Elgin Avenue Public School Preparing for Tech-Savvy Future

Walking through the hallways of Elgin Avenue Public School, you may encounter a robot or two.

You’ll also see students hard at work using principles of inquiry and design as they explore coding and programming.

“Technology offers exciting new opportunities to explore situations where there is no known or best answer,” explains Samantha Nicholson, Principal at Elgin Avenue Public School in Simcoe. “There could be multiple solutions to the same problem, so it really encourages exploration, showing students that they shouldn’t be afraid to try new and different things as they work through it.”

Students are using micro:bit, a small device with big potential. With loads of the features, micro:bit can be used to write code to power robots, play instruments or video games, and even track fitness and activity. As a result, you may see a Sphero roll by. Sphero is a tennis-ball-sized robot which can roll at speeds of up to seven kilometres per hour in any direction as well as flip, spin, and change colour, making it a wonderful application to test out new skills as students build their knowledge and comfort with coding.

Students are also using Raspberry Pi, Scratch Coding, and Makey-Makey to invent projects that combine tactile materials with the coding they're creating on the computer to bring their creations to life.

With Technology an important indicator in Grand Erie’s Multi-Year Plan, providing up-to-date infrastructure and tools is a priority, and teachers are always increasing their own knowledge of the technology available for teaching, learning, and lesson applications.

All of this tech exploration is helping students develop the skillsets many will need for the working world of the coming decades.

“The world is moving fast, so having access to technology is important ,” said Nicholson. “Engagement with technology means that not only will students have competency and familiarity with new devices and processes, they’ll also have an innovative, creative approach to problem-solving that will serve them in any field.”

Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room

Elgin Avenue Public School welcomed staff, students and community to the Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

On hand for this special occasion was Chair of the Board Carol Ann Sloat, Trustee Rita Collver and Superintendent Liana Thompson as well as several members of the community that contributed to the fundraising, and Elgin staff members.

Allie Richardson (teacher of students with autism), Lori Minarik (EA working with students with autism) and Samantha Nicholson (Principal) worked together for over three and a half years to fundraise for this $30,000 project. The Elgin community, parents, local charities and the Grand Erie District School Board all came together to make this project a huge success.

A Snoezelen Room is a multi-sensory environment that provides a controlled, safe, relaxing space for individuals with a variety of sensory needs. The room is set up to give individuals a positive space where they can meet their specific needs in a calming atmosphere. This atmosphere helps in reducing fear, anxieties, repetitive behaviour, self-abusive behaviour and aggressive behaviour so that students are better able to learn. Students at Elgin in both self-contained classes and in the regular classes will be able to access the room to help meet their sensory needs.

According to Seth, a student who accesses the room daily, “It is the best room ever!!!”