On November 15, 2016 the Los Nietos Middle School Science Technology Engineering Art and Math (STEAM) Academy hosted all 5th and 6th grade students in the Los Nietos School District to its first annual STEAM Festival. Students were invited to eat in the cafeteria and were served “Cali-Burgers”, salad bar offerings, and a fruit slushy before attending the STEAM Festival booths.
Los Nietos Middle School Principal, Shannon Brann Zelaya, welcomed the fifth and sixth grade students after lunch and explained how the Los Nietos STEAM Academy offers curriculum infused with Instructional Technology all throughout the day. All students at Los Nietos Middle School have access to on-line textbooks, 3 iPad carts, 2 Mac Laptop Carts, 2 computer labs, 6 chrome book carts, and every classroom teacher has a 65” monitor, Apple TV, document camera, ipad, and laptop. This year all 8th grade students have access to their own chrome book and the 7th and 8th grade teachers are using Google Classroom with their students.
In addition Principal Brann Zelaya talked about the STEAM electives at Los Nietos Middle School: Math Engineering Science Achievement (MESA), Project-Based Science, Digital Coding, Digital Yearbook Production, Beginning and Intermediate band, and Drawing and Painting classes.
After Principal Brann Zelaya discussed her school programs with the 5th and 6th grade students, the students and their teachers were released to visit over a dozen booths that had “STEAM” activities for the students to interact with. Booths were hosted by Los Nietos STEAM Academy staff, Rio Hondo College, Pro-Edu, Cal-Poly Pomona Women Engineers, and the LA County Public Library.
All 6th grade students at Aeolian, Nelson, and Rancho Santa Gertrudes received a free Los Nietos Middle School STEAM Academy Class of 2019 t-shirt. After the event, staff, students, and parents in attendance were extremely enthusiastic for the opportunity to learn about the great learning environment that the Los Nietos Middle School Steam Academy offers all of its students!