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STEM students learning in the classroom
By Joseph Pratt
After a successful inaugural year, Portsmouth STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Academy (PSA) is ready to open house another summer to show the community what the school is all about and how it operates.
A major difference this go round is that the school should have final approval of its charter status as of this September from the Ohio Board of Education. This new state status declares that the school is in ordinance with the state when it comes to curriculum and state standards, as well as smaller organizational matters such as fire safety plans. The charter from the Ohio Department of Education will also open the opportunity for students to participate in the EdChoice and Jon Peterson Scholarships.
Portsmouth STEM Academy will open for its second year this fall and will serve students from kindergarten through eighth grade, with the goal of getting a high school operational during the 2016-2017 school year. The school, while having a STEM focus, will also be heavily involved in other branches of pedagogy, in hopes of creating well-rounded students.
Students are also integrated into the community at an early age, since they travel to various places to receive education from experts in the field as study, such as the Shawnee State University Campus and the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center.
“I love that STEM correlates all of the lessons within the different subjects and teaches students how their lessons can be applied to real life situations,” Principal Megan Warnock said. “We aren’t teaching them to memorize, but to comprehend and utilize, and that is what I’m excited to teach.”
All programming and field trips are included into the cost of tuition and students will have no extra fees. The only additional cost a student might have is if they buy their lunch at the specialized menu from The Garage Café on Second Street. The school is even offering free childcare from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The childcare is also a way for students to complete any extra work or studying.
The Portsmouth STEM Academy will start its fall semester on Aug. 25 and wrap up class Dec. 18. The spring semester will begin Jan. 4 and end on May 6. The summer enrichment will start May 23 and will wrap up the year on July 31. The school hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuition is set at $559 a month.
Information on financial aid is available online and students can be awarded up to 50 percent of tuition cost. Additional information on EdChoice and Jon Peterson Scholarships is available.
Portsmouth STEM Academy proudly presents their upcoming open house dates, June 17, July 15, and August 17. The doors will open 4-6 p.m. at the school, 614 Third St., Portsmouth. Additional tours may be scheduled by contacting Megan Warnock at [email protected] or by calling 740-351-0591.
More information on Portsmouth STEM Academy can be found online at www.PortsmouthAcademy.org. or on Facebook.
“We are looking for more students to join the STEM family, which will provide them the opportunity to receive individualized learning plans, hands-on understanding of course material through labs and projects, and experience the integration of subjects through planned lessons that interact with one another,” Warnock said. “PSA is a place where students thrive.”
Reach Joseph Pratt at 740-353-3101, ext. 1932, or by Twitter @JosephPratt03.
