As parents are busy gathering the supplies needed on their children's school supply list, some may be a little surprised at what some of those lists include.

Parent Colette Dunlop says her children's school in Ste. Anne has included electronic devices to the required list of supplies for the Grade 7 and 8 classes this year.

“Some of us are trying to figure out how exactly they're going to monitor everything that's going on in the class. I don't doubt that they have some good things to do with those [devices] in class and some interesting things they can do, but a lot of kids can not afford it.”

Brian Martel the new Principal of the Pointe Des Chenes School in Ste. Anne says “It's not a totally new concept, our school division is piloting this with a few other schools in the division. We have two teachers in Grade 7 and 8 who have had some training in this and how to incorporate such devices as a learning tool and not as a distraction.”

Martel notes the time on devices such as iPads, iPods and tablets will be regulated. “It's to encourage kids how to use it more effectively, as an educational tool and not for promoting social media. The main purpose is to have the kids organize themselves and use their electronic devices in a respectful manner and how to further enhance their knowledge of the various topics taught in the classroom.”

He says most kids have electronic devices already, and the school is moving forward with technology. “It's an evolution of education and we have to roll along with it.”