SCUC Connect Winter 2022

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C O M M U N I T Y E D I T I O N | W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

2 Recipe for Success Isidro Martinez, a Clemens grad and culinary student uses lessons learned to overcome setbacks and quickly climb the ladder of success at the Marriott Courtyard New Braunfels. 4 Real World Science Juliana Berry’s junior high students benefit from her summer long commitment to professional development through the Texas Biomedical Research Institute. 6 Lunch Time Connections Monthly grade level picnics allow students and parents to connect with teachers and other families. 8 Battle of 3009 Annual intradistrict rivalry game gave way to a show of support for a beloved member of the SCUC community. 12 Preparing for the Next Step Community members explore CTE opportunities through Leadership SCUC program. 14 27th Annual Ag Fair Over 1,000 4th graders continue to experience a glimpse into “ag life” at an event that began nearly 30 years ago. 18 DoDEA STEMKAMP Summer camp offers hands-on STEM learning opportunities beyond the classroom. 20 Muertos Fest: Spreading their Wings School-wide project to celebrate Dias de los Muertos fosters a sense of belonging and community among students, teachers, and families.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM Clark Ealy, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Damon Edwards Deputy Superintendent, Student & Employee Services Linda Cannon Chief Human Resources Officer JD Mosley Executive Director of Facilities Kelly Kovacs Chief Academic Officer Deanna D. Jackson Director of Communications & Community Engagement Serena Georges-Penny MAGAZINE STAFF Deanna D. Jackson Managing Editor Ed Suarez Writer Daniel Tiller Creative Director Crystal Morales Graphic Deisgner Vanessa Macaluso Intern Director of Curriculum & Professional Development

Our vision and mission for every student in SCUC ISD and the reason we exist is expressed in our “Call to Action” to every member of our SCUC community at large. SCUC CALL TO ACTION

Through high quality and student-centered learning experiences, students will leave SCUC confident, empowered, and prepared with the skills to pursue their individual passions.

The SCUC ISD 2022-2026 Strategic Design Framework was developed by a team of 38 parents, students, community members, teachers and district staff members over the course of several months with the input of 1,800 community stakeholders gathered through a nine-question survey. Scan here to review the complete framework and the goals and specific results outlined for the first year of the plan.

S C U C A T - A - G L A N C E

SCUC ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES

MEET OUR SUPERINTENDENT

Dr. Clark Ealy has been serving Schertz-Cibolo Universal City ISD since February 2020. With over 30 years of experience in education, he is committed to creating a culture of excellence, in the classroom and the community at large, and one that provides a sense of belonging for all students, staff, and families.

Gerald “Jerry” Perkins Board President

1 , 8 9 0 EMPLOYEES

1 5 , 5 2 8 STUDENTS (as of 10.31.22)

47% HISPANIC 32%WHITE

Ed Finley Board Vice President

12% AFRICAN AMERICAN 7% TWO OR MORE RACES 2% ASIAN

S C U C C o n n e c t 0 1 C o m m u n i t y E d i t i o n

FULL DAY P R E  K

1 6 CAMPUSES

3 HIGH SCHOOLS 2 JUNIOR HIGHS

3 INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS 8 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Letticia Sever Board Secretary

AT EVERY ELEMENTARY

NAT I O NA L LY R E C O G N I Z E D MU S I C E DU C AT I ON P RO GR AMS

DISTRICT OF INNOVATION S I N C E 2 0 1 7

Belinda Evans Board Assistant Secretary

46 ADVANCED ACADEMIC COURSES AVAILABLE TO EARN COLLEGE CREDITS TO ASSOCIATE DEGREES

2 1 C A R E E R & T E CHN I C A L E D U C A T I O N P A T H W A Y S & P R O G R A M S O F S T U D Y I N D U S T R Y B A S E D C E R T I F I C AT I O N S AVA I L A B L E

Dan Swart Board Trustee

C . A . M . P. SPEC I AL ROTAT IONS AT ELEMENTARY ƒ COMPUTERS , ART, MUS I C , PHYS I CAL EDUCAT ION

I N T E R N A T I O N A L B A C C A L A U R E A T E P R O G R A M AT SAMUEL CLEMENS HIGH SCHOOL

Amy Thomas Board Trustee

$3 MILLION IN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION AGENCY GRANTS SINCE 2016; S T E M K A M P D D S T E M G R A N T R E C I P I E N T S I N C E 2 0 2 1

