Executive Summary

Northpoint Elementary School is located in Granger, Indiana, a charming town near Notre Dame University and bordering southern Michigan. As a state-accredited public school for grades K-5, Northpoint serves approximately 580 students and employs 80 staff members, including a Principal, an Assistant Principal, a School Resource Officer, a School Psychologist, and 26 classroom teachers. Our diverse student body includes 67% White, 4.8% Hispanic, 20.4% Asian, 4.4% Black, 0.1% American Indian, and 7.8% Multiracial students. We also support 16.2% special education students, 14% who receive free or reduced lunch, and 0.08% who are English Language Learners.

As one of eleven elementary schools in the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, Northpoint prides itself on fostering a strong sense of community. Our building is frequently used by both school and community groups, and we warmly welcome visitors, high school volunteers, and family members. Students engage in community service by supporting organizations like the American Heart Association and Riley Hospital, and by donating items to local charities and families in need.

We are committed to providing enriching academic opportunities, including the One School One Book/I Love to Read Challenge, Continental Math, and MathCon. In addition to academics, we offer intramural basketball, Running is Elementary, and various after-school clubs such as First Lego League, Chess Club, and Drama Club, focusing on both STEM and social development.

At Northpoint Elementary, we set high expectations, strive to create a safe learning environment, and celebrate the growth of every student. Our motto reflects our commitment: Connecting, engaging, and growing every student, every day, whatever it takes!

Our STEM journey began in 2022 with the introduction of Sphero Bots, made possible by funding from the PHM Educational Foundation, which provided these innovative tools to every elementary school in the district. Third graders were introduced to coding through Sphero Bots, sparking a remarkable interest in the program and resulting in booming attendance.

Inspired by our commitment to creativity, we chose "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" as our school-wide book that year. This led to a collaborative project where our high school students, known as the Fire Wires, guided elementary students in constructing a working windmill as part of an after-school initiative. That summer, we also saw a significant increase in student participation in Camp Invention.

The 2022-2023 school year marked the launch of our search for community partners and funding, laying the groundwork for our vision to become a STEM-certified school. As we entered the 2023-2024 school year with the theme "Growing in STEM," we established the STEM Committee, empowering teachers to expand their STEM expertise. Two dedicated teachers initiated the after-school MathCon Club, resulting in seven students advancing to the finals competition in Chicago.

To further foster a love for STEM, we hosted our inaugural STEM Night, allowing families to explore various domains of STEM together. Club Invention was offered as an after-school program and enjoyed strong attendance. Continuing the STEM theme in our school-wide reading, students engaged with "Nick and Tesla and the High Voltage Danger Lab." Many teachers embraced STEM in their classrooms, and we added "Picture Perfect" to our IMC (library). In January, two teachers and the Assistant to the Principal attended the Indiana STEM Education Conference at Purdue University to deepen their understanding and explore the path to STEM certification.

The 2024-2025 school year began with the motto "Full STEM Ahead." We have expanded our community partnerships, transformed our Reading Buddies program into STEM Buddies, secured grant funding for our new STEM lab, and met with the STEM certification team from the IDOE to begin our certification process.

Through these initiatives, we have recognized the importance of high-quality STEM instruction in enhancing student engagement and achievement. Our goal is to prepare students to contribute to society as innovative problem solvers and the next generation of thinkers, creators, advocates, and entrepreneurs. Our staff and students aspire to join the ranks of over 100 STEM-certified schools in Indiana, and we are committed not only to achieving this certification but also to becoming a model STEM school for years to come.