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FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Students at Lakewood Park Elementary School in Fort Pierce have new opportunities to explore the world of science and technology they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.
Florida Power and Light awarded the school a $50,000 grant to renovate science classrooms and improve the educational experience.
On Thursday, leaders from FPL, St. Lucie Public Schools, St. Lucie County Educational Foundation and Lakewood Park Elementary School gathered for a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the school’s science, technology, engineering, art and math STEAM classrooms.
This is the classroom that all students visit once a week and is the pride and joy of teacher Caitlin McMahon.
“I’ve been so spoiled,” she said of the new classroom materials.
Daniel Leonard/WPTV
Thanks to a grant from FPL and support from the St. Lucie County Educational Foundation, we are able to offer our students endless possibilities that never existed before.
“I don’t see any limitations,” McMahon said. “If you want to do it, I think there’s a way.”
She used some of that money to buy things like a robot for her classroom, a smart board, a cart full of supplies, and a 3D printer.
“We’re so used to social media that we never get bored and don’t have the opportunity to think outside the box,” McMahon said. “His STEAM allows kids to think outside the box and learn hands-on.”
Daniel Leonard/WPTV
As part of the celebration, FPL team members taught students how to build their own generators. Fifth grader Gioni Morrison enjoyed participating in the generator building contest.
“I think it’s really cool. It’s like a learning experience,” he said.
He looks forward to his weekly STEAM classes.
“We get a lot done, but she adds a little bit of fun to tie it all together,” he said.
Half of the grant money was used for classroom materials, and the other half was used to send all students on science-related field trips this school year. The fifth grade students went to the Kennedy Space Center, and some of them had never been outside the county before.
Daniel Leonard/WPTV
“It’s just heartwarming and you’re a little overwhelmed by how happy the kids are. It’s not just the materials, it’s the experience. To be able to give these kids an experience that they wouldn’t have had without this grant is amazing. , which is very exciting for us,” Principal Kathleen Melrose said. “Kids look at things and say, wow, I can do this, and they’re not afraid to do it. So they learn and explore and reach possibilities they didn’t know they could reach.” It’s a comfortable environment to reach sexuality.”
She said these experiences help students develop a newfound confidence that will take them anywhere.
“Events like this give kids a way to know that I can do this, I can do this, and maybe my dreams can come true, too,” Melrose said.
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