Journey

Our STEAM program has been growing steadily since the 2017-2018 school year. Our program has grown from isolated STEAM projects and challenges to a full culture shift, where students are engaged in daily integrated STEAM learning and year-long project based learning, providing a context for their learning. Our students have grown as problem solvers, collaborators, and communicators, and they are excited to share their learning with authentic audiences and each other.

Over the years, we have added to our STEAM environments and gained several new farm family members for the students to care for and learn from! We have connected our outdoor spaces with opportunities for community partners and mentors to engage with our students, deepening our social emotional learning and building confidence in our students to impact the world around them. Our students love our happy WJES STEAM farm including two Boer goat sisters and one male, a few laying hens, many pond fish, and our cuddly pet rabbit! We have a Sensory Garden, Creativity Garden, and Pollinator Garden for students to utilize for individualized exploring and discovery. We have also added a larger greenhouse that houses aquaponics growing beds and traditional raised growing beds. There is even a nature trail with outdoor classrooms and student learning stations. Inside our building we have multiple hydroponics growing towers and multiple aquarium environments. Through all of our environments, we strive to address and solve the question, "How can we show environmental stewardship and sustainability in our community?" Each grade level has a year-long project based learning unit connected to this theme, as well as integrated STEAM units throughout the year. We hope you will come visit to see our students in action as they solve real world problems and work together to impact our community!