Kelloggsville — As senior Jeremie Tsoumou looked across Kelloggsville High School’s new science, technology, engineering and math space, he noted how it represents a commitment to students.
“It shows that as a school they care and represent the students’ voices who put it out there that they wanted more robotics, graphic design and broadcasting,” Jeremie said. “They created a bigger space where we are able to do all the things we wanted to learn more about.”
Part of an $11.3 million bond approved by voters in 2021, the 8,315-square-foot STEM addition, located on the west side of the building, includes a new broadcasting/podcasting classroom. The main 5,000-square-foot STEM space houses the robotics team along with machines such as a screen printing press, heat press, embroidery, laser cut and 3D printing. Three existing classrooms offering business programs border the space.
“The key to the STEM addition is that it provides more space for these programs such as robotics, which was crowded into a classroom,” said Principal Nick Patin. “It also provides greater collaboration between programs such as business and graphic design while increasing opportunities for our students.”
‘It shows that as a school they care and represent the students’ voices who put it out there that they wanted more robotics, graphic design and broadcasting. They created a bigger space where we are able to do all the things we wanted to learn more about.’
— senior Jeremie Tsoumou
Open it and Opportunities Start Flooding In
Shortly after opening the new facility earlier this year, Kelloggsville was selected as one of 16 schools for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation’s SME Prime Program, which aims to provide project-based learning programs to develop a workforce that meets the needs of local manufacturers. SME will provide about $360,000 in equipment and training for the next three years, Patin said. Through SME, the school will offer at least 12 manufacturing credentials.
“This is huge for our school,” Patin said. “We will be able to work with local companies and provide our students with opportunities in robotics, mechatronics, machinery and other job training.”
Staff will be trained to implement the SME Prime Program this summer, Patin said. The high school STEM team will also work on other plans for the new space, including collaboration with the middle school.
“We have only been in the space for three months and it has developed much quicker than we expected it to,” said Ron Fron, who teaches graphic design and broadcasting. “We really have only begun to scratch the surface of what we will be able to do.”
An example of collaboration: the high school’s entrepreneurship course will work with the graphic design class to help develop products utilizing various machines. Products could include apparel for the school store, banners, wraps and trophies.
In the broadcasting area, students produce a daily newscast from a booth. There’s also a podcasting room. Fron said the high school team is looking at podcasting shows for the school and the district along with having a pre-recorded radio program. Another possibility is expanding broadcasting offerings to include an advanced digital media class.
A Place to Explore and Try New Things
Senior Bianca Galvez said while she has only had one semester in the STEM space, it was nice to have something new where students could explore.
“It’s a different type of freedom to have these different (technologies) and to be able to learn how to do those things,” Bianca said.
Senior Dakota Lockery said he wishes the STEM space was available when he was a freshman. Still he took advantage of it as much as he could, he said, and recently helped make leather keychains for the STEM open house that happened in April.
“It was cool to have the opportunity to engrave,” Dakota said. “I feel a space like this gives you more examples of what type of creative process are out there and how to use those machines and tools to do so.”
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