Westminster STEM program gets Rotarian boost

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on September 19, 2024.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Grade 2 students work on STEM-related projects following a funding announcement on Wednesday at Westminster School.

The Lethbridge Rotary Sunrise Club further cemented themselves in the local school community with a sizable donation to Westminster School’s STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) Program on Wednesday.

The local Rotary Club donated $10,000 to their STEM program as a part of its focus to make community investments and show their support for educational initiatives.

STEM is meant to gain the student’s interest in those areas in hopes of success in the future.

The donation will help the school with essentials for the STEM program.

“We’re very excited about this project and our ability to be able to financially contribute to its success,” said Diane Randell, Lethbridge Rotary Sunrise Club chair of community services.

“We know that our students need to be prepared for what is coming in the future and this is a very good way through the STEM program to be able to do that and to provide them with the support that they need.”

Westminster is considered a signature school for the rotary group as they have worked with one another through the years.

“We’re involved with a lot of youth programs or also involved here at the school,” said Randell.

“We help with their breakfast circulation and we read to the students, so it’s not just the financial contribution, but it’s about actual service to the students.”

Lisa Prawdzik, Westminster School principal, explained further how the funds will be used in their STEM program.

“In the Maker’s Space, the philosophy is that kids come down here and they’re able to do hands-on activities that are creative, innovative (and) without any kind of rules or agenda,” said Prawdzik.

The hope is to purchases robotics, construction, engineering and electrical materials.

“So that our students can connect what they’re learning (in the) curriculum upstairs in science and math to their learning downstairs here in the Maker’s Space,” said Prawdzik.

Prawdzik was asked about type of engineering materials that young students would require.

“There’s something called a rigamajig,” said Prawdzik.

“It allows them to actually construct large wooden frame devices, so they can see how wheels and gears move and how it manipulates things.”

Miniature windmills could help students gain insight into engineering.

“Being able to manipulate small versions of windmills to see how taking the turbines and turning them kind of changes the wind direction and how it effects the materials below them,” said Prawdzik.

There are safe construction tools for elementary school students and the hope is to purchase some of those.

The robotic materials could connect to the iPads and laptop carts and teach the students coding.

Prawdzik hopes to have materials in kids hands by the end of this year.

The funds come through the Rotary’s various fundraising events.