Robert Westbrook Board Trustee

RECIPE for SUCCESS

C L E M E N S G R A D OV E RCOM E S S E T BAC KS A ND QU I C K LY C L I MB S T H E L A DD E R O F S U CC E S S

Photos Courtesy: Candice Ridge Photography

ISIDRO “SID” MARTINEZ could not have foreseen how dramatically his life would change over the four years since his graduation from Samuel Clemens High School in 2018. He would go from attending the prestigious Johnson & Wales University, a culinary school located in Denver, Colorado, to having the combination of the pandemic and an automobile accident derail his career plans for almost two years. Now, his story of perseverance has led him to the

prestigious position of Executive Chef at the Marriott Courtyard in New Braunfels. In addition to preparing and cooking the upscale dishes for groups of 40 to 150 people, Martinez is entrusted to run the day to-day operations. “You do all the ordering and receiving, hiring and firing within the kitchen,” Martinez said. “You do inventory, make sure health & safety protocols are in place and stuff like that.”

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Sid is laser focused on continuing

his culinary aspirations which include

owning his own restaurant.

Martinez was elevated to Executive Chef after hotel management deemed a change was needed in the kitchen. That meant seventy hour work weeks until he could build his staff. “I was the only one left for an entire month,” Martinez said. “I had to clean up the whole kitchen, gain the staff I needed to help me trust that I could get the food out on time, by myself.” Culinary Arts was not on Martinez’s radar when he began his journey at Clemens High School. “I actually wanted to play baseball,” he said. “I didn’t make the team, so I said, ‘you know what, let me go and try culinary.’” It didn’t take long to fall in love with the vocation. “I had no idea that this is what I wanted to do with my life, but after going through it and seeing all the competitions and mystery baskets that I was put in, that’s when I gained a love for it.” His talents didn’t escape the notice of Amanda Tharp, Culinary Arts teacher at Clemens High School. “Our in-class competitions showed him to have talent and creativity,” she said. “Other students began to seek his help and look to him as a class leader. He especially excelled in knife skills and coming up with exciting new menu items.” Sid’s life changed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was laid off from his job and his university shut down. Martinez went nearly two years without a job until it was deemed safe to return to work. A serious automobile accident put his life on hold even further. “I had six of seven months of physical therapy and pretty much fought through it,” he said. Finally, his hard work met an opportunity when the position at the Marriott Riverwalk arose. Now he finds himself on a quest to hone his skills and continue to challenge his customers’ palette with new and exciting food items. “There’s more to learn than just a simple recipe that’s in front of your face,” Martinez said. “There’s the proper techniques of

Sid preps for a large banquet at the Marriott Courtyard New Braunfels where he serves as the Executive Chef.

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cutting or sautéing in a pan, and different techniques to learn. As time passed, I started learning the menus, learning all the recipes that are needed to pursue and execute the banquets properly.” It has not been an easy road for Sid Martinez since he crossed the stage as a Samuel Clemens High School graduate. But a pandemic, unemployment and an automobile accident didn’t deter his culinary dreams. There are still many appetizing dreams on his plate. “I could see myself running my own place alongside my sister and my girlfriend,” Martinez said of the two, both of whom are Clemens HS and Johnson & Wells graduates. Tharp, for one, believes Martinez’s dream is well within his grasp. “He would try new flavors and combinations and often his creations became featured items in our bistros and caterings,” she said. “Sid had such passion and drive, I am not surprised. I expected great things from Isidro and he certainly delivered!”

Real-World SCIENCE

J U L I A N A B E R RY ’ S J U N I OR H I GH ST U D E N T S B E N E F I T F ROM H E R S UMM E R LONG COMM I T M E N T TO P RO F E S S I ON A L D E V E LO PM E N T T H ROU GH T H E T E X AS B I OM E D I CA L R E S E A RCH I N ST I T U T E

