Barron Park Elementary STEAM-Focused Maker Studio Grand Opening on Sept. 6

News from the Palo Alto Unified School District:

Students, families, staff, and community members at Barron Park Elementary School will join in the world-wide Maker movement by celebrating the Grand Opening of their own Maker Studio on Saturday, Sept. 6.

The event is an open house where students and parents alike will be encouraged to experiment with the specialized building, coding, design engineering, electrical circuits, sewing, 3-D printing, movie making, and robotics stations and to collaborate with other attendees.

This free, family-friendly event will bring generations together to spark innovation and strengthen student confidence in applying their academic and problem solving skills through hands-on activities. Throughout the school year, students will be able to utilize the Maker Studio individually at lunch and recess as well as during classes where the teachers are integrating these activities into their standards-based curriculum.

“Giving our students full access to the Maker Studio allows them to gain confidence and to build experience in the critical skills of tenacity, problem solving, collaboration, and communication in a fun environment. Building their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM)-related areas will help them be more creative and innovative now and in their future,” said Principal Magdalena Fittoria.

The Maker Studio is a joint project between Barron Park’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the Palo Alto Partners in Education (PAPiE) Foundation, and Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD). Education Technology Teacher on Special Assignment Smita Kolhatkar will guide students using the space during class visits, at lunch, and during recess.

She will spend the rest of her time providing staff development to Barron Park and other PAUSD elementary teachers on ways to integrate hands-on STEAM activities throughout their curriculum.

She shared, “The students are so excited to try all of these interesting stations, and they have been filling the place since the first day of school.”

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, September 6, 2014

Time: 10:00am – 2:00 pm Formal Ceremony at 10:40 a.m.

Location: Barron Park Elementary School

800 Barron Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Room 15

What: Hands-on activities and formal ceremony to mark official Grand Opening of Maker Studio.

Photo courtesy of PAUSD.