SteadyRain and Chaminade Break New Technology Ground For Missouri High Schools

Ranked among the top college preparatory schools in Missouri for providing advanced technology for its students and staff, Chaminade continues to lead by creating a web portal that facilitates communication and educational tasks, ranging from turning in homework assignments to posting course schedules.


Chaminade College Preparatory School, a local independent Catholic school for young men in grades six through twelve, was the first school in Missouri to provide all teachers and students with laptop computers beginning in 2000 and was the first to offer a completely wireless campus. The recent revamp of its website into an all-inclusive academic portal was the next step in staying ahead of the technology curve, allowing students, teachers, parents and alumni to communicate with each other and perform daily tasks with greater speed. In addition to serving as an informational website, a portal also offers a suite of commonly used services such as student discussion forums, online assignment drop boxes and the ability for each teacher to display individual course syllabi.


The innovative portal is in keeping with the college prep school"s strong commitment to investing in current technology. Equipment on campus is never more than three years old, which is attractive to prospective students and parents. And, says Chaminade Director of Technology Lee Tilley, "The portal showcases how effective Chaminade is with technology and how it is integrating it into the parents and students every day life." Through the portal parents can view student"s grades and food accounts, communicate with teachers, look at assignments, and school events.


Designed and revamped by local Internet strategy and web design firm SteadyRain, Inc., to help students, staff and parents stay informed, the information nexus greatly enhances communication between school and home. James Gerker, principal of Chaminade, said, "I knew this portal would become a main avenue of communication for the entire Chaminade Family. While it will not replace the face-to-face component, it provides our parents, students, alumni and the general public with vital, up-to-date information - available at their fingertips."


Most important, though, is the advantage it offers the students. The information students can now obtain through the portal include; grades, class notes, ask questions to peers and teachers, review teachers instructions and assignments, and even view what they have had for lunch. Patrick Garrett, vice president of sales and marketing for SteadyRain, said, "Working with this collaborative portal in class and at home gives Chaminade students a valuable head start on using the technology they will encounter in college and in their chosen professions."


St. Louis-based SteadyRain, Inc. is a privately held Internet strategy and web-design firm specializing in website design, integrated marketing, e-commerce, database integration and application development.


Chaminade College Preparatory School is a Catholic day and resident school for young men, grades six through twelve, sponsored by the Marianist Province of the United States.


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