Photos Courtesy: Josh Huskin Photography

JULIANA BERRY IS HAPPY to find herself as a conduit of science information to her students as quickly as she learns it herself. The eighth grade Science Special Education department leader at Corbett Junior High School spent her summer taking part in an externship, collaborating with research scientists on articles about infectious diseases and creating activities that are in turn being implemented into the science curriculum at her campus. It’s part of the $1.25 million grant obtained by Texas Biomedical Research Institute (TBRI) with the goal of increasing interest in science careers. Berry was one of four teachers in the greater San Antonio-area to participate in the first year of the five-year

program, helping develop the curriculum. “I was very excited to take part in it,” Berry said. “I knew that it was going to lead to opportunities for my students to have a connection to the real world.” Berry and three teacher colleagues will maintain relationships with TBRI scientists throughout the school year, who will occasionally help co-teach their classes, mentor students, make presentations, and provide STEM career advice at the junior high and high school levels. Opening career pathways for students, especially special education students Berry serves, is one of the reasons she applied for the opportunity to take part in the grant

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Dr. Rosemary Riggs (second from left) observes a science lesson run by 8th grade teacher Juliana Berry (third from left) at Ray D. Corbett Junior High School in Schertz, Texas.

with TBRI. “That population doesn’t get those opportunities. They usually go to the students in the gifted and talented program,” she said. “They can touch it and feel it and understand and see how scientists work through that process of research.” “I think one of the most dreaded questions a teacher can get is, ‘When am I ever going to use this information?’” said Rosemary Riggs, Research Education Outreach specialist for TBRI. She visited Berry’s classroom in September to observe how the institute’s research was being integrated into Berry’s classroom instruction. Rashad Ray, Corbett JHS principal, returned to his teaching roots to assist Berry with her instruction. “Our ultimate goal is to have a positive impact on teaching practices and make connections to the real world so students can see all of the exciting career paths that are available,” said Dr. Riggs. Berry wasted no time implementing some of the knowledge she acquired during the summer. One article about chimpanzees by research scientist Ken Sayers turned into a student-led activity that occurred within the first week of classes. “He did research on how chimpanzees forage and search for food in their environment,” Berry said. Mimicking the study, Berry placed something in her classroom, told one student, and had that person communicate non-verbally, helping grow leadership and communication skills within the group. “I was able to talk about the research and how animal models are used and how they take that research and apply it to other types of areas.” All activities are designed to mesh with existing curriculum according to Dr. Riggs, and align with education standards, including the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). “We’re not asking teachers to redo their (syllabus), we’re just showing ways to enhance what they’re doing in the classroom,” she said. TBRI will measure if there is an expansion of student interest in

STEM-related subjects, a result Dr. Riggs strongly believes will materialize. “It’s a very deliberate approach that I believe will have major ripple effects in our community for decades to come,” she said. Berry admits data drives instruction, so any uptick in test scores will help determine the program’s efficacy. High quality and student-centered learning experiences, as embedded into the new SCUC ISD Strategic Plan, will play a much bigger part in its success. “It follows with the values that we have,” she said. “You’re looking at the whole student overall, and trying to pull out those qualities and opportunities for those students to become productive members of society and give them opportunities they may not know of or have.”

Juliana Berry (center) is an

8th grade science teacher at Ray D. Corbett Junior High School in Schertz, Texas. Ms. Berry is one of the first teachers to participate in Texas Biomed’s program to provide teachers with additional

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training and resources in biomedical

sciences that they can bring back to their classrooms.

Principal Rashad Ray assists with

an experiment in Ms. Berry’s classroom.

S CH E RTZ E L E M E N TA RY FAM I LY P I CN I C A L LOW ST U D E N T S A ND PA R E N T S TO CONN ECT W I T H T E ACH E R S A ND OT H E R FAM I L I E S Lunch Time CONNECTIONS

Photos Courtesy: Candice Ridge Photography

The courtyard at Schertz Elementary serves as the primary location for a perfect picnic with parents, students, teachers, and friends.

