OSWALT ACADEMY NAMED APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
WALNUT, CA – DECEMBER 9, 2013 – For the fifth consecutive year, Stanley G. Oswalt Academy is pleased to announce that it has been named an “Apple Distinguished School” for 2013-2014. Oswalt Academy will be recognized for this achievement at the December 10th Rowland Unified School District Board of Education Meeting. Oswalt Academy, a K-8 International Baccalaureate® (IB) World School, joins a select class of institutions that Apple is recognizing as exemplary learning environments.
“The Oswalt family is proud to receive the honor of Apple Distinguished School once again. The 1:1 laptop program has completely changed the way students learn and through the hard work of our teachers and students and integration of technology we are proud to say we have helped students grow into successful 21st century learners,” said Oswalt Principal Kevin Despard.
Oswalt Academy has more than 500 one-to-one laptops in grades 5 – 8 that are parent funded and in use daily. The school has continued to expand its technology-infused learning in grades K-4 with the use of more than 200 iPod Touches in the classrooms. Academic achievement is evidenced by the school’s API score reaching 919 this year.
The Apple Distinguished School designation is reserved for schools like Oswalt that integrate Apple technology in education and showcase visionary leadership in creating successful 21st Century teaching and learning environments. Since initiating the Laptop for Learning program in 2008, Oswalt has transformed the school into a digital learning haven that has garnered remarkable results in closing the achievement gap in math and literacy. “We are also proud that our school has achieved a statewide rank of 10 out of 10. The statewide rank compares an individual school’s API to all of the schools in its grade level statewide. This achievement has resulted in part due to the dynamic learning that is taking place utilizing technology for students 24/7,” said Despard.
Stanley G. Oswalt Academy is part of the Rowland Unified School District and is an International Baccalaureate® (IB) World School, offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), an international curriculum designed for students aged 3 to 12. There are currently only 30 schools in the state that are authorized to offer the prestigious PYP curriculum, that focuses on developing inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people. Oswalt Academy is for students in grades K – 8, and is located at 19501 Shadow Oak Drive in Walnut. For more information, visit www.oswaltacademy.org or contact Principal Kevin Despard at (626) 810-4109.
The Rowland Unified School District is proud to serve 16,000 students at 20 elementary and secondary schools in the communities of Rowland Heights, Walnut, La Puente, City of Industry, and West Covina. More than 5,000 adults (16+) are also served by the Rowland Adult and Community Education School. For more information about Rowland Unified, visit www.RowlandSchools.org.
Pictured: Oswalt 5th Grade Student Katie Auyeung and parent Peter Auyeung at the Oswalt Academy Apple Roll Out Night in October where all 5th grade students received their Apple Laptop computers.