HEB ISD School & Family Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 16

HEB ISD – Full STEM Ahead !

STEM ( Science , Technology , Engineering and Mathematics ) education is moving ahead at all levels in HEB ISD ! As our students prepare to contribute to a global society , creating and solving real-world problems helps promote critical thinking skills and fosters a sense of creativity and curiosity .
After a successful pilot at Stonegate Elementary this year , all district elementary schools will roll out a STEM-based curriculum in grades three and four beginning this fall . School libraries will also create Makerspaces , creative DIY spaces were students can create , invent and learn .
Things are also moving full STEM ahead at Central Junior High , our secondary STEM School of Choice . Our first STEM cohort will enter 7th grade this fall and we are excited to announce that over 100 students will take part , ready to engage in a project-based curriculum in pre-advanced Robotics / Programming and Engineering classes . Central also formed their first robotics teams this past year and did well in their spring competition .
HEB high schools are also flying high – literally ! The district partnered with Bell Helicopter for a six-week aerial drone competition this spring that highlighted Bell , Trinity and BCTEA students ’ feats of flying and engineering and concluded with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Bell Helicopter flight program . The BCTEA Robotics team also advanced to the South Super Regionals and competed in Athens , GA in March .
Stay tuned to see what our HEB ISD students do next as our district moves Full STEM-Ahead !
14