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SMILES AND TOGETHERNESS were the fruits of the Schertz Elementary School picnics, first held on September 9 in 90 degree weather for Pre-K students, October for kindergarten students and again on November 18 for first-graders, this time in a chilly drizzle. Returning after a two-year absence due to the pandemic, the families sat on blankets and broke bread to spend time with their children, but also to connect with other families. “I really like it,” said Savannah Hammond, mother of first-grade student Mason, who was busy working on his peanut butter and

jelly sandwich. “I think I’ll meet his friends a little later and interact with them and see how he does socially.” “The Pre-K picnic not only connects teachers to students, but also connects families to families,” said Dinora Gutierrez, Pre-K teacher at Schertz ES. “It’s important to our campus that we build relations and ensure parents that they too are part of our school community.” Success was also measured by how parents connected with fellow parents and to SCUC leaders. “After the (first) event, parents gathered in the parking lot and exchanged

phone numbers! Some parents even had an opportunity to speak to a couple of school board members that dropped by Schertz Elementary,” Gutierrez added. Organized by Stephanie Armendariz, Communities in Schools (CIS) of South Central Texas coordinator for the campus, the picnics are among many planned family engagement events scheduled for Schertz ES. Principal Geri Pope is happy to provide these types of events for the Schertz Elementary parents and their children. “Schertz Family Picnic days give our students another opportunity to feel joy and togetherness while at school. Our students are proud of who they are and who represents them.” Pope added, “Creating this space within our building is pure joy for our families. We need more of these moments.” Ms. Hammond couldn’t agree more. “It’s a great idea,” said Hammond. “I hope they do something like this next year. I’d like to come back for another one.”

First grade parents and students enjoyed their family picnic in November.

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C O V E R S T O R Y

Steele (above) and Clemens (below) players take the field before the start of the Battle of 3009 game.

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Steele and Clemens

head coaches’ David Saenz

and Jared Johnston,

respectively, organized its “purple posse” of coaches, district leaders, board members, family, and Lehnhoff with love and support at the most anticipated game of the year, the Battle of 3009. friends to surround Glenda

B A T T L E o f 3 0 0 9 A NN UA L I N T R A D I ST R I CT R I VA L RY GAM E GAV E WAY TO A S HOW O F S U P P ORT F OR A B E LOV E D M E MB E R O F T H E S C U C COMMU N I T Y

Photos Courtesy: Lines & Light Photography, GMFire Photography & Te Hale Photography

C O V E R S T O R Y

Steele and Clemens cheerleaders meet up on the track in between spreading school spirit on their own sidelines.

COLOR, CAMARADERIE & COMMUNITY were on display during the annual Battle of 3009, as Samuel Clemens High School and Byron P. Steele High School squared off on November 4, 2022. Not only were there the Clemens white jerseys, trimmed with royal blue and gold along with the Steele black and silver, the stadium was also awash in purple, honoring the cancer fight of one of the stadium’s namesakes, Glenda Lehnhoff. Coaches from both squads were joined by district administrators and members of the Lehnhoff family in wearing purple, emblazoned with the words, “Intercept Cancer, #TeamGlenda.” Mrs. Lehnhoff was in attendance, along with her family. They were saluted over the public address system as coaches from Clemens and Steele were joined in, as did district administrators who have been touched by Glenda over the years. “Our family is very thankful for the support and prayers of the SCUC ISD community during this difficult time,” said Scott Lehnhoff, Glenda’s son and current SCUC Director of Athletics. “My mother has been

a part of SCUC ISD Athletics for 40+ years in some capacity. She loves our school district, our coaches and athletes. To see the outpouring of love and support returned to her has lifted up all of our spirits to help her in her fight against cancer,” Spirit teams from both schools exchanged smiles and hugs while band, cheer, dance, flag corps and JROTC contributed to the colorful spectacle with enthusiasm and joy. Once the heartfelt applause concluded, there were hugs by players on both teams prior to the game. Steele defeated Clemens, 23-0, to finish undefeated during the regular season. Clemens concluded their season at 4-6. The game’s conclusion brought forth postgame handshakes between the Buffaloes’ and Knights’ players which then harmonized into prayers for Mrs. Lehnhoff. “We knock each other down on Friday night, but we pick each other back up,” said Dr. Clark Ealy, Superintendent of Schools. “These are friends we went to school with and attend church with. We wear different colors on Friday night, but in the end we’re just one community.”

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Steele High School opened its doors in 2005. The Battle of 3009 began one year later, and has been the highlight of

every football season since.

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Glenda Lehnhoff (left) enjoys the game from the sideline. She is joined by Robin Getter (center) and Sharon Cummings (right).

