Local School helped by Local Freemasons.
Report by Mike Goodwin
At the beginning of March this year Snar Gate Lodge received a request for funding for computing equipment via our member WBro Leon Blackman whose sister-in-law is the secretary of the PTFA for Temple Ewell Primary School.
She wrote to say the School is a small village school with a very small pupil intake per year. As with many small village schools the funding of new equipment is always difficult. This request is specific to computing equipment within the school which is in need of urgent replacement. ICT is taught to all students from Years 2 onwards. The students as part of the curriculum use the current computers/laptops that are available within the school. Year 6 students use the computing equipment on an almost daily basis as part of preparation and transition to Secondary School. The equipment is used for a range of teaching from word processing, internet browsing ICT skills, touch typing and so much more. It is acknowledged that such skills are now essential in the world we find ourselves in and in preparing the students for life beyond Primary School.
The school has relied heavily on donated equipment over the years with some laptops now in excess of nine years old and the equipment varies in make and model. The computer equipment is sadly no longer fit for purpose. It is unreliable and no longer has the battery life to support a school days’ worth of us usage. Students are required to share the equipment with there often being three pupils round one computer. This is not an efficient way of teaching as children have to rotate their learning during a session. The equipment is slow and often requires rebooting during lessons.
The PFTA are supporting the school in the purchase of 32 new Chromebooks and accompanying headsets. This number allows a class set where each pupil within that class will have use of one Chromebook during a lesson. The school has limited space which is why standalone computers are not an option. The most cost-effective Chromebooks which meet the requirements have been sourced and on average £180 per Chromebook. The total cost of this and accompanying handsets averages at just under six thousand pounds.
The PFTA have been tirelessly fundraising to support this purchase but additional support is required.
BENEFITS FOR THE CHILDREN
The benefits of new computing equipment are significant. It will allow pupils to work collaboratively and efficiently on group tasks and individual assignments. The teacher’s time is better utilised as all students will have the ability to follow one set of instructions where rotation around a device is not required. Having equipment which is consistent in make and model allows the pupils to become familiar with the equipment they are using which in turn enhances their learning.
The PFTA are seeking donations from the local community to support the above purchase and any assistance the Masons are able to provide in relation to this would be hugely appreciated by the pupils and staff at Temple Ewell Primary School. It will undoubtedly make a significant difference to all 147 pupils at the school.
HELP GIVEN BY
Cornwallis East Kent Freemasons Charity
Snar Gate Lodge 6770
Peace and Harmony Lodge 199
Military Jubilee Chapter 2195
On Monday 18th November the following Brethren attended the Temple Ewell Primary School to present cheques to cover the Chromebooks as detailed above.
We were welcomed into the under tens classroom and spent some time with the children who were very pleased with their Chromebooks and demonstrated to us all the extent of the work they were able to undertake. We were very impressed with their interest in explaining this to us.
This was an excellent opportunity of showing what freemasonry is about and will be advertised locally by the school.
(Permission has been given by the parents of pupils in the photos to be shown as needed).
Since the visit, another £400 has been donated, to purchase an additional 2 Chromebooks. The donations came from Snar Gate Lodge and Peace and Harmony Lodge.
WBro Mike Gooodwin Secretary 6770 Charity Steward Chapter 2195
WBro Michael Pearce Charity Steward 199 Bro Lee Wakeham Charity Steward 6770
