Johnston Elementary School (JES) recently took a significant step forward in promoting hands-on learning and community engagement by hosting its inaugural STEAM Night. With a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math, the event aimed to spark curiosity and excitement among students and their families.
The evening marked the beginning of an ambitious project to create a new outdoor learning space at the school, a vision brought to life through the collaboration of students from Johnston and high school students from Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr. Discovery Academy (NDA).
The idea for a new outdoor space was conceptualized to provide a dynamic environment where students can explore and learn beyond the traditional classroom. The partnership between JES and NDA students was crucial to this initiative. High school students were able to guide the younger students through the planning process, offering insights and expertise that helped shape the vision for the innovative space.
STEAM Night served as the perfect platform to introduce this exciting project to the community. This event saw a turnout of more than 100 attendees, including students, their families, and community members, all eager to participate in the evening’s activities. The hands-on experiences ranged from creative arts to scientific experiments, embodying the essence of STEAM education.
“Our first annual STEAM night was a huge success with over 100 in attendance--including the community partners (HARK, Kiwanis Club of Asheville and Zaniac) who helped make it happen,” said Johnston Principal Angie Thrantham. “Not only were there lots of fun science, technology, engineering, art and math activities; we also had a raffle basket fundraiser to support our outdoor STEAM area that we will begin installing in the fall! We are almost as excited as the kids who worked with Nesbitt Discovery Academy to plan and create renderings with all of the wonderful ideas for the space.”
The success of the inaugural STEAM Night was evident in the enthusiasm and engagement of the attendees. The event not only brought the Johnston Elementary community together but also served as a kick-off for fundraising efforts to support the creation of the new outdoor learning space.
Mark your calendars for the next STEAM Night scheduled for October 2024 (official date TBD) where they hope to unveil the new outdoor learning space!