PREPARING for the NEXT STEP

COMMU N I T Y M E MB E R S E X P LOR E CT E O P P ORT U N I T I E S T H ROU GH L E A D E R S H I P S C U C P ROG R AM

Photos Courtesy: Lines & Light Photography

S

uzanne Vance was one of many participants in the Leadership SCUC initiative who didn’t know what to expect when

schools, followed by a tour of the facilities and a few of the programs at Clemens. “What we do in our classrooms with our students every day is combine the academic and technical skills and apply them in the classroom,” Massey said to the engaged audience during her presentation. “When we’re doing that, we’re also training them for our next workforce.” Massey emphasized the CTE program examines the latest labor market data to ensure the programs offered are as current as possible, but offered a remarkable caveat. “There will be over one thousand new careers that we hadn’t even thought about by the time our kindergarten students graduate from high school,” she said. There were eight stops during the showcase, all led by students, encompassing:

the committee reconvened for its second meeting, showcasing the Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities available to all district students. “I’m just learning about what we have to offer to help be an advocate for kids,” she said, echoing the sentiment expressed by the majority taking part in the group during their tour of Samuel Clemens High School. Yvonne Galarza, who was at the inaugural gathering, expressed similar sentiments. “I think this is a very well-kept secret.” She and twelve other participants were treated to a presentation by Amy Massey, SCUC CTE coordinator, detailing the courses offered at the two traditional high

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Amy Massey provides an overview of Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs to Leadership SCUC participants. Leadership SCUC is a months

long program that provides community

members a “behind the scenes” look at the district.

SCUC offers 24 career pathways in 12 programs of study. Students pictured showcased their passion in the areas of communications (top left), health science (top right), welding (middle), architecture (bottom left) and culinary (bottom right).

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Engineering/Robotics, Floral, Ag Mechanics (welding), Culinary Arts, Video/Game Design, Architecture, Health Science/HOSA, and A/V Production (multimedia). The hour-long tour allowed students to explain the basic details of each program and to answer questions. One guest was so impressed with the tour she suggested a greater outreach is needed. “I feel like children in the intermediate schools and their parents should attend a tour like this,” said Tiesha Hartmann, who has a son attending Clemens and another at Dobie Junior High School. “It’s refreshing to

have the opportunity to see what is going on past the website and social media pages.” As if to add an exclamation point to the tour, Clemens Culinary Arts students, under the direction of Amanda Tharp, provided lunch, including a cajun chicken pasta entree and a pecan praline cheesecake as dessert, for the Leadership SCUC participants. Suzanne Vance is convinced about the program and the need for group advocacy in public education. “To see these kids, and to see their passion about what they’re learning. They’re amazing,” she said. “I love our district.”

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Megen Fox (left), 11th grader, and McKenna Plemons (right), 10th grader, spend three days at the ag barn sharing the behind the scenes work of raising goats.

27th Annual AG FAIR OV E R 1 , 0 0 0 4 T H G R A D E R S E X P E R I E NC E A G L I MP S E I N TO “AG L I F E ” AT T H E A NN UA L E V E N T

Photos Courtesy: Candice Ridge Photography

Steven Branecky with Southwest Dairy Farms teaches students all about milking cows and other dairy facts. It’s one of the highlights of the Ag Fair.

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AN IMPORTANT FACET of SCUC ISD history is celebrated every October when the Ag Fair takes place at the Toby Connor Complex. This year, approximately one thousand fourth grade students from every elementary school visited the complex over a three-day period. In its 27th year, the Ag Fair provides opportunities for students to participate in lessons that encompass environment, conservation, and food safety, all while incorporating subjects such as math, science, and social studies. Students also learn about the many different by-products that come from animals beyond sustenance, such as leather and lipstick, to name a few. Field crops are showcased as

well, along with the student-favorite dairy truck. Today’s Ag Fair experience is a far cry from the initial offering that took place at the old Wiederstein Elementary School (now the Marion Dolford Learning Center) in 1994. Lolly Borgfeld, who spent 28 years as a teacher at SCUC and longtime community pillar, spearheaded the drive to bring the Ag Fair to the school district, which at that time was a predominantly rural area. “They just started talking about how kids needed to have some introduction to where food came from and how vegetables grow,” said Borgfeld, referring to Nancy Wells and

