18
Canisius High School Today
“In my AP calculus class, for exam-
ple, kids can watch a podcast at home
about a topic they typically struggle
with, and we get extra time to work
together on the concept in the class-
room,” Amodeo explains.
“We hope scores will improve as a
result of the kids getting more experi-
ential learning, which is very effective
for most people,” says Fitzgerald.
Of course, the one-to-one comput-
ing program is just one, albeit a huge,
aspect of how technology touches the
lives of the school community.
»
The school’s first live online sports
broadcast took place on Feb. 18,
2012. The network’s inaugural
game featured Canisius hosting St.
Joe’s. The stream went live from the
school’s website.
»
Canisius has moved into the realm
of social media with Facebook and
Twitter. Its Facebook page has nearly
2,400 “likes” and features news, dis-
cussions andmore.
»
The Canisius website is also becom-
ing more community-based and
interactive.
»
The Citadel is going electronic and
might also go online.
»
The school is considering developing
its own apps for uses like keeping in
touch with alumni.
Positive reactions
Reactions to the new one-to-one
computing program have come from
every corner.
Students, says Fitzgerald, “didn’t
seem to have a learning curve with the
iPad. They’re curious about its poten-
tial and want to know what else it can
do for them.”
Parents have had the normal ques-
tions about security and safety, which
the school is addressing with an iBook
on digital citizenship and online re-
sponsibility. But they’ve been “noth-
ing but positive about us leading the
charge,” Amodeo says.
Alumni like Rocco and others be-
lieve in the importance of kids learn-
ing how to work in the digital world.
Teachers are discovering how to
work with their new tools effectively.
Perhaps the most surprising reac-
tion has been from the educational
community. Several school systems
have sent representatives to Canisius
to find out the whys and wherefores
of the one-to-one initiative. “They’re
very curious about how and why we
did it,” Fitzgerald says.
The answer to one part of that ques-
tion gets to the heart of things, he says.
“We’re expecting learning results. We
wouldn’t do it otherwise.”
✠
Downtowners
Attendance
Reaches
NewHeights
John Hurley, president of Canisius
College, understands the challenges he
faces as the first lay president of Western
New York’s Jesuit college. Ted Black,
president of the Buffalo Sabres, shares
similar challenges with the added pres-
sure of bringing a professional sports
championship to a community starved
for the elusive achievement. The January
Downtowners event at which Hurley
spoke featured a then-record crowd and
was followed by the sellout of Black’s
Downtowners talk in April.
Hurley, the first St. Joseph’s Collegiate
Institute alumnus to address the
Downtowners, highlighted his desire to
see Canisius College be more competi-
tive both in athletics and admissions. The
College is looking to branch out to parts
of the country and the world that have not
been its traditional recruitment grounds.
Hurley also stated his desire to develop
a competitive athletic program with a fo-
cus on the men’s basketball program. The
college is also taking steps to strengthen
its Catholic Jesuit identity as the school
moves to laity in its leadership.
The Sabres’ Black offered a candid com-
mentary on the disappointing 2011-12
season, working for owner Terry Pegula
and adjusting to a community as passion-
ate as Western New York.
The Downtowners Luncheon Speakers
Series has been providing members of the
Canisius community with quality speakers
and networking opportunities since its re-
emergence in 2009. The community has
responded with record support.
The remainder of the 2012 Speakers
Series continues the energy and in-
terest level of the first two luncheons.
Canisius President P. Joseph Koessler
’81 addressed alumni, parents, fac-
ulty and staff in August. Buffalo News
political writer and past Canisius par-
ent Bob McCarthy will offer his remarks
on the 2012 presidential race on
Oct. 27, five days before the Nov. 2
elections. Registration for the Bob
McCarthy luncheon is available on the
school website.
✠
View the video of
Ted Black’s comments at
www.canisiushigh.org/alumni.cfm
or by scanning this QR code.