Last year, BDS was the recipient of the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools – Digital Promise grant which awarded our scholars in grades 6 – 9 with a special Chromebook. We were ecstatic about the opportunities to not only benefit from the technology, but from the special training our teachers would get for creating engaging virtual […]

Last year, BDS was the recipient of the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools – Digital Promise grant which awarded our scholars in grades 6 – 9 with a special Chromebook. We were ecstatic about the opportunities to not only benefit from the technology, but from the special training our teachers would get for creating engaging virtual classrooms.

As we worked to meet the tech needs of our 10th – 12th grade scholars, Ciena Corporation, an American telecommunications networking equipment and software services supplier based in Hanover, Maryland stepped up. They worked with our friends at Verizon to outfit our H.S. students with special iPads, that will contain all of the software they will need to do their work in all of their classes, including their Architecture, Fashion and Graphic Design CTE programs.

Needless to say, we were grateful, and were then surprised to learn that as part of Ciena’s ‘Americas Volunteer Day’, they made an additional donation of 250 sets of headphones to accompany the iPads and create a distraction-free set up for students to engage in their virtual classrooms! The folks at Ciena and Verizon came by to drop off the headphones and Mr. Brozene was able to show them around our beautiful school and stop for a photo opp.

We are so thankful for the investment Ciena and Verizon have made in our students, setting them up with what they need for a successful virtual learning experience. Our partnership promises to go beyond technology, and our scholars have already been invited to the Verizon offices when we return to school to see how the internet/FIOS/Cable is set up and networks throughout the city and counties. It’s an incredible opportunity that was an outgrowth of this budding relationship.