took one look at the makeshift display and openly wondered about his career choice. “He almost had a stroke,” she said, only slightly exaggerating. “He looked at his gym and he saw hay on the floor, bees swarming around in the corner, and to top it off, the goat gave birth.” Today, students from Samuel Clemens High School and Byron P. Steele High School, shelter their show animals such as cows, goats, pigs, and poultry at the Toby Connor Ag Complex, adjacent to the old Wiederstein campus. Most of them represent Samuel Clemens FFA and Byron P. Steele FFA, organizations that prepare its members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture through classroom instruction and hands on experiences. With the steady influx of new residents to the SCUC area, and the increasing suburbanization of the region, the Ag Fair has actually become more important than ever. “I think it will always be necessary to have it,” Borgfeld said, adding the district’s partnership with GVEC has helped the event grow exponentially over the years. Borgfeld, who also served as President of the SCUC ISD Education Foundation for over ten years, credits the assistance of Wells and Harborth for the Ag Fair’s success, stating that all three envisioned it growing beyond its humble beginnings. “I did. We did,” she said. “That’s something I want to be remembered for.”

Lolly Borgfeld, pictured below in 1995, and now with her husband, Louis, is happy to know that the Ag Fair continues to fascinate 4th graders long after she retired.

Dot Harborth, two of Borgfeld’s room moms at the time. “They just kind of bullied me,” she said laughing. The inaugural event, which was just a one day affair, got off to an inauspicious start. “It was supposed to be held in the big, open playground area, and it rained,” said Borgfeld. Quick thinking led it to be moved to the gymnasium, which turned out to be a less than ideal location for it. “A beekeeper brought her bees, the Harborths brought their cows, a local minister from Marion brought his goat,” Borgfeld said. School custodian Albert Ramirez, who would someday rise through the ranks to become Custodian Foreman at SCUC but in 1994 in his first year on the job,

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SCUC Ag Fair had humble beginnings as a one day event. Pictured, Willie Rakowitz, a Clemens student, presented to a group during

the first Ag Fair held at Wiederstein Elementary.

REACHING for the STARS

ST E MK AMP O F F E R S H A ND S - ON ST E M L E A R N I NG O P P ORT U N I T I E S B E YOND T H E C L AS S ROOM

Photos Courtesy: Elizabeth Gracia

in 2021. Although STEMKAMP is designed and funded for SCUC students of Active Duty Personnel, enrollment is open to all students. Priority is given to active duty, federal civilian employees and Gold Star/ Disabled Veteran families. The focus in 2022 was New Frontiers in Space, creating the learning challenge for 200 students going into grades 3-8 to come up with workable solutions to develop human colonies in space. Subject matter for the project included soil activity, wind activity and a topography activity to determine the best way to move forward in the quest to make the galaxy habitable. “The kids get exposed to different aspects of STEM that they don’t typically get from being in a classroom,” said Mary Burns, whose three children participated in STEMKAMP for the second consecutive year. Burns, who serves as a substitute teacher at SCUC, marveled at how students from different grades and age groups interacted with each other to accomplish a task, and in some instances, continued to talk about the daily lessons at home. “My younger daughters were able to discuss with my son what they had learned and he was able to share and expand what they learned at his level,” she said. Camp highlights included field trips to Randolph Air Force Base where students visited the flightline and actually experienced the flight training simulators. “It was amazing. It was just over the top,”

Fifth and sixth graders traveled to Johnson City, Texas for an all day tour to interact with hands-on concepts at The Science Mill.

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YEAR TWO OF THE DODEA STEMKAMP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics for Kids of Military Personnel) was a huge success! The weeklong hands on learning venture offered learning experiences and exposure to STEM-related fields, and opportunities for students to practice critical thinking, problem solving, laboratory skills and higher-order thinking skills.. “The kids were very hyper-interested and excited to be there,” said Dee Thomas, DoDEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) Project/Grant Manager, who oversees STEMKAMP. ‘`We were given fifty additional seats because we had such a high registration rate for the first STEMKAMP.’ Nineteen percent of the students taking part in STEMKAMP were students who participated in the inaugural STEMKAMP

said Burns, whose son J.P., now a seventh grader, was engrossed with the knowledge imparted upon him. “They talked about different facets of aviation and the engineering components. It was amazing, bar none.” The younger students, including Burns’ daughters, Amelia and Victoria, now in fourth-grade, paid a visit to the hands-on Science Mil Museum located in Johnson City. “They got to see different aspects of science from the biological to chemical to physical components, ‘’ Burns said. “It was really helpful.” The third field trip location included the new Port San Antonio (adjacent to Lackland Air Force Base) where visitors were able to observe magnetic robots and have hands on gaming in the brand new LAN Tech Center. Some students, children of active duty personnel, got a fresh perspective on the bases where their parents are stationed. “They got to stand on the planes and touch the equipment,” Thomas said. “They talked to the pilots and the trainers. It was just a win-win.” Preparations for next summer’s STEMKAMP, which runs June 5-9, 2023, will begin in earnest in January, when SCUC receives the curriculum plans from Goshen Consulting Inc. (Goshen), a prominent STEM educational evaluation and research

