by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
LEAWOOD — The STREAM program at Nativity Parish School here is inspiring young minds to dream big.
In third grade, that means learning about simple machines within a real-world context.
“They are tasked with building the next all-inclusive playground for children of all abilities,” said Maeve Tung, STREAM director, “and they use simple machines to build that playground.”
The students go to Science City in Kansas City, Missouri, to see the “Simple Machines at Play” exhibit, and Ability KC comes to the school to speak with them about inclusive play.
“They learn about the corporal works of mercy,” said Tung, “and how we have to take care of all God’s children.
“And then, they each design collaboratively, in groups, a working prototype of playground equipment that uses that simple machine, and they put it all together as a playground and video their process.”
Since Tung arrived at Nativity five years ago, its STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, art and math) program has taken off.
This past summer, Nativity earned a STEM certification from Cognia, a nonprofit organization that accredits primary and secondary schools.
“It was a labor of love, for sure,” said Tung. “It just makes me really proud of all of our teachers and students and all the work they’ve done over the past five years.
“It’s nice validation that we’re on the right track.”
‘Well-rounded education’
Nativity’s STREAM program was introduced by former principal Maureen Huppe around 10 years ago.
The school now offers STREAM opportunities in the classroom and through labs and electives, after-school clubs and summer camps.
It adds a Catholic twist to its projects by including a real-world situation that focuses on helping the common good and inspiring wonder and awe in God’s creation, said Tung.
To earn Cognia’s STEM certification, the school had to meet 10 standards, which it’s been working on since Tung arrived.
Nativity principal Luke Jennison said teachers like her are “priceless” and a reason the school has seen an increase in enrollment in recent years.
“Over the last four years, we’ve grown almost 60 percent in size,” he said. “We were at roughly 15 kids per class, and now we’re at about 20 kids per class.
“We have people coming . . . because they see a well-rounded education that children are getting at Nativity.”
STREAM in action
On Nov. 20, first graders Isabel Brooks, Claire LeRoy and Shepard Nemmers were working on a biomimicry project, exploring the question: “How can we learn from plants and animals to help prepare scientists for their research trips?”
The students were tasked with setting their scientist up with camouflage, food, protection and locomotion.
“They have to sleep outside and walk outside and find food and all sorts of stuff outside,” said Brooks. “So, we made stilts to reach food.”
The project had a little something for everyone.
“I love animals,” said Nemmers. “I want to be a scientist when I grow up. You study animals, and I’m going to travel the world.”
“I like making clothes,” said LeRoy, who hopes to become an artist.
In sixth grade, Jack Boling, Olive Kopp and Cam Riegel were layering sand, sugar, cocoa pebbles and marshmallows in a glass jar.
“Each layer is representing how old or how recent each layer came,” said Riegel. “It represents geology.”
The hands-on style of learning is “a lot of fun,” he added, “because we get to really see how it works.”
Kopp said the project allows them to “visualize what it’s going to look like. It’s a lot of fun because you get to do it with other people.”
“There’s different points of view, perspectives and people know different stuff about each thing,” added Boling.
In fourth grade, Scarlett Abbott, Emmie Knowlton and Pruett Nato were collaborating on a math project.
Nativity’s math classes use the Building a Thinking Classroom model, so instead of sitting at desks, the students were up on their feet working at a whiteboard.
Abbott said her favorite part of the STREAM program has been using the Scratch coding app. She and her peers are grateful for everything the program offers and for the support of their teachers.
“She’s the best,” said Nato of Tung. “She tells us how to code, and then we can do it, and she makes it fun.”
“I want to be a teacher at this school,” said Knowlton, inspired by her own teachers. “I just love this school.”
Thrilled by her students’ excitement, Tung hopes the STREAM program will continue to flourish.
“We love STREAM in Catholic schools,” she said. “And we’ve seen what a difference it makes for our school.”
