Recipient of financial support from:

Videoconferencing

Thanks to a generous contribution from the Max and Beatrice Wolfe Charitable Foundation, Bialik is in a unique position among Toronto Jewish day schools in that our students benefit from onsite videoconferencing facilities.

In conjunction with educational agencies in Israel, our students have dialogued live and in real time with schools from Israel, Europe, North America and Australia, sharing and comparing spontaneous thoughts, feelings and ideas as well as scripted songs and presentations. Over the course of these presentations, our students have participated with Israeli dignitaries and other special guests. In one example, Bialik dialed into NASA's Kennedy Space Center, and were able to discuss Israeli zero gravity agricultural research with a scientist from Mission Control!

The power of videoconferencing and its usefulness as a teaching aid is best described in a quote from a Bialik parent, who said "Seeing students in Canada and Israel, arm in arm though thousands of miles away, swaying back and forth to Hatikvah with tears of joy streaming down their faces, was a profound experience of shared culture and values".

Not only are our videoconferencing facilities useful to students, they are also valuable to our staff and administration. We have run several long-distance web and video-enabled professional development conferences for our staff, where notable professors have discussed topics such as "Teaching the Holocaust" and "Making Shabbat Meaningful".

Bialik is pleased to make its videoconferencing facilities available to the general public at the following rates:

1)	Booking & Reservation Fee (non-refundable)*:	$40.00
2)	Per hour rates:
	Israel Interactive Centre Classroom setting for approx. 25 persons	$110.00/hr.
	Bialik Boardroom Meeting or training setting for approx. 12 persons	$110.00/hr.
	Bialik Gym Large auditorium for projection or performances up to 400 persons	$300.00/hr.
3)	Long Distance charges:
	Local calls are free. IP based conferences will be charged at the rate of $40.00 per conference. Long distance charges will apply to ISDN based conferences with locations outside the Toronto area. The school has very favourable rates to Israel and Europe.	Please contact us for current rates.
4)	IT Personnel:
	IT personnel are available to ensure a smooth running conference by providing technical support, running cameras, etc. A minimum one hour charge will apply for all conferences for set-up and take-down.	$75.00/hr.
*Reservation fee is waived for Mercaz - affiliated schools and UJA Federation agencies.