STEAM Showcase

West Valley students demonstrate their skills at the annual STEAM Showcase

Students from schools across the West Valley School District participated in the district’s annual STEAM Showcase, recently, at the Innovation Center. Students from the Innovation Center shared projects from all of the four career pathways that are provided at the school, including Computer Science, Health Science, STEM Engineering, and Robotics/Agriscience. In addition, students from Mountainview Elementary and Summitview Elementary shared their knowledge and skills with different technologies.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. STEM jobs are essential for the future of the U.S. economy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM employment has grown by 79% over the past 25 years. By 2029, it's projected that STEM occupations will add nearly 1 million new jobs in the United States. As industries continue to embrace technology, automation, and artificial intelligence, STEM professionals will be critical in maintaining global competitiveness, driving innovation, and ensuring long-term economic prosperity.

Projects at the STEM showcase included computer coding using Ozobots, electronic circuits, automated agriscience systems, and a wide variety of robotics.

Klayton Wyckoff, principal of Mountainview Elementary commented, “Stacey De Wet, Counselor, and Kelsey Norman, Computer Lab Paraeducator, devote many hours hosting after school Lego clubs for our students at Mountainview. Kindergarten and first grade students start with building simple Lego structures, but by the time students are in the fourth and fifth grade, they are coding Lego-built robots to complete a challenge course.”

Mr. Wyckoff continued, “The activities are very enriching for our students and the STEAM Showcase allows them to share their work. Mountainview Elementary had 34 students participate this year.”

Mr. Wyckoff concluded, “The STEAM Showcase is a very rewarding, culminating activity for their hard work. I would like to thank Minerva Pardo and the staff from the Family Engagement Department as well as Mr. Watters and the students and staff from the Innovation Center for organizing this event.”