WALNUT, CA – SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 – Oswalt Academy Principal Astrid Ramirez announced that the school will expand its successful Apple Laptop Learning Program this year to 133 incoming 5th graders at "Roll Out Night" on September 3 at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Students will be given their Apple laptop computers that night that will provide them with around-the-clock access to software and educational tools, where learning takes place 24/7.
“Since we started the program last October, we have seen an enormous amount of student academic growth that has exceeded our expectations,” said Ramirez. “We have just received results of a 14% growth on English Language Arts scores for our 6th grade students.”
Due to the success of the innovate program at
Last year 240 5th and 6th grade Oswalt students were the first to receive the computers and take part in the program. Each MacBook laptop computer is pre-loaded with grade level textbooks and digital authoring applications, including iPhoto, iMovie, iWeb, GarageBand, iDVD, and ComicLife. Each computer also has wireless connectivity and a built-in video camera and accessibility features like text-to-voice. Teachers also have ProScopes (a hand-held microscope) for science use. The Oswalt campus has WiFi throughout the school.
The Apple Laptop Learning Program is funded by parent purchases/multi-year leasing to own programs over three years, school fundraising, and community business support. (Businesses interested in helping with student scholarships or donations, please call (626) 854-8352).
Oswalt has recently expanded to become a K-8 school and is also in the process of becoming an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP) School. There are only 100 PYP schools in the
Stanley G. Oswalt Academy is located at