Santa Claus came early to T.C. Miller Elementary School Friday, in the form of network administrator Doug Wickham.
He wasn't wearing a red suit and beard, but he brought students a special gift.
"These laptops are going to change instruction for the school," said Wickham.
Every forth and fifth grader at T.C Miller and Dearington Elementary Schools is getting their own, personal computer.
"This will allow their teachers to be able to send assignments to them," said Amy Huskin, principal at T.C Miller. "They will complete the assignments and send them back to the teacher."
Lynchburg City Schools has been using desktop computers for more than 20 years, but students have had to go to a computer lab to use the devices. They've never had their own computer on their own desk.
Having a computer right in front of them doesn't mean students can play games and ignore the teacher.
"The computers are locked down, so students can not install their own software on there," said Wickham. "While they're at school, they are filtered through our Internet filter."
School leaders hope the program will be better for the environment.
"We're hoping to reduce the amount of paper that we use," Huskin said. "The children won't need as many worksheets or as many copies of things."
The computers are only being used at school, but eventually students will be able to take them home.
Teachers hope the technology will lead to higher grades and better participation.
"There's no more excuses for losing worksheets and missing homework," said Huskin. "They'll have it in their folder, on their laptop."
If the laptops prove the be an asset, every student could end up getting this gift, every year until they graduate.
"Our hope is that this is successful and that we can replicate this as they go through the division," said Wickham.
Third, forth, and fifth graders at Bass Elementary School are getting digital tablets. The pricetag for that technology is $67,635.
The laptops at T.C. Miller and Dearington Elementary cost $98,940, split evenly between the two schools.
All of the new computers are being paid for with federal grant money.
