SOMERS POINT — Curiosity met force May the Fourth as Dawes Avenue School hosted a Star Wars-themed STEAM Night.
Dozens of district children gathered at the school for activities involving science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, along with free pizza and snacks.
Inside the library, students could check out Minecraft magnetic block cubes, fidget spinners and a magnetic marble run, as well as a Lego wall.
Deanna Haas, a STEAM teacher at the school, which educates students from preschool to third grade, has been organizing the event since students returned from the COVID-19 pandemic to boost education in these vital disciplines.
“I think everything revolves around STEAM. STEAM is important in life,” Haas said, calling the event “a great opportunity for the kids to get their hands on tactile things.”
She said the Star Wars Day link was more fortuitous than foreseen.
“It fit in our schedule for the school, and it just worked out perfectly because we went with it,” Haas said. “I just think it’s really important for them to use it in everyday life, and they love it. It’s very exciting for them to come in and be able to use the robots. It gets them problem solving, they learn how to think.”
The event, sponsored by the Somers Point Education Association, which donated all of the goodies, brings the community together at the school.
“It’s just a fun involvement for the families, the community, the teachers, to just all be one,” Haas said.
Principal Melanie Wagner said Haas starts planning the event each year in January, reaching out to all of the participants and ensuring the event runs smoothly.
“Our STEAM event is an amazing event that happens every year thanks to our amazing STEAM teacher, who really does it all,” Wagner said. “She hypes it up with the kids and the kids absolutely love her class, so they’re always excited to get out here and use the robots and all the different gadgets that she has in class.”
Wagner thinks getting the parents into the school is good for them and their children.
“It’s nice for the parents to come in and see what they’re doing in the classroom and then also engage with the kids throughout the night,” she said.
Sean and Kate Dealey were with son Jacob, 5, working with some building blocks. They said the event lets them know what their son is up to during the day.
“It’s like experiencing what he comes home talking about; STEAM is one of his favorite things,” Sean Dealey said. “He calls it playtime but it’s, you know, it’s building and learning.”
He noted that there was nothing like what the students were playing with when he was young.
“It would’ve been awesome if we had had this level of educational toys when we were younger,” Dealey said.
They also liked the family-friendly atmosphere.
“I think that the interaction between the parents and the kids is important in what they’re learning here,” he said.
The cafeteria was set up with LED light up boards, 3D pens, make and take crafts, Keva planks and box after box of pizza.
Next door in the gym, nonprofit organizations were sharing information with attendees.
The state Division of Fish and Wildlife, Watershed Ambassadors, the Atlantic County Utilities Authority and others shared space with robots operated by the students using electronic tablets.
Fred Haas of Tackle World brought a fish fighting simulator that allowed children to replicate catching one of multiple fish, ranging from smaller species to tuna and mahi.
“It basically just imitates fighting the fish. So the kids get to use a rod, they get to use a reel. They get to fish without the wait. As you know, fishing’s all about patience and a lot of kids these days don’t have the patience to sit.”
Outside, the Atlantic City Police Department SWAT team had its Bearcat riot vehicle, where students could climb through and check out the shields and helmets used by the members when responding to dangerous situations.
– STORY and PHOTOS by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
