Science and arts gain STEAM at Steele Creek

Steele Creek Cougars prowled through the world of science and arts during STEAM night Feb. 25 at the grammar school.

The second annual two-hour event was for the 720 student body in kindergarten through fifth grade to use hands-on activities to explore science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

“We’re hoping to get kids beyond their regular classes,” said Gregg Petty, school science and technology facilitator.

The concept “cradle to career” he said connects the elementary school with middle and high school programs “so they’re not scared to get involved.”

Displays and activities were run throughout the school’s hallways and inside several classrooms.

“It’s about engaging, creativity, solving problems and having fun,” said Kennedy Middle School STEM coordinator Rebecca Grgurina at the robotics room.

She said events like STEAM introduce parents and students to programs students can be become a part of.

“Especially at Steele Creek, we want them to see the different robotics activities,” she said.

Sixth-grader Bayla Felton Jones was showcasing Dash & Dot, simulating how the robots would be used during a space mission.

“It can be hard sometimes, but I like the challenge and rewards that come with it,” he said.

Jones and his team of Jonathan and Alexander Rehrig, and Harrison Rose won the state Dash& Dot challenge championship. Jones wants to be pilot and said these lessons could help.

“It will help with programming and fixing things that can go unexpectedly wrong,” he said.

Owen Osborne, also a sixth-grader at Kennedy Middle, said science is his favorite subject.

“I just like the experiments and stuff we do,” he said.

Principal Merita Brown-Little said business community ties enhance the programs from the elementary level to high school, such as her students collecting creek water data for a GIS study.

Plus, she said, there is interaction at all students levels sometimes with elementary working on projects with high schoolers.

“We have that close of a relationship with them,” she said.

Thursday night’s event, which included robotics demos, computer coding, strawberry DNA extraction, building and engineering challenges, art projects like origami, and more, was more than getting students excited.

“It’s a nice family experience,” said Tara Zaremba, Steele Creek Elementary kindergarten teacher. “They’re excited, and so are the parents.”

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 11:52 AM with the headline "Science and arts gain STEAM at Steele Creek."