Opportunities with STEM Organizations

Foothills Community School prides itself on the word Community within its name, our school-wide hashtag for the year this year even being #FCSCommunity. This allows us to recognize the involvement STEM organizations in our school projects and in the learning of our scholars. So far for the 2019-2020 school year, students in school for their projects have worked with the Foothills Food Hub, Foothills Health District, McDowell County Schools Child Nutrition, and all students worked with at least one farm: English Farms, MANNA, Windy Ridge Farms, Irma’s Farm and Produce, or Recovery Ventures. Students participating in enrichment groups have worked with Columbia Forest Products or Price’s Antique Reclaimed Lumber. Students have also had the opportunity to partner with the McDowell Arts Council Association to bring in local artists.
At Foothills Community School, we understand that student involvement in extracurricular activities has many desirable effects on both the behavior and academic prowess of our scholars. We also understand that it is within these activities that our students begin to form the positive relationships needed to feel comfortable and ultimately successful in school. With this in mind, each teacher hosts a club that allows them to share their passion with our scholars. These clubs mostly occur on Mondays but many of our teachers host a weekly meeting after school. The list of clubs include First Lego League, Advanced Robotics, Gaming/Problem-Solving Club, Cooking Club, Math Counts, Science Olympiad, Model UN, Yearbook and publications, FCS Announcements, FCS 4-H, Volunteer Club, Drone Club, Digital Music Club, Art Club, the Drama Llamas, Soapbox Derby Club and Science Olympiad. This plethora of choices allows our scholars a wide variety of interactions with STEM competitions and community professionals (including but not limited to foresters, biologists, physicians, mathematicians, engineers, artists, politicians, chefs, hobbyists, etc.) In order to showcase all that goes in within our building, FCS holds quarterly open houses that showcase student projects with families, invited professionals, and the community as well as the work of our clubs.
Foothills Community School also offers the Career Cafe through our local CTE liaison, showcasing different careers within our community. This smaller setting allows our students to ask questions and learn about STEM professional programs that are in our own community. Foothills also has a student internship program that allows students to work in a career of their interest and a mini internship program that allows students to participate in local learning field trips to see various businesses and careers within the area.

Evidence: Opportunities with STEM Organizations