Communication
Leaders ensure that all stakeholders have ongoing opportunities to access information and learn about STEM implementation.
Concept 1 - School/program utilizes a variety of strategies and platforms to share and communicate STEM vision, mission, goals, outcomes, responsibilities, roles, events, and activities to internal and external stakeholders.
Concept 2 - School/program plans for and facilitates a variety of STEM events and activities for the school community during and beyond the regular school day.
Fairhope West Elementary School strives to embed STEAM experiences using project-based learning to showcase knowledge to family members and stakeholders. STEAM leaders and stakeholders are provided with varied opportunities to extend their knowledge regarding STEAM concepts and provide feedback. A STEAM Leadership Team/PLT, composed of teacher leaders and administrators, was established in 2017 and is committed to enhancing a STEAM centered environment at Fairhope West Elementary and throughout our community.
Fairhope West Elementary facilitates a multitude of STEAM events and activities for our students within the school day, but we also understand the value in bringing STEAM culture beyond the regular school hours. Fairhope West Elementary consistently communicates information to parents and the community via FWES website, FWES Facebook page, SeeSaw, The Pirate, DOJO, and FWES STEAM website. Parents are able to provide feedback through these resources and ask questions. Fairhope West Elementary’s facebook page, created in 2017 with a following as of January 25, 2021 of 2,180 followers, and website, updates daily to communicate STEAM education to our community and highlight STEAM in our classrooms. Fairhope West Elementary’s teachers use SeeSaw to communicate to their parents the activities and accomplishments that are happening within the classroom/school environment. Parents are able to respond back to the class post and celebrate with the students. Since the inception of using Seesaw in 2016, family members' views on their child’s digital portfolios have increased from 0 to 51,817.
Fairhope West Elementary School-Seesaw Analytics 10132020.pdf
Our Principal, Julie Pierce, speaks to various community and civic organizations about STEAM instruction at FWES. These groups include: Rotary, Kiwanis, Fairhope City Council, Single Tax Corporation, and Superintendent’s Community Breakfast.
Fairhope West Elementary students participate in a variety of activities during the day that enhance their STEAM knowledge. The number of STEAM events and activities has increased from two in 2016 to over 13 today. These activities include: Hour of Code for Computer Science Education Week; Robotics Club; Girls in STEAM Club; Pelican’s Nest and Gulf Shores Zoo field trips; STEAM lab; Club Day 2019-2020; and STEAM announcements on the morning news.
Other STEAM experiences beyond the day include FEEF summer camps, Science Olympiad, STEAM at Home Family Night week, and After-School Care STEAM experiences with the STEAM coach. Through these programs, activities, and events, our students have been immersed in the STEAM innovation that Fairhope West hopes to continue bringing to the forefront of our education.
FEEF is hosting its first STEAM Community Collaboration Day on a Saturday with their partners and schools in hopes of furthering interest in STEAM. Students will show visitors STEAM in action.
Fairhope West Elementary has strived to involve community members to showcase their professions. A variety of community workers provide real world experiences using STEAM practices.
Other platforms used to communicate STEAM instruction includes local city leaders, district politicians, Baldwin County Schools leaders, and even Dr. Mackey, Alabama State Superintendent. A 2019 visit featured STEAM instruction, reading intervention program, and Leader in Me initiative. Austal will visit in February, 2021 to see what STEAM instruction looks like in an elementary school.
The community and parents are invited to multiple events presented by students who use their 21st century skill of communication. At the Leader in Me Family Night student shared their Leadership Notebooks. Student leaders planned and directed tours for community visitors at our first Leader in Me school site visit. To honor our community workers, students collected, sorted, and presented donated items. Our Red Ribbon leaders used problem-solving skills in planning, creating, and implementing a community project to raise awareness for our local police canines. Our police officers received a donation for bullet proof vests for their dogs.
Other events featuring student leadership include the Wax Museum, STEAM Family Night, Veteran’s Day and BUGZ Play presentations.
LIM Family Night.mp410000000_2879178785637425_5207459769513241966_n.mp4
1/22/21.mp4Sustaining Current Practice
FWES effectively uses its Facebook page as a communication source for parents, community and stakeholders. Each day, teachers and administration post videos and photos allowing views into the classroom STEAM lessons, accomplishments and projects.
Facebook Link Fairhope Elementary Website
Fairhope West teachers use Seesaw and Google Classroom to communicate to their parents the activities and accomplishments happening within the classroom and school community. Parents are able to respond to the class posts, ask questions and celebrate the student accomplishments.
Fairhope West students participate in multiple experiences that showcase community STEAM leaders: Ricky Trione, Kathryn Watkins & Judy Humphry (artists), Spinks Megginson(meteorologist), Lenise Ligon (news anchor), Jan Adams (dentist), Talbert (orthodontist), Dr Thompson (Veterinarian), Sherry Sullivan, Mayor, Firefighters with fire engine, Joshua Gray Odem (Military), Nonie Taul (physical fitness), Chad Clark (banker), Elizabeth Heiv (Manatee Dauphin Island sighting network), Leave no Footprints Group, Roger Clay (scientist-sea turtle), John Dindo (Scientist-sharks), Wes Moore (Alligator Alley), Roger Clay (scientist-sea turtles), Alan Seals, (meteorologist). First grade visits include community workers - police station, librarians, Fairhope museum curator, and the postal clerk. Sixth grade students have hosted interviews of restaurant owners. Second graders invite business owners. Finally, students have had the opportunity to shadow the librarian, PE coaches, STEAM coaches, Pelican’s Nest scientists, and veterinarian through Silent Auction.
Next Steps
Fairhope West Elementary will continue to build and expand STEAM family and community events and tours. We would like to Increase community leader’s engagement with inquiry lessons in their STEAM fields to expand students’ curiosity in the world around them. We recognize the importance of students to see how STEAM relates to real-world careers. We will strive to include varying ethnicities, abilities and genders so each student can see themselves. We are implementing STEAM Community Collaboration Day, with FEEF partners and school representatives. They will examine learning outcomes of STEAM instruction and see it in action in the school involvement.