Bea Jackson, Executive Director of the Washington Street Community Center, has BIG dreams for her kids. The afterschool program brings together a team of staff and volunteers who are continually looking for ways to expose students to new opportunities for learning and growth.
The latest idea – bring STEM programming to engage students in collaboration, problem-solving and the design process. This great idea will become reality thanks to a $14,000 grant from Views on Learning to the Newton Education Foundation.
The grant will cover the costs for three STEM programs to bring programming to WSCC three times each month from December to May. Decatur Makers, Coding with Culture and the STEAM Generation will each provide a 2-hour, hands-on workshop each month.
Bea Jackson shared how the grant project aligns with program goals: “one of the goals of the WSCC after school program is to promote and instill a passion for STEM and STEAM education at a young age. We believe that STEM/STEAM education helps to bolster critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, communication, and collaboration. The WSCC program helps students prepare for success in the 21st Century.”
Grant funds will also cover the cost for two Saturday field trips to Decatur Makers, a youth-focused makerspace, where the students will participate in building projects, take a trip to a local bookstore to pick out a STEM-themed book and have lunch on the Decatur square.
Grants and gifts to NEF fund innovative partnerships that provide opportunities for students to learn, grow and soar. Donate at newtoneducationfoundation.org/donate or check out our business sponsorships at newtoneducatoinfoundation.org/business