Spring 2003 - Fenwick High School

It’s the Information Age. The Internet keeps people connected more often and more conveniently than ever
before. And Fenwick is no exception. Information and interaction is at our fingertips. In the past year, the
Fenwick web site: www.fenwickfriars.com has turned into a dynamic, interactive connection among members
of the Fenwick community and between Fenwick and a whole world of resources.
Wizards of the Web Site
H
ow does a Dominican priest find
himself on the leading edge of
technology Opportunity and
necessity, perhaps. He could see
first hand what technology can do.
Before coming to the Chicago area, Fr.
Michael Winkels, O.P, was on the staff at
the Newman Center at the University of
Minnesota. He then came to the Priory in
River Forest where, for 12 years, he was
Director of the Dominican Conference
Center, maintaining the building, scheduling
and managing events. In that time
computers made great strides, enabling
people to do just the kinds of things Fr.
Winkels' responsibilities required, including
coordinating a complex schedule with a
multitude of information.
After his tenure at the Conference Center
Fr. Winkels, as part of his sabbatical,
attended computer classes at DePaul
University. When completed, he came to
Fenwick to work with Bill Gibbs on
updating Fenwick's technology. One major
job was to re-do the network from Novell
to a Windows environment; another was to
re-do the web site so it could be more
current and dynamic.
During his term at the Conference Center,
Fr. Winkels met a young computer "whiz,"
Ernesto Nieto, who was setting up a
computer gaming competition to be held at
the Conference Center. Fr. Winkels was
impressed with Ernesto's knowledge of and
enthusiasm for technology. They became
good friends and during his sabbatical, he
and Ernesto worked for several months in
the technology department at the Chicago
Board of Trade.
Before computers became Ernesto's career,
they were his hobby in whatever spare time
he could find while managing a family
business. He also studied dentistry for a
short time, but was drawn back into the
world of computers and technology. He
worked at the Dominican Shrine of St. Jude
in downtown Chicago, setting up their
database and maintaining their network.
The rest is history. When Fr. Winkels took
on the responsibility as Director of
Technology at Fenwick, he convinced
Ernesto to come to Fenwick and work with
him.
Fr. Mike and Ernesto have turned the small
technology office on the ground floor into a
place of major action. The joke among
many members of the faculty and staff is
that if you stop by the office to ask for
something to appear on the web site, by the
time you arrive at your office or classroom
and turn on your computer, your web site
request has already been accomplished. If
you attend a sporting event in the evening
and go home to sleep, by the time you wake
up in the morning, the results are often up
on the Fenwick web site.
In addition to running the network and the
web site, Fr. Winkels and Ernesto
troubleshoot and answer questions for the
faculty and staff. They also moderate the
Technology Club, the Film Club and the
Fenwick Internet Radio.
What is the future of technology at
Fenwick
Fr. Mike and Ernesto have Big Plans!
This summer the library card catalog will
be digitized and made available online.
Also in the works are wireless computer
carts, multi-media classrooms, and helping
Fr. Mike Winkels, O.P., and Ernesto Nieto
the faculty integrate technology into the
classroom. All of these are geared towards
accomplishing their number one priority:
Making sure every student who graduates
from Fenwick is computer literate and
prepared for the technology challenges in
the years ahead.
As Dr. Jim Quaid, Fenwick
Principal, has said, “Technology
has transformed the way people
communicate and work in today’s
world – whether in medicine or law,
education or business or family
management and daily living.
Technology is a powerful resource,
not only as a way to enhance the
learning process throughout our
classrooms and our curriculum
but also to ensure that our students
are prepared to face new
challenges in the years ahead.”