STEM Academy Participates in Engineering Week

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All engineers start somewhere, but in Mansfield ISD young engineers can get a head start at the Jerry Knight STEM Academy. The academy, located at Brooks Wester Middle School, offers students an advanced academic program designed to provide a rigorous and focused course of study.

This week the academy hosted Engineering Week, a national initiative started by Discover E, a foundation aimed to increase engineering education in grade schools.

“The goal of Engineering Week was to help expose our kids to different types of engineers and careers so that they might be able to make better educated decisions to know what they’re going to study in high school and possibly college,” said Laura Thomason, a designer (teacher) at Jerry Knight.

Approximately 30 presenters ranging from coders to pilots and everything in between spoke with students this Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Knight designers also spent time helping students implement what they had learned in the classroom using activities like vision boards.

The presentations gave students a better understanding of possible STEM careers and offered insight on future career paths.

Nathan Ninh, a sixth-grader at Jerry Knight with aspirations of becoming an astronaut said, “I’ve learned that there is a lot of design that goes into engineering and that you have to think outside the box on most jobs, and I think that you also have to have a lot of good team skills.”

Jason Daniels, a software developer for Saddle Oak Software who has a daughter at the academy, enjoyed the opportunity to talk about his job with other students.

“I’m very excited to be here today,” said Daniels. “I love what they’ve been doing here with the kids and how they’re teaching them the engineering practices.”

Both students and teachers think Engineering Week provides a unique and much needed perspective.

“I feel this week is important because it helps us learn about things I feel like we would never learn from anywhere else,” said Ninh.

Students Partner with Those with Special Needs for Elective Class

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Mansfield ISD students are helping their classmates who have special needs through a program that is proving to be mutually beneficial.

The district’s Partners Program gives special needs students a general education companion for their art or P.E. elective class. MISD’s director of special education, Lesa Shocklee, said the focus of the program is to offer an interactive and inclusive environment.

“This program provides access to the general education setting for students with the most significant disabilities in a positive way,” Shocklee explained. “It’s also a great experience for the non-disabled students because it allows them an opportunity to mentor and partner with students.”

The Partners Program was implemented in MISD more than 10 years ago. Although it helps special needs students engage in the different art and physical activities, many participants find themselves bonding with their partner as well.

The students with special needs get assistance to complete their assignment.

“The partnerships, the friendships, last a lifetime really,” said Shane Skinner, Legacy High School art teacher. “I have some college students now who were in the program for a few years. They have actually come back. And every year, we share a little meal, and they hang out with the kids because they form these relationships with these kids.”

Sierra Skidmore, a junior at Legacy High School, has been a partner for two years. She believes that this program has helped her become a better person.

“You really learn who you are and who they are by talking to them and learning from them. You become more open minded,” she said.

The Partners Program class counts as one elective credit and is usually run by the general education students. Each six weeks, the general education students switch partners.

“It’s really fun from the beginning of the semester to see the growth of some of the students and also for my general education students—to see the excitement as they’ve helped the student and see them grow, even in something as simple as touching their toes,” said Lacy Beckler, head track coach at Legacy High.

The classes meet throughout the week. Beckler noted that most of the students who become partners go on to pursue a career helping people with special needs.

To become a partner, interested high school students fill out an application form and are selected by the teacher. For more information about MISD’s Partners Program, contact the Special Education Department.

MISD Names 2019 District Spelling Bee Champion

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After two hours of meticulously spelling out a list of vocabulary words, the word “cordial,” followed by the sound of an elimination bell, left only one student standing.

Tiffany Lam, a seventh-grader at T.A. Howard Middle School, stepped forward to the microphone. Her heart started to beat rapidly when she knew she was only one word away from being the Mansfield ISD spelling bee champion.

“When he first said ‘amputation,’ I thought it was really easy, but I went slower just in case,” Lam recalled.

She spelled the word correctly, and the crowd cheered with excitement to welcome the new districtwide winner.

MISD hosted its annual spelling bee on Feb. 8 at the Mansfield ISD Center for the Performing Arts. The contestants are students from third grade through eighth grade throughout the district who have won at their campus.

“Last year, I think we went 17 rounds. This year, we went 53 rounds. That’s the longest, I believe, in our history,” said Kristi Gonzales, MISD coordinator of elementary language arts. “So it’s pretty incredible to see the growth, and I think that’s attributed a lot to some of our explicit phonics instruction in the classroom.”

Beekman says she was more nervous than Lam during the bee.

Lam knew the feeling of being in the final round all too well. She was a runner-up in the district spelling bee last year; but this year, she felt confident that the trophy would be hers. She said her strategy for remembering the correct spelling was to write the word with her finger on her hand.

“It felt amazing because I’ve been going to the district spelling bee since fourth grade,” said Lam. “Now, that’s all paid off.”

Event organizers noted that being part of the competition is about more than simply spelling. Participants are able to increase their social skills as well.

“We’re asking them to get up on stage and spell publicly, which is helping them with their communication, and their public speaking skills and their building their self-confidence,” Gonzales continued.

This is the second consecutive year a student from T.A. Howard Middle School has placed first in the district spelling bee. Her teacher said it is a very proud moment.

“She’s absolutely a phenomenal kid,” said English teacher Lisa Beekman. “We just have some phenomenal spellers. They’re just phenomenal spellers out there. We’ve been blessed for two years in a row to collect those kids.”

Lam will participate in the 2019 Scripps Regional Spelling Bee on Thursday, March 7 at 8 a.m. The event will take place at Texas Christian University.

Elementary Students Give Back Through Soup-er Bowl Drive

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Although second-grade teacher Cheryl Wisch won’t be watching the Super Bowl, she has some other traditions that make this time of year special to her. For about 20 years, she has led a Super Bowl-themed canned food drive at her campus.

During the Soup-er Bowl Soup Drive, teachers and students of J.L. Boren Elementary School collect cans to give to those in need. The drive is part of a service project for Bears Care, the school’s student council.

“I knew that food pantries after Christmas start running low because they’re depleted during Christmas,” said Wisch. “I’m trying to connect what’s happening in the world with ways to help others, so I came up with soup and Super Bowl because I know most of the kids do watch the Super Bowl.”

The Soup-er Bowl Soup Drive occurs annually the week before and after the Super Bowl. Boren Elementary usually donates about 15 boxes of canned goods to the Mansfield Mission Center.

Students also wear their favorite jersey to keep with the theme. 

“When we receive donations to our Mission Market, it gives families in our community another way to put food on the table if they're having financial difficulties,” said Carmin MacMillian, executive director of Mansfield Mission Center. “It's a way to show them love and let them know their community cares about them. We couldn't do what we do without the generosity of MISD.”

Wisch said she enjoys doing the canned food drive because the students get to experience giving to others with no reward.

“We try very hard to teach our kids service for others, and I think the parents appreciate we are trying to teach our students that,” she said.

Students who participated said they feel they are making a difference by bringing the cans.

“I think it’s important to help others because some people don’t have food, and then they can have food to stay alive and be healthy,” said Landry Slinkard, second-grader at Boren Elementary.

Their team may not win the big game on Sunday, but Soup-er Bowl Soup Drive organizers said the drive is still a touchdown for the community. The Mansfield Mission Center is open to donations from anyone. Its hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.