"We want our students to experience a 21st century Catholic school education and here we are," Principal Chandra Minor said yesterday. "SMART Board technology is phenomenal. It brings the world right into the classroom. We're competing against all the technology that's out there. This tool captivates the students interest."

The new technology arrived two months ago to the Catholic school on Trapelo Road. But yesterday the school dedicate the technology center and got a chance to showoff the new gadgets.

Our Lady teachers gave presentations of lessons that use the technology to the audience of church members, teachers, parents and Mayor Jeannette McCarthy.

Since the SMART Board arrived, math teacher Patricia Inzeo said she's been using it every day in her class to help students solve theorems.

SMART Boards, an interactive electronic white boards connected to computers, were installed in fifth- through eighth-grade classrooms.

Tim Bardar, said his classes are much more engaged having used the technology for the last two months.

"Three or four months ago there were so many things I wanted to do in the classroom, but just couldn't do it," he said. "You can connect to the Internet, make movies ... it's amazing."

The new technology was made possible through a $45,000 donation from the GBL Foundation Inc., which is run by family members of a student at the school.

The foundation, which stands for Gilbert, Brunaccini and Labossiere, is managed by the Brunaccini and Labossiere families of Waltham. The foundation was created in 2003 in memory of a Waltham couple, Assunta and Edward Gilbert.

"They were our neighbors. They belonged to the church and they were very active and have since passed. We took care of them," said Judy Brunaccini, foundation member and Waltham resident. "We thought it would be appropriate to donate in their name."

Assunta and Edward were parishioners at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church and Edward served as a deacon. Edward died in 2001 and Assunta died in 2003.

Michelle Labossiere, whose daughter Alexus is a fifth-grader at the school, said the foundation has been donating to various organizations over the past few years in the Gilberts' memory.

"(They) were always big donors of the school," she said. "They were big donors when they built the kindergarten wing and they were big donors of the parish."

Labossiere said Minor approached the foundation near the beginning of the school year asking for new technology for students. The foundation was happy to oblige, Labossiere said.

"If it wasn't for Chandra (who became principal in 2006), the GBL Foundation wouldn't be making this donation," she said. "If it wasn't for her vision for the school, we wouldn't be here. We believe in her."

Minor said she hopes to provide SMART Board technology to the school's elementary school students next year.

Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com .