Wyckoff Education Foundation Hosts Spring Fling Saturday

On Saturday the Wyckoff Education Foundation's Annual Spring Fling Fundraiser will kickoff with the goal of raising $70,000 for the purchase of 125 iPads for Wyckoff schools.

Lazara Valentin, a WEF Trustee and parent of a Sicomac Elementary School student, believes iPads are an increasingly valuable tool in educating students throughout the district.

"Technology is very important in our schools. We started first by providing portable laptops for students and this is the next step for us," she said. "We focused in on iPads because they're half the costs of laptops and that's where the technology is right now. The kids love using it. It's just a natural thing."

Indeed Valentin said half the battle of gaining support for the iPad initiative is convincing parents that the technology isn't simply a passing fad. She recalls similar concerns when the district first began introducing laptops into the schools.

"A lot of the parents thought they weren't going to be properly used, but now all the students use them to get there work done," she said. "They communicate through them and make presentations with them. The iPads are the next step. It's not a matter of if they'll be used, but how often."

 In January, Valentin said WEF donated $30,000 to Interim Superintendent Richard Kuder for the purchase of laptops to replace those that had reached their life expectancy.  She believes the district will get even greater use by incorporating iPad technology into the schools.

"It's not tedious for students so they're more inclined to use it. They're learning and they don't even know they are," she said. "The district has already piloted some iPads for the school and they've gotten an awesome response. In particular for special needs students it's a great tool."

The Spring Fling event is scheduled for April 2nd, at the Indian Trail Club from 7-11p.m.  Live entertainment will be provided by The Benjamins and a representative from Apple will be on hand to provide a demonstration of iPad usage in education by Apple. There will also be a live/silent auction items that include technology, trips, and sports tickets. Tickets are $90.00 per person and you can purchase online at www.wyckoff.org.

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