Saint Matthew School and community celebrated being named an Apple Distinguished School at a special school assembly Friday, October 29. Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence. Schools are selected by Apple for their use of Apple technology to connect students to the world, fuel creativity, deepen collaboration, and make learning personal. Saint Matthew is one of 600 schools worldwide to have received this distinction.
This Friday, the Saint Matthew community will come together to celebrate this unique award with breakfast, innovation stations, and an official award presentation beginning at 8 a.m.
Saint Matthew School earned this distinction from Apple for its innovative use of 1:1 iPad technology and for equipping its students with other Apple technology to develop the skills students need to shape their communities and to become future leaders, prepared to meet global challenges.
“Through the efforts of our Saint Matthew administration, faculty and Home and School Association, we have gone from a single Windows computer lab to a technology-rich environment that incorporates iPads, robotics, coding, drawing, podcasting, and video creation,” said SMS Technology Innovation teacher Mary Dams. “Our teachers have been incredible with developing their ‘technology toolkits’ and working to enhance lessons with the amazing technological resources we have.”
Since incorporating 1:1 iPads, teachers have reported that students work harder, learn deeper, stay on task better, and collaborate more.
“I am proud that Saint Matthew School is recognized as an Apple Distinguished School,” said Principal Tim Forbes. “The selection of Saint Matthew School highlights our success in creating an innovative and compelling learning environment, one that engages students and provides tangible evidence of academic achievement.”
Saint Matthew School is a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School, located in western Williamson County and serving 475 children from Pre-K3 to 8th grade. It was founded in 2001 and provides its students with a well-rounded education rooted in the Catholic tradition. Saint Matthew was voted Williamson County’s Best Preschool, Best Private Elementary School and Best Private Middle School for 2021 by the Williamson Home Page. More information is available at www.stmatthewtn.org.
