Hoboken Elementary School Recognized For STEM Success

HOBOKEN, NJ — Brandt Elementary School in Hoboken was recently recognized as a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School for its “commitment to STEM curriculum and student success.”

Through the program, PLTW, a provider of K-12 STEM programs, recognizes districts and schools “committed to increasing student access, engagement and achievement.” Brandt was the only elementary school in New Jersey to receive the award this year.

“We are thrilled to receive this award,” said Brandt Primary School Principal Sandra Rodriguez. “PLTW is a great program that promotes students to design real-world solutions for real-world problems through creative, innovative, and inquiry-based learning.”

“For us to be recognized for our curricular offerings, the number of students engaged and our wonderful children’s success within the coursework is fantastic,” Rodriguez added. “We are so proud of this and all of the other things that make Joseph F. Brandt Elementary School so special.”

“We are seeing all our schools utilize the STEM programs from exploratory learning in kindergarten right through to Biomedical Medical Science, Computer Science and Engineering in Grade 12 with excellent results across the entire district,” said Hoboken Public Schools Director of Innovative Programs Christopher Della Fave.

“By empowering students to adopt a design-thinking mind-set through compelling and engaging activities, projects, and problems and relate to the world around them - we are seeing increased engagement and excellent results across the entire district as they become creative, collaborative problem solvers ready to take on any challenge,” Della Fave said.

According to a news release from school administrators, students across the Hoboken Public School District are engaging in numerous STEM learning opportunities beyond the core curricula. For example:

• “The district's popular Passport to Learning After School Program includes a number of courses that encourage students to dive into computer programming, mathematics, zoology, engineering and chemistry.”
• “District Gifted and Talented students will be competing in the State Finals of the U.S. Army's STEAM Tank Challenge in October.”
• “Hoboken High School students participated in a national chemistry tournament in St Louis.”
• Hoboken schools’ has established a partnership with Coditum of Hoboken… “This coding hub, established by Steven Fink, has worked closely with district administrators in planning for internships and integrated programs.”
• “Hoboken Public School District students benefit greatly from Stevens Institute’s middle school summer programs, the newly created ACES high school program to promote equitable STEM opportunities for all students, and the 6th Grade Ducklings Program.”
• “Hoboken High School students interact regularly with NJIT and participate in the various engineering workshops and expositions hosted on their Newark campus, and are also in their third year of participating in the Rutgers Pre-Medical Honors Program which runs for 13 weeks at the start of each school year.”

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Photo: Brandt Elementary School