Southside Elementary receives prestigious STEM designation

COCOLALLA — The earlier students are introduced to science, technology, engineering and math, the better, because a STEM-oriented mindset enhances problem-solving abilities and boosts confidence for creating innovative solutions and out-of-the-box thinking. 

Southside Elementary School is being celebrated for its commitment to inspiring young minds to become the “STEM-literate workforce of tomorrow.” The State Board of Education and STEM Action Center in Boise will formally recognize Southside on May 9 as one of 12 statewide schools to receive STEM School Designation, a mark of excellence and high standards. Further, Southside is only one of a handful of traditional schools receiving this honor. The others are mostly STEM-focused charter schools.

The achievement is a significant honor, reflecting the hard work and dedication of educators, students and the community. “We are thrilled to continue our STEM journey and we’re looking forward to continuously improving our program,” said Southside Principal Jennifer Smith. 

When it comes to STEM education, the small, rural school south of Cocolalla Lake, with an enrollment of 168, is highly accomplished. It is their second consecutive five-year STEM designation, governed by a rigorous review process that ensures they meet State Board-approved standards. Southside has cultivated a robust and intentional approach to STEM education across grade levels and content areas, the State Board wrote, in an evaluation report. 

“The time and dedication that Southside educators and staff invested in this effort is truly remarkable,” said Dr. Becky Meyer, superintendent of Lake Pend Oreille School District. 

That effort is embodied by a passionate librarian who fully immerses every student K-6 in the STEM curriculum. Lynette Leonard is the school’s STEM coordinator, Smartlab facilitator and librarian. Twice a week, students visit her Smartlab, full of building kits, tubs of colorful supplies, wires, 3D printers, robot components, instruments and microphones — a kid’s dream! 

“Our students are very good at 21st century skills, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking,” Leonard said. “One of the strengths of our students is their ability to demonstrate application of the engineering design process in their regular classroom.” 

Teachers embed project-based lessons (PBL) to enhance the English language arts, math and science curriculums. They do three main PBL units in a year, with smaller PBL’s to enhance cross-curricular standards, integrating multiple subject areas. Students use the Smartlab to enhance science instruction and receive hands-on inquiry-based opportunities. Project-based technology lessons are designed to integrate STEM literacy, providing content-rich science, social studies and engineering experiences. 

“Our teachers have worked really hard to implement project-based learning in their classroom, plus additional training like the Science Pathways Program, a year-long professional development course around the science and engineering practices,” Smith said. 

Students are encouraged to create, iterate and reflect. Twelve-year-olds Michael, Paislee, Rachell and Adam grew excited as the discussion turned toward robotics, engineering, coding, wiring and sensors. They currently serve as STEM Ambassadors, a group of seven student volunteers who help the community and student body develop their STEM understanding of, for example, designing, doing civil and mechanical engineering, working with drones, printing 3D projects and tackling data analysis. 

“We want them to apply their knowledge to real-life applications,” Leonard said. 

Every five years, schools must undergo a comprehensive review process to assess whether they continue to uphold a high-quality STEM program that meets the nine established standards and their respective subcategories. As part of this process, Southside Elementary is required to build an extensive portfolio that showcases artifacts corresponding to each standard. This portfolio is crucial for the review team, which conducts classroom observations and interviews with parents, community partners, staff members, and students to evaluate the effectiveness and integration of the STEM program within the school. 

“This review is essential for determining whether the school will maintain its status,” said Leonard. “The past three months gathering artifacts has been really challenging but so rewarding in the end.” 

Now it’s time to celebrate. Southside is hosting an awards ceremony and community partner appreciation from 8:30-9:15 a.m. May 9. Smith extends an invitation to parents, the community and all their industry partners, like Bayview Naval Detachment, Encoder and Kochava, to join teachers and kids in celebrating this achievement. Students will continue the celebration throughout the day with hands-on STEM activities and live science demonstrations.