STEAM and Sweetwater Episcopal Academy
Question: Why did we work to build a partnership with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation?
Answer: Opportunity for our students.
In our quickly changing world, truly effective education requires an understanding of concepts, a passion for curiosity, and an ability to collaborate with others.
Last Friday, third and fifth grade classes took a field trip to Kennedy Space Center that went far beyond the regular group tour experienced at other schools. The individual programs were specifically designed for each grade level. While the third grade visit included time at the manufacturing center, the fifth grade experienced a private tour through extra facility locations guided by a NASA specialist and a conversation with astronaut, Col. Robert Springer.
Friday evening, five SEA students attended the 2016 U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Gala, met and personally spoke with real astronauts, and heard stories of scholars who aspire to make individual dreams a reality.
Fred Haise, astronaut from Apollo 13, was the first we met when we arrived at the opening reception. He took a special interest in our students, their dedication to education, and their proven success. During the conversation, Mr. Haise offered to Skype with our students and their class as part of the science curriculum for next year.
John Blaha, with six Space Shuttle missions in his career, spent the evening sharing a dinner table and his words of wisdom with our students. His message was emphatic and resonated with a desire to grow by learning with others. No person is brilliant enough to know everything so we must trust in each other to share knowledge, ideas and dreams. Mr. Blaha told us stories of several medical discoveries that resulted from his work in space. One mission involved advancements with heart pacemakers and another helped correct inner ear hearing loss. Repeatedly, he reminded us that he was not “the smartest one with all the knowledge” but he surrounded himself with others who had the necessary knowledge. Each member of the project had a specific job and Mr. Blaha’s responsibility was to get into space, understand and follow experiment directions, and gather data. The message was clear that by working together as a team, greatness can be accomplished.
As is usual at SEA, all our students presented themselves with outstanding behavior, manners and curiosity. The opportunities provided by the support of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation allowed our students to be an integral part of their own learning process. How many students of eight to twelve years old, can say they have met and talked with a real astronaut? How many life-changing memories were made in one field trip day? SEA strives to build alliances with corporations and groups to bring outstanding learning experiences like this to our students on a regular basis. We want our students to have the extra advantage and positive edge in a highly competitive world.
Cynthia Lane
Head of School.