STEM Program Expanding

Deputy Superintendent, Bill Glass, Ed.D., said that elements of the STEM programming will increasingly run throughout all curriculum. “The STEM Program is just one example of project based learning. The key is that this is not just STEM. All students should have these exciting opportunities. The programs become interdisciplinary, where all kids have access to Hands On Minds On activities,” said Glass.

 One example of this method of teaching is happening in Roger's Park right now, and it isn't part of the STEM cuurriculum. Teachers Kristy Zaleta and Allen Courtney have been using study halls for students to build a miniature golf course.

Planets and solar systems are suspended from the ceiling and throughout the science classroom, as students hammer, glue, drill and paint individual miniature golf holes. “This is how kids learn,” said Zaleta. “We have been meeting every Tuesday and Thursday, and if they get their work done, they can come in and work on this.”

  “The projects have gone above and beyond expectations,"  said Zaleta. "We showed them samples and they came up with their own ideas. There are two kids to every project, and they had to come up with everything else."

 “'Hands On, Minds On' means engaging students in project based learning. While working on projects, hearts become engaged because students want to do them. Project based learning is a much more engaged way to learn, and because students are excited about learning, it builds their own motivation and becomes self-directed learning,” said Glass. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.

 “It's a lot of work,” said Glass, “but the pay off is that the kids are so engaged, and everyone is excited about the work.”

 Anne E. Mead, M.Ed., Administrator of Early Childhood Education and Extended Learning Programs, is also involved in a unique STEM program.  This summer, a camp continues on this exciting method of teaching. The National Oceanic and Air Association is joining the Danbury School System to bring together students within a college setting, which will include instruction from college Department Heads.

  “The camp will give students an opportunity to experience all of the STEM fields, science, anatomy, and biology; and a representative from On Star Global Positioning Systems will talk about global positioning,” said Mead. “They will get involved in engineering at the Hydro Electric Camp, and embedded in everything will be math and journaling skills.”

 Mead explained a little about the history of STEM in Danbury. “The push for STEM started about six years ago in order to prepare our students for 21st Century learning. Students need this inquiry based learning.”

 Glass reports that all systems now appear to be go for the implementaion of the full scale STEM program for the middle schools.

 “We have committed 99% to see the first step, Phase 1 of the STEM initiative. We are going to break away from Rogers Park and move 300 students from Roger's Park in 2012. We are going to create a prefabricated strcture at Emmanuel Lutheran by Sept of 2012, and move Head Start there. We will retrofit some of the Mill Ridge space, and then during the 2012/13 school year, with funding from the state, we will build science labs. By 2013/14, we will be fully operational. The next phase will be to move another 250 students into the building.”

 “This is the really exciting news,” said Glass. “Right now there is no place for students from the International Studies program to go after elementary school. This will create a second academy open only to Danbury students from the International School but will also be open to any Danbury student, whether they went to the magnet school or not.”

 “This brings in more options for the kids,” said Glass. “Our instructional program will be Hearts On, Minds On project based for all students, whether they go into a STEM program or not.”

For more information about STEM Summer Experience, download the PDF file in our photo gallery or contact Anne Mead at Danbury Public Schools at 203-830-6508 or meadan@danbury.k12.ct.us. 

For videos and more from the school about STEM since 2008, click here.