STEM/Capital Campaign FAQ
The Foundation, would like to say thank you for taking a serious look at the possibilities of a dedicated STEM Lab for our Sope Creek students. The NIFTY 50 has been a labor of love for the 2011-2012 Board. We hope that the parents and community will be as enthusiastic in this endeavor as we are.
As the Foundation was considering various capital expenses this year, the potential of a dedicated lab caught our eye. This “lab” began merely as a science lab. However, after further research, we realized that a traditional science lab would limit our teachers and students. With further investigation, we found that a STEM lab can enhance learning in a variety of ways. Students can experience hands on learning for science, while also having a ‘silent’ lesson in both math and technology.
As we continued this ‘dream to reality’ research, we found that in various schools across the nation, they are taking their STEM lab approach and providing opportunities for all teachers to incorporate this multi discipline learning into all of their subjects. This has led the Foundation to want to go a step farther and create a dedicated STEM resource lab in addition to the STEM lab. This second lab, will allow ALL teachers to utilize a large space for ‘getting your hands dirty’ type experiments and learning opportunities that can cross over to history and even language arts.
Q: How will a lab setting differ from the classroom? Cannot my child’s teacher have the kids ‘get dirty’ in their regular class?
A: Of course, our teacher’s are having the kids participate in hands on learning in their own classrooms. After all, we have some of the best teachers at the Creek! However, a traditional classroom has carpet, desks and all of the “stuff” that makes a classroom a ‘class.’ A dedicated resource lab would be free of these necessary encumbrances that a class has to have. The resource lab will not have carpet or desks. It will be outfitted with lab seating for approx. 65 kids. The lab seating will easily be able to be pushed aside to allow for large floor space, or used for team teaching for two or even three classes.
The lab will be able to be reserved so that a teacher can easily go in and set up experiments, have class come in and participate with hands on opportunity and then get back to class learning, without disruption for the entire day. In addition, the lab will be outfitted with a microwave and freezer/refrigerator so that learning opportunities can be taken even farther.
Q: What is the timeline for the Nifty 50 campaign?
A: No doubt, this is a process and as we go through this, the STEM Lab concept will be fine-tuned. At this time, these are the phases of the process and our vision of it unfolding:
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Phase 1-Provide the physical infrastructure for Fall 2011 for the technology classrooms to be converted into a more cohesive STEM class.
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Provide the funding to create a 21st century reference room that will also be utilized by the k-2nd graders as their computer resource lab.
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Phase 2-Through the Nifty 50 campaign drive, raise funding to convert four rooms in the annex to house a dedicated STEM lab and a dedicated STEM resource lab. This conversion will include 8 sinks, new flooring, furniture and fit out for electrical/plumbing and suitable network capabilities.
Q: What if far more money is raised than what is needed?
A: What a great problem to have! If indeed the Foundation raises additional funding than what is needed for the initial phases and goals of this campaign, then we will continue taking STEM to a new level. There is an additional component to STEM that has been added to this entire view of learning outside of the traditional class setting. This view is STEAM. This takes STEM to STEAM, by adding an art component.
If indeed funding were above and beyond what is needed, the Foundation, in good faith, would continue using the funds from the NIFTY 50 campaign to further this art component. This funding could potentially support learning in both our traditional art class as well as our chorus class.
