The WCSD STEAM initiative exists through a collaboration of Directors, Building Administration, Teachers, Professional Developers and Library/Media Specialists. Through open dialogue and collaborative planning, we work together to cultivate opportunities for all WCSD students. STEAM education provides enriching experiences for our students to learn through rigorous interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving while fostering creativity, problem-solving and student efficacy within a real-world context.
STEAM is an approach to teaching and learning that integrates the content and skills of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics. Through rigorous engagement in inquiry, applied practice, collaboration, and investigation; ALL students will engage in project-based curriculum with diversified assessments focusing on real-world applications and creative problem solving.
Throughout the year, the Wappingers Central School Districts hosts several events to highlight the work that is taking place in our classrooms throughout the district. This includes the Festival of the Arts, the district-wide Science STEAM Fair, and we will be adding the Robotics Expo this spring!
The 69th Annual Festival of the Arts was a huge success! Mesier Park was converted into a beautiful arts showcase that captured the imagination of the entire WCSD community. It was filled with the work of hundreds of talented art students, as well as the sounds of our talented music students and the dancing of our talented foreign language students. The STEAM tent was a very popular hub of activity throughout the day. It featured robotics, media arts, film and engineering challenges which showcase the many and varied STEAM opportunities being offered in the district. This was a tremendous demonstration of the collaboration and cultural diversity present in Wappingers!
The Wappingers Central School District STEAM Science Fair is an annual event that gives students an opportunity to showcase their ability to investigate a topic, scientifically. Students present their conclusions, justified by authentic data, and communicate their results before official WCSD judges and the general public.
In addition to the many projects that will be on display, there will also be hands-on STEAM activities and demonstrations, showcasing the work happening in classrooms all over the district.
New this year: the Wappingers Central School District will be hosting a Robotics Showcase event, highlighting all of the work students have been engaging in throughout the district, related to robotics and coding. Students from all of our WCSD Lego Robotics teams will be on-hand to demonstrate their robots and explain how they prepare for annual competitions. On-lookers will even have a chance to "drive" some of the robots are students have developed as well as various devices that we use throughout the district almost every day.
Come check out Lego Robotics, Vex Robots, Dashes/Cues, BeeBots, Ozobots, Roots, Splat Plads, and Drones!
In addition to the district's larger events, our district staff has incorporated the ideology behind STEAM throughout their curriculum. Wappingers has two K-6 STEAM Integration Specialists as well as three K-12 Technology Integration Specialists who work throughout the district. Additionally, our Library Media Specialists at each building play a vital role in developing and showcasing STEAM/Maker-related lessons on a rotating basis providing numerous opportunities for every student in every building throughout the Wappingers School District.