Friendship School Receives Grant to Improve Technology

Students at Friendship School in Eldersburg will be getting new tools next school year thanks to a grant from the Knott Foundation, a Catholic family foundation based in Baltimore.

The Marion L. and Henry J. Knott Foundation has awarded the private, nonprofit school for students with dyslexia a $40,000 grant to support their Technology Improvement Program. 

The school has decided to use this money to “revamp” their technology by purchasing a a dozen iPads, a SMART Interactive Whiteboard, 50 new computers and additional software.

“This allows us to maximize the Orton-Gillingham methodology we use, a multi-sensory approach widely recognized for its effectiveness, blending visual, auditory and kinesthetic modalities in the learning process,” said Teresa Ankney, head of Friendship School.

Jaime Cacciola, development director at Friendship school, said features like the text reading application on the iPad will help accommodate students and allow them to do research.

“I’m very pleased because I think having access through the best technology possible is really important in today’s world and to prepare them for whatever setting’s next so that they can succeed beyond Friendship,” said Cacciola.

The new equipment will be in place for the 2011-2012 school year to be used mostly with middle school students in science and social studies classes, according to Cacciola.

They are currently in the process of forming a committee over the summer to discuss how to best implement the program.

“We’re very grateful that there are foundations like the Knott foundation to support our mission and I look forward to seeing the students interact with the new technology,” said Cacciola.