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Embracing scientific fields and ideas

S.T.E.M. — Weir Middle School, Tuesday, announced the launch of a new initiative, aided through a $20,000 grant from ArcelorMittal, allowing for the addition of three S.T.E.M. modules to the school’s curriculum. The effort is part of the Project Lead the Way “Gateway” program at the school. Pictured at the school are, from left, Karissa Poszywak, assistant principal at the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center; Jesse Lamone, production planner at ArcelorMittal and a member of the company’s Council For Stronger Communities; and Tim Daugherty and Barbara Switzer-Ivery, assistant principals at Weir Middle. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — Students and teachers at Weir Middle School soon will be delving deeper into the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

In observing Career and Technical Education Month, school officials Tuesday announced the receipt of a $20,000 grant from ArcelorMittal, which will be used to introduce three new S.T.E.M. modules into the school’s curriculum.

The effort is part of the Project Lead the Way “Gateway” program at the school.

Amanda Schey, a sixth-grade science teacher at Weir Middle, wrote the grant proposal for the program, which will include separate modules for sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

“It will be different for each grade level,” Schey said, explaining her sixth-grade class will focus on energy and the environment.

Seventh grade, meanwhile, will center around automation and robotics, while eighth grade will study space and flight.

Schey, who is in her first year at Weir Middle, said she noticed today’s students seem to have an easier time learning through hands-on exercises where they have opportunities to collaborate with each other and express their creativity.

The programs, she said, will allow such learning through more scientific fields and ideas for the 21st Century.

“It allows them to learn to create and innovate for their own futures,” Schey said.

As a “gateway” program, the lessons from the modules can later be applied to programs at the high school level in Hancock County.

Jesse Lamone, production planner at ArcelorMittal and a member of the company’s Council For Stronger Communities, explained the grant is the largest ArcelorMittal has provided for schools in the Weirton area.

“Our Council For Stronger Communities is very proud of our S.T.E.M. partnerships,” Lamone said, noting providing more classes based in science, technology and similar fields will help to open more doors for students as they head into the job markets later in life.

Schey said plans are to begin ordering supplies later this month, and have the programs ready to launch in the fall.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)

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