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campus highlights
campus highlights
Our Science Academies had an amazing September! 🚀 From building skills with LEGO® Education training to firing up brand-new labs, our teachers and students are jumping right into the STEM adventure!
Clendenin elementary
Clendenin elementary
steam academy
steam academy
This month, our students have been busy learning, exploring, and connecting in exciting ways. From practicing teamwork and active listening during the Conga Line Share activity, to welcoming loved ones for Grandparents Day Science Lab—our classrooms and labs were filled with joy and hands-on learning. 🧪 🥼
Students also dove into real-world science through experiments with watercolor, baking soda, and vinegar, observing fascinating physical and chemical changes while asking big scientific questions. To top it off, our STEAM program launched with the very first LEGO BricQ Motion Essentials activity! Our young engineers couldn’t wait to explore gears, motion, and the power of building together. 👷
Clendenin is off to a strong start this school year, sparking curiosity and igniting a love for science in every child! 🎉
Western Hills elementary
Western Hills elementary
environmental science academy
environmental science academy
This September, Western Hills was buzzing with hands-on discovery. Our fifth graders explored circuits through interactive learning stations, building collaboration skills while deepening their understanding of science in action. 💡🔋
Meanwhile, our teachers rolled up their sleeves with upcoming LEGO lessons—coding, creating, and experiencing firsthand the excitement their students will soon enjoy.
Western Hills is truly sparking curiosity for both students and staff! 🤩
Bobby Joe Hill Pk-8
Bobby Joe Hill Pk-8
steam academy
steam academy
This September, our Maker’s Space was buzzing with creativity and problem-solving! Students took on exciting design challenges—building tabletop bowling games, engineering roller coasters for ping pong balls with straws and tape, and constructing unique LEGO creations. 🎢 🎳
These hands-on projects encouraged teamwork, imagination, and critical thinking as our students explored what it means to be true makers and innovators. Innovation in Action at Bobby Joe Hill! 🌟
cooley elementary
cooley elementary
stem academy
stem academy
This September, all PK–5th grade teachers at Cooley Elementary dove into hands-on LEGO training to get ready for upcoming lessons in the LEGO labs. Teachers collaborated, created, and explored strategies that will bring exciting, innovative learning to life for their students. 🥳
The energy and teamwork during the training set the stage for engaging and impactful experiences that reflect Cooley’s commitment to hands-on, future-ready learning. 💫
Cooley Teachers Gear Up for LEGO Learning! 👏
ACADEMY LEADERSHIP TEAMS
In September, our Academy leadership teams officially launched their journey toward National STEM Certification! 🌟 These dedicated teams—made up of principals, assistant principals, program coaches, librarians, counselors, and teachers—are stepping up to guide their campuses through this exciting process. We’re thrilled to see such inspiring leadership in action and can’t wait to celebrate their progress on the path to national recognition.
NATIONAL STEM CERTIFICATION
NATIONAL STEM CERTIFICATION
This September, 36 passionate teachers from our four STEM/STEAM and Environmental Science Academies began their exciting journey toward earning national STEM certification! 🎉 Their kickoff sessions on September 3–4 marked the start of an incredible professional growth experience designed to strengthen their expertise and bring even more innovation into our classrooms. We are so proud of these educators for stepping up to this challenge, and we can’t wait to see the powerful impact they’ll have on our students and schools as they move forward in their certification journey.
Participants:
Cooley STEM Academy: Marlene Garcia Porras, Marissa Garcia, Hortencia Chairez, Emily Ceniceros, Jessica Schmitz, Severina Holt, Alexandria Pina, Jorge Lopez, and Adrian Jara
Clendenin STEAM Academy: Daniel Correa, Carolina Cairo-Kottman, Claudia Camps, Cheyanne Nosko, Maria Azcarate, Janette Lujan, Yvonne Valles, and Dora Garcia
Bobby Joe Hill STEAM Academy: Deanne Baca, Destiny Blanchette, Christine Wallace, Lesley Lopez, Kimberly Prieto, Toni Guerrero, Ana Tovar, Leslie Moran, and Hailey Blankenship
Western Hills Environmental Science Academy: Kirsten Lofton, Sandra Rojas, David Montoya, Carol Chavez, Robert Sandhu, Marisela Stanley, Jamie Livingston, Vianney Fuentes, Alejandra Macias, and Victoria Veilleux
LEGO® Education: The program is founded on a competency-based framework that is rooted in four core competency categories: Pedagogy, STEAM Concepts, 21st Century Skills and Classroom Management. These critical competencies enable teachers to facilitate, and fully realize the learning promises in every LEGO® Education solution to drive student learning outcomes.
Learning Through Play
This month, 125 PK–5 teachers, paraprofessionals, and coaches joined us for hands-on LEGO® SPIKE, BricQ, and STEAM Park training! 🧱✨ Participants had a blast programming their LEGO® creations, tackling engineering challenges with LEGO® BricQ, and exploring STEAM Park activities designed for our youngest learners. Teachers left the sessions energized and ready to bring LEGO® labs to their campuses. While we’re planning more LEGO® Education training in the spring, this amazing start has us excited to see LEGO® labs in action across all our academies!
Feedback from our teachers:
"I really enjoyed this training. It’s a breath of fresh air because it was fun and helpful."
"Today was so much fun! I enjoyed seeing others apply their imagination. I look forward to seeing my students."
"This was fun. We collaborated and it felt as if I was placed in my students “shoes”: seeing creative and constructive play through their hands!"
September Ic meeting
September Ic meeting
🚀 Our K–5 Science Coaches are ready for the 2nd Nine Weeks!
✅ Broke down upcoming TEKS with a focus on vertical alignment
✅ Identified tested standards in 3rd & 4th grade leading to STAAR success
✅ Learned a new student engagement strategy to take back to classrooms: Conga Line
✅ Explored LEGO Lab intro lessons & finalized campus lab schedules
Hands-on learning + aligned instruction = 🌟 big wins for teachers & students this fall!
Upcoming
Upcoming
What's Coming Next for our Academies!
STEMscopes Support during Campus PLCs
STEMscopes representatives are joining campus PLCs to partner with teachers, review upcoming curriculum, and provide answers to any questions. This is a fantastic opportunity for teachers to get hands-on support and guidance right where they need it!
Bobby Joe Hill - Wednesday, October 22
Clendenin - Monday, October 30
Cooley - Friday, October 31
Western Hills - Wednesday, October 29
Reader's Theater Training for Teachers
Teachers at Bobby Joe Hill and Clendenin STEAM Academies will join their colleagues from Crockett Fine Arts Academy for a day of training with the Teacher Created Materials Reader’s Theater resource! 🎭 This engaging tool helps bring the arts into STEM learning, giving students a fun way to practice literacy through scripts in both English and Spanish. By learning how to use Reader’s Theater, our teachers are finding creative ways to weave literacy into STEM instruction—making learning even more exciting for their students.
Bobby Joe Hill and Clendenin may send up to 2 teachers for each grade level:
Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
Location: Crockett Fine Arts Academy, 3200 Wheeling Ave.
Kinder - 2nd Grades: 8:15 - 11:15
3rd - 5th Grades: 12:45 - 3:45
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