Operation Graduation: The Digital Advantage!

We are excited to report that Operation Graduation, AKA Digital Advantage, is a success! This past Wednesday, May 12, the Coachella Valley USD awarded 187 Dell laptop computers to Desert Mirage freshmen who met the "Four A's" of Attendance, Academics, Activity and Attitude this year. In order to qualify, students were required to have a total cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better, participate in a school-sponsored sport, club, program or service learning activity, have no suspensions at any time during the school year, and maintain 95% perfect attendance between November 2, 2009 and April 1, 2010.

Nearly every student was in attendance at the ceremony, and parents rubbed elbows with Superintendent Ricardo Medina and other district administrators, as well as school board members, local dignitaries, and Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Kenn Young. It was an exhilarating evening. At the ceremony's conclusion, red, white and silver balloons rained on the students, who hugged their laptops while Kool & the Gang's "Celebration" rang out. Afterward, it was pizza for everyone outside on a breezy, beautiful desert night.

So now the real joys and challenges begin. Some students are bringing the laptops to school, and several teachers have already begun to incorporate the computers in the classroom. We would like to hear about how YOU are using the netbooks to enhance your lessons.

What's working? What do you want to try? Please post your response below. If you have technical concerns, you can write to lucie.gonzalez@cvusd.us, and they will be forwarded to the right persons. Go Rams!