Community Liaison Committee supports tech literacy at Hillcrest Central School

Figure 1: Representatives from the South Bruce Community Liaison Committee (CLC), the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), and Hillcrest Central School met for a cheque presentation in Teeswater on December 9^th. From L-R, Teacher Courtney Alexander, CLC Chair Jim Gowland, NWMO Engagement Associate Paul McGrath, CLC Member Justin McKague, CLC Project Coordinator Morgan Hickling, Principal Stephanie Bouchard stand in front of one of the tech walls, joined by kindergarten students. (Students in JK/SK not required to wear masks in Ontario schools)

For Immediate Release
December 9th, 2021

TEESWATER, ON – After the Community Liaison Committee (CLC) approved a funding request for the purchase of interactive technology walls at Hillcrest Central School, representatives gathered at the school for a cheque presentation and to view the recently installed learning devices on Thursday morning.

Hillcrest Principal Stephanie Bouchard submitted a funding request for the Committee’s consideration in March. She highlighted that for several years, Hillcrest has been using technology to enhance student learning. While two classrooms already received interactive technology walls as part of their 2020-2021 Technology Master Plan, the school administration had hopes to secure funding to buy additional devices, which are used to present information to classrooms and allow for student interaction with lesson content.

The purchase and use of additional technology walls serve to “meet the current needs of students and to encourage a love for education and technology,” said Bouchard.  

“It is positive to see Hillcrest continue to place a strong emphasis on using technology to improve the learning of the next generation of South Bruce leaders,” said CLC Chair Jim Gowland. “Providing support for the purchase of two interactive technology walls was a decision our committee was pleased to make,” he added.

“It is our pleasure to support innovation and learning at our local schools,” said Tareq Al-Zabet, NWMO South Bruce Site Director. “The NWMO is committed to fostering education, especially in science and technology, and looks forward to continuing to build relationships throughout the region.”

The CLC initially approved the request in April, and Hillcrest proceeded with the purchase and installation of the technology walls which have been used successfully since the start of the 2021 school year.

The contribution to Hillcrest Central School in the amount of approximately $4,600 is from the Early Investments in Education and Skills (EIES) fund, which is administered by the members of the CLC with funding provided by the NWMO.

In late March of this year, letters were sent to schools in South Bruce on behalf of the CLC to provide them with information on the EIES funding, which exists for capacity building purposes in communities that have ongoing participation in the NWMO Project. It provides investments in education as well as training for youth and the community, and also aims to provide transferable skills to community members that would be applicable across a range of projects and careers.

Over the past several years, the CLC has used EIES funding to support a wide variety of local initiatives, such as decodable educational resources, mental health programming, and nutrition programs. This program will once again be available to local schools and the community in 2022.

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