Crescent School pilot project - adjustable height desks

November 23, 2010

CRESCENT SCHOOL at the forefront with ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT DESKS in CLASSROOMS

TORONTO, NOV 23, 2010 – Crescent School’s Grade 3 and Grade 7 students are part of a pilot project in their classrooms that allows students to work at adjustable height desks where they can stand or sit to learn. If seated, students are still able to move about freely - with their feet on a sway bar. These innovative adjustable desks allow for flexibility for the students, to learn in a manner best suited to their individual learning style.

Crescent’s Director of Student Services, Dr. Mike Leatch was anxious to put the desks to the test - especially within an active all-boys environment such as Crescent’s. “The idea for the desk design comes from a Grade 6 teacher in Minnesota, and her idea is supported by the literature on neuroscience and attention spans while learning,” says Leatch. “Movement such as shifting, swinging a leg or standing engages neural networks in more complex ways than does sitting. Preliminary reports have been overwhelmingly positive.”

The success of these adjustable desks will determine their use in the state-of-the-art learning environments being incorporated into a new wing currently being built at Crescent and due to open in September 2011.

About Crescent School: A Toronto day school for boys since 1913, Crescent’s mission – Men of Character from Boys of Promise – is the foundation of both our unique educational environment and our commitment to enable each boy to discover his unique talents intellectually, artistically or athletically.

About the AlphaBetter™ Adjustable Student Desk: The AlphaBetter™ desk was designed by Abby Brown, a primary school teacher in Minnesota, with the help of a local company Sunway Inc. and is now produced by Safco Products Company, and is a part of their Stand Up for Learning programme.


For more information contact:
Sue Gillan
Director of Communications
Crescent School
Phone: 416.449.2556 x267
Cell: 416.899.1045
Email: sgillan@crescentschool.org
Website: www.crescentschool.org

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Crescent School

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