GALWAY–There’s exciting new room in the Galway Junior-Senior High school, the APARC room! APARC stands for advance placement, advanced Regents, and college. The Galway Masterminds team went to Broadalbin-Perth and saw a room based on a college study room but within a high school environment.

The room here is designed to have a college study feel as well as promote the use of blended learning with the use of technology such as laptops, tablets and Chromebooks. No cell phone use is permitted, but in the near future students will be able to bring in personal laptops or tablets for use with school papers, presentations, and projects.

The room is set up into three sections: a conference table with office supplies, a lounge area with a couch, chairs and a rug in the center. The comfy chairs all have rotating desk arms so you can have a place to set books while studying. The third area is a collaboration area with cafe style tables and chairs. All of the furniture is fully movable and students can rearrange the room in any configuration they please.

The room has a K-Cup machine for making coffee or cocoa. Currently there are k-cups provided, but once those are gone students will bring in their own.

Within the room there will be textbooks from every class eligible to use the room, as well as a printer in the near future. There is an announcement board for student use to post announcements about study groups and other school related activities. Students will also be able to chat live with Mr.Healey and Mrs. Donovan through cameras located in the room.

Mr.Healey and Mrs.Donovan are taking suggestions from students about the room for any additions or changes they’d like to see. Once the room is open to students, they will be able to sign out keys in the office to gain access. Later in the year Mrs.Donovan plans to add a key card system so students will be able to use their student ID to access the room.