment software, appliances and related services through nearly 1,300 retain stores across the United States, throughout Canada and in China. Our multi-channel operations include: Best Buy (BestBuy.com, BestBuy.ca and BestBuy.com.cn), Future Shop (FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad (GeekSquad.com and GeekSquad.ca), Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath Centers (PacificSales.com), Magnolia Audio Video (Magnoliaav.com), Jiangsu Five Star Appliance Co. (Five-Star.cn) and Speakeasy (Speakeasy.net). Best Buy supports the communities in which its employees work and live through volunteerism and grants that benefit children and education.
|
