"Affording the Classroom of the Future": an Article in THE Journal with Excellent Insights from Juan Diego Academy at Holy Rosary School Tacoma's Principal Dr. Uhl

Report on Education.  Do take a moment to read this article on how schools are changing and improving the learning experience by utilizing technology... plus learn how they can finance the upgrades needed. 

Dr. Timothy Uhl, the principal of Juan Diego Academy at one of our state's oldest schools, Holy Rosary in Tacoma, WA, did a terrific job in this interview with THE Journal Magazine.  He talks about grouping students in pods instead of rows, and how to attract grants to fund basic tech needs. At a school that will be starting a two way immersion program for incoming Kindergarteners this Fall (all subjects taught in both Spanish and English) this is clearly a school to watch.

The article reads in part: "As the nation's K-12 schools consider the equipment and space requirements of tomorrow's classrooms, many of these institutions are also looking at how to pay for the new learning spaces.

Uhl said he's enthused by the thought of running a 21st century school with learning spaces that are loaded with instructional technologies and designed in a way that engages students and promotes collaboration. Turning that thought into reality could be challenging for Holy Rosary School, which is working with a 120-year-old facility and limited financial resources.

"We don't have wealthy parents or financial support from the community," said Uhl. "A lot of our students don't pay full tuition rates, so we're pretty strapped financially when it comes to purchasing new IT or upgrading existing equipment."

Holy Rosary School is one of many nationwide that has had to get creative on its path to the 21st Century classroom. In many rooms, for example, whiteboards were installed over existing chalkboards. And upon rolling out a 1:1 laptop program for 7th and 8th grade students this year, teachers quickly realized that existing desks no longer worked in the learning environment.

"We're finding that the desks are impractical for laptop use and looking for other options," said Uhl. To afford new desks and IT equipment like smart boards--which are currently being installed in some of the school's classrooms--Uhl said the institution often turns to foundations for help. "This is a 120-year-old school with a lot of history behind it," he said. "We're essentially a 'valuable charity' that foundations want to support."

Thank you to Bridget McCrea of THE Journal for writing about Juan Diego Academy at Holy Rosary School of Tacoma.

Pierce County to Gain School Where Students Will Be Taught in Two Languages: Juan Diego Academy at Holy Rosary Tacoma

Meaningful work.  It renews us.  Throw bright kids and passionate teachers into the mix, and we're pretty much in heaven here at The Spellman Company.

We're so proud to be working with the smart team in Tacoma that's launching a "two way immersion" school this Fall.  What's that mean exactly?  Parents of preschool aged kids who are looking for the best education, where little brains are even more opened up to learning when all subjects are taught in two languages, should start pulling together their applications now. The school already pulls from all over Pierce County given its central location.  And with this new approach it's certain to grow even more.

This is the first story on what's happening at the new school, in our area's Catholic newspaper, The Progress.  The article, by Kevin Burbaum, reads in part:  "The two-way immersion model has been used in several public school districts and a few Catholic schools around the country for more than 20 years, said Dr. Luis Fraga, a professor of political science at the University of Washington and appointee to the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Fraga was one of several nationally recognized experts who helped develop the Academy in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Seattle, the Catholic Schools Department, the Fulcrum Foundation and Holy Rosary Parish...  Beyond appealing to Latinos, two-way immersion should improve education for all Holy Rosary students, said Fraga, noting that there seems to be no downside to teaching subjects in both English and Spanish.

'There is increasing research that shows that children who learn and master two languages at an early age are better at math, are better at music, are better at learning and critical thinking because their brains are more active and their brains are more able to synthesize information,' he said."


Let us know if you're interested in learning more about the school, its teaching philosophy or application deadlines. And if you're with the media and would like to help us tell the story of this school looking to turnaround drop out rates and challenge kids in Western Washington, drop us a line or give us a call.