SYDNEY, Australia, August 2, 2006 - Wireless networking technology from Cisco Systems® is providing the perfect complement to the Information and Communication Technology program at Wenona School in North Sydney and is enabling it to deliver 'learning anytime, anywhere'.
Wenona School is a non denominational day and boarding school educating around 800 girls from Kindergarten to Year 12. The main senior campus and a junior campus are on Walker Street in North Sydney, with an additional campus on Miller Street housing a range of departments. The school operates a laptop program for full time academic staff and girls from Year Six to Year 10.
Around 500 students and 80 teachers use the blanket wireless coverage across the school's three campuses to work on assignments or marking, regardless of time or location. Students upload work through submission boxes on the online school Portal, where teachers can immediately access it from classrooms, staffrooms or outdoor areas.
Wenona School's wireless network was deployed by Cisco® Premier Partner Accucom Systems Integration and features 40 Cisco 1200 Series wireless access points. The wireless local area network (LAN) is underpinned by a fibre optic network that powers the school's desktop computers and connects the Miller Street, Walker Street and Junior School campuses in North Sydney. The network is based on three Cisco Catalyst 3750 Series switches and around 40 Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series switches, with two Cisco 800 Series integrated services routers providing internet access to the school.
Director of Information Technology at Wenona School, Jennifer Sharman, said: "The girls at Wenona sit outside at lunchtime with their laptops open, finishing work or sharing information. The wireless connection also means they can easily access network software that is not loaded onto their computers."
With students accessing the Wenona Portal so regularly, it has become an effective way to post daily news bulletins such as changes to classes or afternoon sporting activities. Multimedia learning is also gaining significant ground at Wenona School with teachers connecting their laptops to projectors in Technology classrooms and displaying project work on classroom screens.
Cisco Australia and New Zealand managing director, Ross Fowler, said: "Cisco is delighted to be working with our partners to bring technology to schools which make the learning experience more enjoyable and effective."
Wenona School's online learning facilities are also helping to reduce costs associated with photocopying and printing, something school administrators are encouraging in their quest to achieve a paperless environment. Resources that were previously copied, such as lesson notes, are now uploaded on to the school Portal and viewed on screen.
Sales Manager at Accucom Systems Integration, Anthony Sarkis, said: "This Cisco wireless solution provides everything Wenona needs with plenty of features still waiting in the wings. It's easy to manage, very robust and stable and expert technical support is always readily available."
About Accucom
Based in Seven Hills, Accucom Systems Integration was established in 1988 to assist Australian businesses with their IT requirements. Accucom helps organisations develop their IT strategy by designing, building and integrating their technical infrastructure using best of industry products at competitive prices.