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STEMKAMP included a variety of field trips throughout the greater San Antonio area.

center. DoDEA

funding

for

STEMKAMP expire with the 2023 experience, but Thomas has already begun seeking new sources of funding to continue an educational treasure that has three applicants for every spot. “Goshen is helping us make those contacts, because they’re hoping they can extend the grant and then add more,” she said. will

SPREADING their WINGS MUERTOS FEST:

S CHOO L-W I D E P RO J ECT TO C E L E B R AT E D I AS D E LOS MU E RTOS F OST E R S A S E N S E O F B E LONG I NG A ND COMMU N I T Y AMONG ST U D E N T S , T E ACH E R S , A ND FAM I L I E S

Photos Courtesy: Lines & Light Photography

AN EXTRAORDINARY COLLABORATION between teachers, students and parents helped Wilder Intermediate School pay homage to the departed and land in this year’s prestigious Muertos Fest at the Hemisfair Arena in downtown San Antonio. A two-day event, Muertos Fest was open to the public to showcase traditional art and culture to celebrate Días de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a holiday with roots in Mexico but celebrated throughout the world. Observed over two days, November 1 and 2, Dias de los Muertos is a time for people to mourn the loss of family members and friends, to ensure they are never forgotten.

Deciding to apply for one of the 50 spots was a decision not taken lightly by teachers at Wilder Intermediate. “We started working on it last year,” said Liezel Rose, fifth grade English/Spanish Language Arts teacher on the Dual Language campus. She and Carla Ortiz, sixth grade English/Spanish Language Arts teacher, convinced their principal, Phil Jackson, to allow the school to try to qualify for Muertos Fest. “He said yes, and we applied online,” said Ortiz. At Jackson’s insistence, the application had to align with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which are the state standards for what students should know and be able to do. “The science TEKS included the metamorphosis of the butterfly, We included poetry with literacy. We incorporated as much of the TEKS as we could think of,” Rose said. Lessons included the migration of the monarch butterflies to Mexico, coinciding with Dias de los Muertos, according to Rose, and how the butterflies migrate to orange flowers. Coincidentally, the butterflies even visited the orange flowers placed to honor the dead at the Wilder display at Muertos Fest. “They have butterfly gardens at Hemisfair Park,” explained Ortiz, adding, “so they had lots of monarchs coming in. So our trees had visitors, which was beautiful.”

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A beautiful butterfly

display serves as the perfect backdrop for pictures for passersby at the Wilder Intermediate Días de los Muertos altar.

It took a school-wide mobilization to get the project off the ground. Art teachers Crystal Gutierrez and Deanna Sanchez, along with a multitude of parents who showed up to contribute, constructed the orange paper flowers by hand, a painstaking effort that included scrunching the paper to make the butterfly wings. “We had an art workshop one afternoon, and dozens of parents came, with their little children, their mothers and in-laws, and uncles,” said Ortiz. “We taught them to make the paper flowers and they did it for hours.” What ensued was approximately 800 flowers made by hand. Handmade skeleton figures, called calacas, were also made. Calacas usually show an active and joyful afterlife in the Dias de los Muertos celebration. In the end, the labor involved in constructing the altar displayed at Hemisfair Arena truly encompassed the entire Wilder community. “Ours was the unity and community of people that created this altar,” said Rose. The project fostered a sense of community between parents who were previously strangers, and brought the students and parents a sense of belonging and togetherness. “Just seeing people’s reactions

Wilder Intermediate was selected as one of 50 participants to showcase their altar out of 3,000 online submissions.

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to it and seeing the community appreciate it, it was so enjoyable to see,” said Ortiz. “A lot of relationships were built, hopefully, for future events.”