Reflections of Havergal: 1994-2019

Realizing the rate of change itself was speeding up, the creators of Strategic Directions 2000 went further, calling for “a 3-year vision and implementation plan to achieve goals for enhanced learning and teaching supported by technology, to include hardware, software, peripherals, [and] financial and human resources.” The Fall 2004 Torch explained that Strategic Directions 2004–08 made an even deeper commitment to the integration of technology. The document pledged that the school would: • Monitor technological changes for opportunities to enhance teaching and learning, and annually revise the technology plan; • Implement continuous IT training for staff; • Invest in appropriate technology upgrades; and • Develop and implement a plan for web-based and electronic communications and interactive applications, such as parent communications, school calendar and online booking.  By 2007, the school boasted more than 700 computers, 60 printers and an IT department whose six staff members handled data management and backup, Internet and email communications and academic and operational hardware and software implementation. The department also offered technology workshops on building blogs and creating podcasts and co-ordinated student and parent information sessions on Internet safety and the wise use of technology. In addition, staff members also developed the online booking system for parent- teacher interviews. One particularly exciting feature of the athletic centre building was a multimedia lab, which immediately offered students opportunities to, for example, use sophisticated software to work with photographs and videos and create web pages.

A Science class in the Upper School, 1999.

The year 2010 also saw major developments that served students and teachers in the classroom, as well the larger Havergal community. The fall issue of Torch  listed those updates:  … with the leadership of Havergal’s IT department, the school has seen IT infrastructure improvements that have enhanced the learning capabilities for our students and will help keep the school at the forefront of technological advancements. The updates include: • a new password-protected student information system (Veracross), which families can access and manage online. Veracross allows users to find student schedules, download permission forms and read progress reports in one convenient place online; • a new updated email service and new fibre cables for higher search speed and greater efficiency;

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