STANDARD 9
School/program provides within-school and extra-curricular opportunities for students to extend STEAM learning.
Impact Narrative:
Centennial Academy provides many opportunities for scholars to extend their STEAM learning beyond the classroom setting. In addition to STEAM inquiry in the classroom, our K-5 scholars utilize STEAM Labs and the Aquaponics Labitat to extend their learning. Our 6-8 scholars have access to our STEAM pathway courses in Computer Science/Engineering, Visual Arts, Music Tech and Band. In these settings, educators are able to provide STEAM-focused learning and collaboratively co-teach with a variety of school partners from Georgia Tech, OutTeach, and ArtsNow.
Scholars also attend a multitude of STEAM field trips to extend their learning beyond the classroom and provide real-life STEAM experiences. In school and out of school field trips include Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Chattahoochee Nature Center, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Fernbank Planetarium, Chattahoochee National Park, Alliance Theater, and Georgia Aquarium.
At Centennial Academy, eighth grade scholars participate in an Apprenticeship Program that is centered around the project-based learning framework and exposes scholars to authentic experiences in various career fields requiring scholars to think critically, problem solve, and be creative. Scholars have opportunities to work closely with industry professionals; they observe meetings, receive career advice and support with resume building, and sharpen their 21st-century skills.
In addition to in-school experiences, scholars are provided a multitude of after school STEAM experiences, including Horizons After School Program, Tech Titans, Heroes Who Code, Jr. STEM Club, Virtual Synergy Squads, and the annual school-wide musical production. Scholars also have the opportunity to participate in the STEAM district and state competitions. Junior STEM is a Georgia Tech club that focuses on offering STEM outreach for minority populations around Atlanta by introducing students to all STEM has to offer. For several years, we have offered a STEM Club at Centennial Academy: scholars in grades 1-4 get to do fun science experiments to get them more interested in STEM activities and help them practice the knowledge they learn in class.
Horizons is a year-round program providing support to underserved scholars over nine years. Scholars start in the program after their kindergarten year and stay in the program until their freshman year of high school. Scholars are on Georgia Tech’s Atlanta campus for 6 weeks in the summer receiving remediation in math and reading. During the summer, scholars participate in six week, PBL units while in the program. Scholars also learn how to swim and receive support throughout the school year through after school programs and family engagement events. In the Horizons Program, scholars begin to learn computer science in their rising first grade year and we continue to teach computer science through their final year in the program. We use the K-12 Computer Science Framework to guide our CS work with scholars in the program. Currently, we have approximately 70 scholars from Centennial in the program.
Our Tech Titans and Computer Science scholars participate in the annual APS Technology Fair. In 2020, several of our scholars placed in the district fair! Our scholars took home 1st place in 3D Modeling, Digital Photo Production, and Graphic Design, and 2nd place in Audio Production.
An area for growth and improvement is for us to provide after school opportunities for scholars who need transportation assistance, in addition to extending summer and long-term programming for scholars.
Strengths:
Tech Titans After-School Club, 3-8
Jr. STEM Club, K-8
Apprenticeship Program, 8th graders
Annual Spring Musical Production, 3-8
Initiatives/Actions:
Horizons After School and Summer Program
Artifacts:
