Three Schools in Crane District Named Apple Distinguished Schools
Yuma, AZ – September 20, 2021 – Centennial Middle School, Mesquite Elementary School, and Salida del Sol Elementary School have been recognized as 2021-2022 Apple Distinguished Schools for their innovation and unique implementation of Apple technology. Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence.
Crane District Superintendent Laurie Doering and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mike Hoffman are proud of this distinction as it aligns with the district’s mission of growing a community of curious change-makers through innovative problem-solving. “As district leaders, we couldn’t be more proud of our continuing and new Apple Distinguished Schools for being exemplary at bringing this vision into a dynamic reality. Schools leverage technology to serve diverse needs and aspirations – from challenge-based learning that impacts our community to individual pathways for academic success.”
The selection of Mesquite Elementary, Salida del Sol Elementary, and Centennial Middle School highlights the district’s success in creating an innovative and compelling learning environment that engages students and provides tangible evidence of academic achievement. Each school utilizes Apple technology using methods that are creative and easily accessible to students.
Centennial Middle School, established in 1999 to serve approximately 700 students in 7th and 8th grade, implements a Maker Space mindset. Pioneering in Apple ConnectEd, the Apple ecosystem allows Centennial to revolutionize their instructional methodology in creating high expectations for their students. They are able to provide students with pathways of entrepreneurship by fostering challenge-based learning to stimulate critical thinking and allow students to use technology to communicate their vision and goals to connect with their local, regional, and global communities.
Mesquite Elementary School – a Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade school which opened its doors in 2007, encourages communication and collaboration at its site of nearly 600 students. With iPads issued by the district 1:1, Mesquite students create and record living timelines, book reviews, and science presentations using apps such as Clips, Book Creator, Apple Books, and iMovie. Coding is used as a means of project and challenge-based learning by providing students with the opportunity to create their own application “app” prototype, such as the Mesquite App they produced.
Salida del Sol Elementary – a previous recipient of the Apple Distinguished School honor, first opened its doors in 2004, educating more than 650 students in Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade this year. Salida del Sol students utilize the technology at their disposal to make meaningful global connections and discuss cultural differences with students in other classes. They explore a variety of professions to create forward-thinking students who visualize a professional future. They also analyze problems and design solutions like the “Astrosocks” scenario issued by NASA in a project for students participating in the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. With Apple devices, the students can also partner and engage with other agencies besides NASA, such as the Arizona Science Center.
Each of the recognized sites is looking forward to continuing their use of Apple technology to connect students to the world, fuel creativity, deepen collaboration, and make learning personal.
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***These schools join H.L. Suverkrup Elementary School and Gowan Science Academy as Crane schools that have received Apple Distinguished School recognition.