Media Centre

Chinook High School Media Centre – Technology Planning

Just prior to the start of the 21st Century the Board of Trustees and senior administrators of Lethbridge School District No. 51 had a vision for the west Lethbridge community. This vision defined a new high school reflecting the community’s core values to include a strong academic focus, a competitive sports program, a wide range of career and technology studies and a complement of performing arts. To extend the instructional opportunities in Chinook High School the vision included a new media centre – a centre that facilitates and complements learning and instruction in all program areas, not just the performing arts.

Over 10 years of planning, working with Alberta Education, Alberta Infrastructure, and our architectural and engineering partners, created a foundation for the District to engage focus groups of secondary school teachers to refine the vision and articulate curricular programming for Chinook. Thereafter, district staff engaged vendors representing sound, lighting, data projection and high definition video solutions to meet students’ learning needs.The new media centre at Chinook High School is a 21st Century facility that is focused on students, parents and the community of Lethbridge. The centre is a significant educational asset that we can be proud of for many years.

Media Centre Design Team:

Bob McMann, Manager of Facility, Chinook High School (building construction)

Don Lussier, Associate Superintendent Business Affairs

John Percevault, Director of Technology (Program and Technical Specifications)

Rik Jesse, Education Technology Coordinator (technology planning committee)

John Mantello, Information Technology Coordinator (technology planning committee)

Peter Wickens, Technician (technology planning committee)

Neil Sheets, Technician (sound, lighting, video)

Brian Tedder, Technician (sound, lighting, video)

Apogee Audio

TLD Computers / Epson Canada

Longview Systems / PolyCom Canada

Sharps Audio Visual / Crestron Canada

Detailed technology planning for the opening of Chinook High School in September 2010 commenced in July 2008. This planning will ensure equitable student access to educational technologies currently in place at Winston Churchill High School and Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. Chinook High will have four computer labs to accommodate Career and Technology Studies and shared access by teachers in all subject areas. Four class sets of ultramobile laptops on mobile carts will provide students with a student-to-computer ratio comparable to the other high schools. Classrooms will be equipped with the 21st century multimedia technologies and the school will have a wireless network for students, staff, practicum student teachers, parents and volunteers. For more information, please contact Clark Bosch at 403-320-7565.