Coxsackie-Athens is pleased to announce that Edward J. Arthur Elementary School has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2022–2025 for our emphasis on developing our learner dispositions of: critical and creative thinking, collaboration, communication and being self-directed through the implementation of Apple technology.
Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence. They use Apple technology to inspire creativity, collaboration and critical thinking in learning, teaching and the school environment, and have documented results of academic accomplishment. "Apple technology has given teachers at C-A the ability of elevating student work and creating opportunities that better prepare them for a technology driven world. We will continue to look for ways to support our students and teachers with their innovative work," Allison Leonardo, Coordinator for Innovation, stated.
The selection of Edward J Arthur Elementary School as an Apple Distinguished School highlights our success as an innovative and compelling learning environment that engages students, and provides tangible evidence of academic achievement. “It has been rewarding to support our teacher and student creativity through Apple apps and products. New possibilities abound each day for our elementary learners,” Jim Martino, Principal, E. J. Arthur Elementary School.
At EJA, students become young authors by using technology to publish their ideas. This year Kindergarteners wrote memoirs and then elevated their project by animating and recording their voice in Keynote. Their projects were combined in iMovie so that students can play it back and listen to their classmates' books. In addition, third graders used Book Creator to turn their research into informational texts. Each student recorded themselves reading their books and shared them with family and peers.
We continue to strive to implement innovative practices and look for ways to actively engage students. We have only touched the surface of what our students are capable of doing. Our work as an AASA Lighthouse district will provide us mile markers towards our 2030 Destination in the areas of no learner being marginalized, being whole learner focused and utilizing community resources.