SchoolNet's Network of Innovative Schools is a unique project that recognizes schools using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in meaningful and imaginative ways to improve learning.

Whitehorse Star: October 22nd: Whitehorse Elementary School has joined Industry Canada’s SchoolNet Network of Innovative Schools. Whitehorse Elementary will receive $10,000 per year in federal money for three years to support information technology in the classroom. At Whitehorse Elementary, information and communications technology are part of a life-long learning process for the school community, Industry Canada said in a statement. “The school is committed to promoting the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to achieve self-directed learning, global awareness, self-respect, respect for diversity and better communication skills. “École Whitehorse is working to increase technology access for all students, especially the many students who don’t have computers at home.”For example, the Whitehorse Youth Centre uses the school to provide more evening access to technology tools. The school has also become a family resource centre. Every Thursday night, the school holds an open computer lab for parents and kids to attend. Families use the computers and Internet to develop résumés, e-mail family and friends, scan photos to send relatives, find parent resources on the web, and help kids with homework. "Students are thriving in the technology-rich environment at École Whitehorse," Industry Canada said. "The school participated in the Yukon Information Technology Fair for the first time in 2002 and each of the eight École Whitehorse students won first place in his or her category!" Allan Rock, the federal Minister of Industry, named the leading schools in the integration of information technology. The new members of the network were announced at the opening ceremony of the fifth annual Network of Innovative Schools Institute, attended by more than 300 educators.The Calgary-based institute is a professional development and networking forum that brings together some of Canada’s leading educators in integrating information technology into education. Funding is used to support schools in research, professional development and project opportunities that will assist them in the integration of technology in the classroom. The 36 new schools bring the total number of members to 150 since the network was launched in 1998. Photos of our presentation and the NIS award ceremony with the Associate Deputy Minister of Industry Canada in Calgary

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CBC: Oct. 22 Whitehorse Elementary School has joined a network of leading schools across the country. Thirty-six schools were recognized this week for applying information technology to learning. The federal government is awarding the schools $360,000. Whitehorse Elementary’s share will be $30,000 spread out over three years. The money will be used to support information technology in the classroom. Crystal Pearl-Hodgins is the technology integration teacher at Whitehorse Elementary. (Pearl-Hodgins) “Technology has become a really exciting thing for us here at Whitehorse Elementary. The demand has grown in terms of the teachers involvement to the point where we really need more than one lab and we will probably dedicate the $10,000 to upgrading our hardware so that we can actually provide another lab.” The network of Innovative Schools is an initiative launched by Industry Canada five years ago.