Cherokee Charter Enhances Curriculum Through STEM

Submitted by Cherokee Charter Academy

Cherokee Charter Academy (CCA) has started the process of applying for Georgia’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) certification. The school currently has a strong focus on STEM and will incorporate these instructional practices into the everyday instruction for all students.

Parents and the community will learn more about the program at the STEM Night & Open House to be held on Thursday, Jan. 15 where families will meet some of the school’s new partners and learn about future opportunities for CCA students.

STEM instruction will be integrated into lesson plans for every child, while CCA will continue to teach Georgia Performance Standards, foreign language, art, music and PE at all grade levels. CCA offers differentiated instruction including daily gifted instruction.

“Our students are successful because we allow them to reach mastery at their own level,” says Dr. Scott O’Prey, CCA’s principal. “Slower learners are taught at their pace, while more advanced students benefit from a more challenging curriculum. We know every student is unique and learns differently. Regardless of their learning level, they will all have an opportunity to participate and learn from STEM instruction.”

CCA has already begun implementing STEM activities and partnerships in the 2014-15 school year including:

-Partnership with the River Church Farmers Market and their Power of Produce Program. This offers students the opportunity to understand nutrition and the concept of farm to table and life cycles. CCA is currently in the planning stages of creating an entrepreneurial program for students in the spring.

-Partnership with the Cherokee Master Gardeners and the Junior Gardens Program which has led to the renewal of CCA’s outdoor classroom/garden. The school has already received its first grant for the program for garden resources and is in the process of applying for more.

-Students have been visited by the Allatoona Gold Panning Group, The Charlie Bates Astronomy Club, The Georgia Mineral Society, and the Upper Etowah River Alliance with which CCA is forming a partnership for a deep study of the tributary that runs on the school property to monitor it for the effects of climate change and pollution levels on the area.

-CCA students have researched geology at Stone Mountain, learned the impact of pollution & leaf classifications at Red Top Mountain and studied Native American tribes & early American history at the Booth Museum.

“We are very excited to continue our progress with STEM,” says Principal O’Prey, “It is important for parents to understand that while we pursue this focus, our mission remains the same, which is to prepare every student to compete globally by integrating 21st century skills into our curriculum.”

cherokeecharter.org

Photo credit: Patch file