Last fall, students at Welches School participated in a “jog-a- thon,” running laps and landing donations from the community to raise money for technology.

Their efforts resulted in $5,200, and this month the students will start to
enjoy the fruits of their labors: brand new chromebooks, laptop computers
featuring Google applications, including Google Drive and Google Docs.
Principal Kendra Payne noted the purchase of the computers was also possible
thanks to a contribution of more than $11,000 by the Welches Parent/Teacher
Community Organization (WPTCO).

“Welches PTCO was excited and proud with the community support that we
have had to be able to donate a huge portion of the funds for 60 new Google
Chrome Books,” Travis Brewster, WPTCO President, added in an email to The
Mountain Times. “So a big Thank You to everyone who donates to our
fundraisers and my board for making this a reality.”

“The fact that they were willing to take such a large chunk of their fundraising
dollars and devote it to technology just really says a lot about how they
support the school and the direction we’re going,” Payne said.

The new computers, purchased for $290 each, will replace 50 computers in
two computer labs that were on their “last legs.” Payne noted the
chromebooks will serve as “portable labs,” brought into different classrooms
via carts the school already has.

Payne said the chromebooks have a different operating system than the
previous computers, which featured Windows XP, an operating system that
Microsoft stopped providing support and technical assistance for on April 8 of
this year. That development meant that sensitive information, such as testing
information, student identification numbers and login information, could be
put at risk.

The Oregon Trail School District’s technology department also loaded a free
Linux operating system to the school’s old computers, helping to get some
extra time out of them.

Payne added other district schools are in similar positions and are working
with their parent/teacher organizations to purchase new technology, while the
new chromebooks in Welches is the biggest purchase in the district to date.
“I think we’re on the leading edge of that,” Payne said.

The WPTCO also supports the school with the annual Harvest Feed, spaghetti
feeds, dances, movies and more. The school and the WPTCO will hold its
annual ABC Auction and Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at the Mt.
Hood Village RV Resort & Campground, 65000 Highway 26.

The event features free admission, a silent auction, an oral auction and live
music. Dinner tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

Organizers are still looking for donations for the auctions. For more
information, call 503-622-3165.