Many of Justin Robin’s classes this year have been a challenge.

It’s not because the Grade 10 student has had a hard time keeping up in web design, digital film making, or web-based publishing.

It’s because the computers and software at St. Boniface Diocesan High School are so out-of-date, he said.

"It’s very limiting, because there’s lots of old programs," Robin said. "You want to try something new, but the computers are too old."

That reality is about to change.

The school recently received a $40,000 grant from Future Shop’s Future Generations program, which provides schools across the country with funding to purchase state-of-the-art technology.

Jonathan Martin — who teaches in the school’s business education department — said the funding will help buy new 50 new computers, as well as the most up-to-date software for the school’s two computer labs.

The refit is much needed, added his colleague, Vanessa Olson, as the current computers are quite old.

"Like a lot of independent schools, our technology budget isn’t great," Olson explained.

That means the school often ends up with used computers and software, which has an impact on students, she said.

"It’s kind of hard when they go ‘click,’ and then they wait five minutes for something to happen," she said.

"They’ll learn, but it’s not the best learning experience," Martin added.

That’s why the $40,000 grant is so significant, he said.

"It allows us to prepare students more effectively for the technology they’ll encounter when they graduate," Martin said.

Olson said state-of-the-art software will also allow student to better explore their creativity.

"Being able to work with something that make them go ‘wow’ — that’s the added benefit," she said.

Olson added she can’t express enough gratitude to Future Shop.

"Part of the excitement is that corporations are actually putting themselves out there for schools," she said.

As for Robin — with many of his computer-centred courses already complete — he’s taking a philosophical view of the situation.

"We as students are the future, but the computers are the future of education in our school," he said.

"By uniting the two futures together, we’re making the most of the situation."

arielle.godbout@canstarnews.com