CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering Celebrates STEM Night

Following a successful Curriculum Night event in October, the CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering Elementary School hosted families and community members once again, this time for STEM Night, a theme-focused evening of activities, special guests, and fun on Tuesday, November 12, 2013.

The school’s theme is the STEM disciplines, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Even the school’s youngest learners are already being exposed to STEM vocabulary and equipment. “STEM is integrated across the curriculum thanks to the hard work of all the teachers,” explained the school’s STEM Coach, Dr. Jan Mooney-Frank. “We are lucky to have the tools and technology to allow for STEM learning throughout the school.” Each classroom has its own cart of iPads, a Smart Board, and other laptop and STEM technology.

STEM Night was open to all families and members of the school community interested in learning more about and engaging in the school’s theme. Special guests included engineering students and staff from the University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University, and activities included a pasta and marshmallow building challenge.

The CREC Academy of Aerospace & Engineering Elementary School was a planned expansion of CREC’s 6-12 grade school by the same name. The elementary school currently enrolls 221 students in PreK age 3, PreK age 4, and Kindergarten classrooms. Over the course of the next five years, the school will expand to include Grades 1 through 5. At the end of 5th grade, students at the school will be given a pathway to the middle and high school portions of the Academy, whose permanent facility is currently under construction in Windsor.

For information about how to apply to attend the CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering or any of CREC’s 19 theme-focused, tuition free magnet schools, visit www.crecschools.org.