Several of our community partners wrote letters of support when they found out we were applying for STEM recertification. These partners have assisted us with our STEM plan for several years (see copies of letters in 4.1 evidence).

Community groups and staff from other Indiana Schools visit our STEM program at Lake Hills throughout the year. During their visits we share a power point of the history of our school and give them a tour of our school and classrooms. While they visit we ask them to give us ideas for how we could improve our program. These ideas are shared with the rest of our staff and taken under advisement.

Lake Hills STEM Magnet School is creating and sustaining STEM related business and industry partnerships in order to inform curriculum, instruction, and student experiences to foster college and career readiness skills. We have implemented several projects to date and continue to work on this goal from the IN STEM strategic plan.

All K-6 students have opportunities throughout the year to go on study trips and listen to speakers related to various STEM topics and careers. These experiences are integrated into ELA and Math instruction and curriculum. Our counselor conducts a STEM focused career day in November for grades K-6. Sixth graders visited the Economic Development's "Made in LaPorte County" to learn about the jobs and products created in our backyard. Extended learning opportunities such as Lunch and Learn clubs, STEM after School Clubs, STEM Family nights, and after school clubs are additional ways we bring STEM career exposure to all of our K-6 students.

Grade level standards are embedded in all study trips, expert speaker presentations, and extended learning opportunities. Goals and objectives are provided to community groups ahead of time so they have a focus for the lessons and the information they share with students.

We are fortunate to be in close proximity to the IN Dunes National Park, IN Dunes State Park, and several county parks. We have developed a close working relationship with the rangers and naturalists that work there.

Grade level teams meet to determine who from the community can help them teach the topics found in the state standards. Each grade level has developed their own unique list of partners which allows for no duplication of programs. These experts from the community extend and enrich our STEM curriculum. Study trips to places throughout the community, provide students with hands-on experiences of observing STEM in the real-world.

Extended learning opportunities are provided in the following ways:

• 10 year anniversary celebration held outdoors in May, 2019. Over 30 community partners set up interactive displays to showcase their careers. (Evidence for the following list of extended learning opportunities can be found in the slide show found in 4.2.)
• Lunch and Learn Clubs - students bring their lunch and eat while listening to a community expert on topics such as astronomy, veterinarian medicine, engineering, gardening, community workers, etc. This exposes them to many STEM careers during the year.
• STEM After School Clubs - students work on hands-on STEM projects facilitated by volunteers. Students are engaged in a variety of activities which helps them apply the required standards in a fun and meaningful way.
• STEM Celebrations of Learning- held three times during the year to allow students to show-case their project-based work, families participate in a variety of STEM activities facilitated by community groups and staff, and a light supper is provided to encourage fellowship amongst all caregivers and students.
• Science, Math, and LEGO Robotics Competitions- students in grades 4-6 sign up to join one of these clubs which meet during breakfast, lunch, and after school. Students participate on-line or in person during these academic competitions.
• Coding Club - sixth grade students are trained in a variety of coding technologies such as Ozobots, Raspberry PI, Scratch, etc. These student leaders then teach other grade levels how to use these programs.

We are at the "Innovating" element for this domain as we provide opportunities to inspire and inform under-represented students about careers in STEM fields. This occurs more than three times a year as we have three Family STEM Nights every school year, there are approximately eight STEM Lunch and Learn Clubs (i.e. LEGO Robotics, Astronomy, Engineering, Gardening, etc) that meet throughout the year, there are numerous study trips and guest speakers form the community that talk with our students about STEM careers, and an annual Career Day in which speakers discuss aspects of their careers with our students.

See slide show in 4.2 evidence for examples for this domain.