Self-Assessment Rating: 3

Community, post-secondary, and business/industry partners and/or families actively support and are engaged with teachers and students in the STEM program.

Pinecrest Academy St. Rose is very big on helping students see beyond the classroom into reality of life through engaging with the community, post-secondary, and business and industry partners in various ways.

Edutainment Learning

One of the largest ways students have been able to learn from outside influences is through edutainment learning. Edutainment learning is where a ZOOM conference call is set up in multiple classrooms and the guest speaker’s office. Then a live, interactive interview can be held. According to KTNV Las Vegas, “What's especially exciting for the students is that they get to interact and meet some extraordinary people through ‘edutainment learning.’” (Kean). Students from all grades get to interact with top scientists in their field, such as 2015 physician of the year, Dr. Henry Brem, hear first hand accounts from 9/11 survivors, listen to Generals sharing about historic events. Other sessions were with astronauts, a doctor that worked for NASA, a lawyer for the World Wide Fund for Nature, paleontologists, a Professor of Criminology, Michael Raegan, the son of former President Raegan, actors, musicians, innovators sharing about their work, even Rick Harrison, a local celebrity from “Pawn Stars.” The students at Pinecrest Academy St. Rose get to learn first hand from and ask questions of these amazing individuals willing to take the time to talk and inspire students. Without the use of these ZOOM interviews, the students would never get to see so many important guest speakers.

For more information about the different individuals interviewed, and a chance to join one of the interviews, visit: http://pub.lucidpress.com/Edutainment/#PgoEnIGglDHI

Edutainment Learning offers our students a unique opportunity to interact with people from all sorts of backgrounds. Students are allowed to ask guests follow up questions.

Past guest speakers directly related to STEM through Edutainment Learning include:

• Author/video game designer/cryptologist Elonka Dunin
• 5 time astronaut Dr. Story Musgraves spoke to an engineering class
• Aeronautical and space engineer Billy Max Coleman
• Guest lecturer for 8 science classes, actor Dolph Lundgren
• USAF Technical Sergeant Bradley Molnar - 2nd grade class
• Astronaut - Dr. Story Musgrave - Science class
• Engineer - Ron Jarrett - Science classes
• Dolph Lundgren - 5th grade class
• Voice of Siri - Susan Bennett - Choir class
• Dr. Jim Withers- Creator of the homeless outreach for University of Pittsburgh
• Dr. Henry Brem- 2015 Physician of the year and Head of Johns Hopkins Department of Neurosurgery-science classes
• Frank Abagnale Jr.- Author of “Catch ME If You Can” FBI Agent 40 years- Cyber Security classes
• Dr. Arthur McDonald- Nobel Prize Winning Astrophysicist- Science classes in Nevada and Florida
• Joe Sanchez- SeaWorld trainer for science students in Spain, Florida, Nevada
• Coyote Peterson- YoutTube host of the show Brave Wilderness spoke to Zoology students
• Dr. William Julius Wilson (Harvard Sociology Professor): 18 students in Italy/France & Spain
• Martin Cooper (Inventor of the personal cell phone): Cadence/St. Rose/Mater Academy Cutler
• Bay Miami/ 28 students in Italy/France & Spain
• Eric Yuan (CEO of Zoom Video Communications)
• Dr. Joshua Bonde (lead Paleontologist Las Vegas Museum of Natural History)
• Dr. Ian Stewart (Mathematician University of Warwick England)
• Dr. David Eisenbud (Mathematician UC Berkeley)
• Dr. Cathleen Lewis (Curator National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian Institute)
• Dr. Michael Neufeld (Curator National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian Institute)
• Director of Johns Hopkins Neurosurgery Dr. Henry Brem
• Dyan deNapoli Penguin expert and Children’s Author
• Dr. John Charles Chief Scientist of Human Research at NASA
• Dr. Zach Truman- Orthodontist/Business owner Henderson, NV
• Dr. Jon Coe “father” of Modern Zoological Design
• Michelle Kuruc Vice President of the World Wildlife Fund
• Marc Hale Solar Power expert and business owner
• Dr. Craig Benkman professor University of Wyoming Zoology
• Dr. Linda Bui Professor Environmental Sciences LSU
• Matt Schindler owner of WDM Architects specializing in zoological design.
• Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong cancer researcher
• Joe Sanchez - SeaWorld Head Trainer
• Dr. Yiran Chen- Duke University Professor Computer Engineering
• Nobel Prize recipient and UC Berkeley Science Professor Dr. Daniel Kammen

Guest Speakers

Students also get to hear from guest speakers that come in to teach the students. For example, Southwest Gas Corp has a customer service rep team that came out and talked to 7th grade science classes about properties of natural gas. They taught about natural sources of gases, uses, transportation of gas into our valley, safety/dangers, properties, and differences of gases. They had open flames to show the students different properties and thrilled the students with the flames.

Another guest speaker included Phillippe Dunnigan who is Celine Dion's concertmaster. He met with the orchestra students, sharing his experience and love of music with the students. He helped inspire them in the music industry.

Pinecrest St. Rose is always looking for opportunities for local guest speakers to come in and share their life and inspirations with the students.

Stakeholders Involvement

There are many opportunities for parents and stakeholders to be involved in our STEM program. Parents are invited into the classroom to help lead stations. In addition, each grade level has led a STEM night, where parents and students can come in and work through various STEM challenges. Each family is asked to volunteer 30 hours per school year.

Different industries have also teamed up with our campus to provide support our students. One of our community partners, The Crossings Church, provides volunteer hours by working with our theater productions as well teacher support and outreach. Other partners have provided family workshops, summer camp activities, and after school clubs.

Our annual STEAM Gala always has a great community turnout. Students show case their STEAM projects at this event.

Areas to Improve

• Increase attendance at family engagement nights.
  • Update: All grade levels hosted a hands-on STEM night for all families.
• Build additional community partners.