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Maranatha’s Growing Computer Science Program
Maranatha, a school that isn’t primarily engaged in computer sciences, will actually begin to focus more on those classes starting the 2018-2019 school year. While Maranatha has always been an academically all-around school, the administrators have plans to begin enriching the technological aspect of the school. They believe that it will benefit both students and teachers alike.
Maranatha, a school that isn’t primarily engaged in computer sciences, will actually begin to focus more on those classes starting the 2018-2019 school year. While Maranatha has always been an academically all-around school, the administrators have plans to begin enriching the technological aspect of the school. They believe that it will benefit both students and teachers alike.
On the article titled “You Don’t Want To Miss The 2018 Benefit Gala” written January 16th, it says, “The proceeds from this event will help fund exciting new enhancements to the school’s Technology Program. Robotics, 3D printing, a new computer lab, and more will be housed in a newly constructed Technology Center and will provide students with tools and resources to develop skills for the careers of tomorrow.” Interestingly enough, in a more recent article titled “Going Once, Going Twice, Sold” (written February 20th) Maranatha states: “Proceeds from the Gala will help construct Maranatha’s new Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art facility that will house robotics, 3D printing, VR modeling, advanced graphic design, two new computer labs, and more.” Chiefly, it’s great news that Maranatha High School has chosen to keep up with the ever-changing technological agenda.
While some parents and students will be eagerly awaiting the installment of the Innovation Center, other families may be somewhat skeptical of the major changes that will be made on the Maranatha campus as a result of it. Some of their concerns may include, “How will it benefit the students and teachers? How many classes will this take up? Why is this a necessary addition to the school?” Mrs. Miller, the Instructional Technology specialist at Maranatha, gives some insight into the scope and vision of the technology program. She says that so far, Maranatha has considered redoing all of the computer labs; while they will be keeping the macs in the graphic design class, the school’s goal is to “...buy new computers for the PC labs.” While the school currently has an Introduction to Computer Science class, it has plans to create an AP Computer Science class. It will be taught by Mr. Morris, who is a part of the computer science faculty. On the first floor of the Academic center (right side, where the art class and graphic design class is located), it is planned to become all computer labs. Mrs. Miller confirms that there will be “...a robotics program in the upcoming school years.” Maranatha wishes to integrate the knowledge of technology into their classes to support those students who wish to get into computer science majors, which will be an increasingly lucrative job.
People who enroll in a computer science major could be software developers, web developers, computer hardware engineers, and much more. On the Bureau of Labor Statistics page for computer programmers, the 2016 median pay was around $80,000 per year. For software developers, the 2016 median pay was around $102,000 per year. The percent change in employment for software developers is estimated to be at around 24% from 2016 to 2026, a staggering amount from the average rate of all occupations, estimated to be around 7%. Maranatha is providing opportunities for students of many interest to be successful not only in college but also in their careers. It’s important to start building the basic foundations of interest and knowledge into people at an academically engaging stage of their life: high school. 
