St. Thomas More raises funds needed for educational technology

Supported by the school’s Giving Tuesday fundraising campaign, St. Thomas More High School will be able to acquire additional Smart Boards for its classrooms.

Alumni, parents, and other community members donated over $10,000, with an average gift of $339, for this technology during the school’s one-day online fundraiser on November 28.

“Giving Tuesday gave parents, alumni, and volunteers the opportunity to make a direct investment in the education of St. Thomas More students,” said president Mary McIntosh. “We are truly humbled for this outpouring of support, and I am excited to see how our talented teachers utilize this new technology.”

Compatible with educational software for all fields of study, Smart Boards are large, interactive computers that also operate as whiteboards and projectors for classroom instruction and experimentation. Smart Boards allow teachers to expand their lesson plans, and, in turn, keep their students engaged and excited about learning.

“These Smart Boards will provide our teachers with another outlet to express their creativity and encourage their students to take an active role in their education,” said principal Nicholas Kelly. “After investing in our Learning Commons over the summer, St. Thomas More is grateful for the donors whose support now allows us expand the use of technology in the classroom as well.”

This investment in technology follows significant renovations completed at St. Thomas More last summer that transformed the school’s Community Room into a multi-purpose Learning Commons.

Along with providing a modern, flexible space for school gatherings and interdisciplinary lessons, the Learning Commons includes a high-definition projector and 17-foot screen for presentations; two conference rooms equipped with teleconferencing technology, flat screen TVs, large whiteboards; and two small project rooms.