SOMERS POINT — The Somers Point Education Association sponsored Somers Point STEAM Night on Feb. 29, drawing dozens of students and parents to Dawes Avenue School for a night of educational fun.
Principal Laura Venello said it was the second year for the event and children began talking about it at the beginning of the year.
“It’s amazing and so well-received. The line was outside the door,” she said.
Venello said STEAM teacher Deanna Haas takes the lead on organizing the event.
“She connects with all of those outside agencies to bring them in to highlight the things that are super interesting to kids in the field of science, tech, engineering, art and mathematics,” she said. “She does a wonderful job.”
Tables were set up in the gym, cafeteria and library, which doubles as the STEAM room (not nearly as relaxing as it sounds).
There were sections for robotics, coding, circuits and a Makey Makey space, as well as vendors such as the ACUA, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, NASA and Civil Air Patrol.
Kerstin Axe, Melanie Thorn and Caroline McFarland of Americorps were demonstrating non-point source pollution.
Robert Swift was playing on the floor with daughter Adelka Swift, 2.5.
Parents Rob and Desiree Hopkins stood by while son Cash played with the dash robots using a laptop.
Xiomara Cortes, 7, and Jimena Pilar, 6, operated some robots.
Owen Valcin, 7, and Sophia Fields, 7, were checking out some maker bots.
Oyster farmers Shaughn and Kaleen Jucket of Somers Point were talking to students about why oysters are important to marine ecosystems.
“They filter algae and sediments to keep our bays clean,” Shaughn Juckett said.
The couple buy seed oysters and grow them near Mott’s Creek in Galloway Township. It takes about 18 months for each oyster to mature and be ready to sell.
“They are constantly filtering the water, so while you’re farming and making food you’re improving the condition of the water,” he said.
Alica McGee waited patiently while son Christopher Jacobson, 7, played with K’nex blocks in the library.
“He loves anything he can build with and the robotics in particular,” she said. “He’s been running me all over the place to see all the different things. No Lego left unturned or built.”
She said the event was amazing.
“It opens up all new opportunities and ideas for children,” McGee said. “It teaches them what they can start with and build up to.”
Haas, the district teacher of the year, has been with the Somers Point School District for 15 years.
“We’re always trying to do all of these things with the kids that are academic, and I think incorporating the sciences and technology is interesting for kids. They love that kind of stuff. The engineering aspect, building … what kid doesn’t love to build? Promoting that is such a huge opportunity to get kids to love learning because there are a ton of jobs out there that involve all of this,” she said. “They don’t realize sometimes that in the big, wide world there’s actually science and engineering that go together, and teaching that is so important at such a young age and they love it.”
Brycen Neal, 4, was intent on building a Lego building while brother Brayden Neal, 6, jumped around.
Yurem Munoz, 3, was excited to have his picture taken while father Arturo Munoz smiled in the background.
The event was made possible by all of the hard work, as well as support from the teachers union.
“We had a lot of help from the SPEA. It is a combination of them working with grants and the teachers,” Haas said.
Kim O’Brien, who is the Pride chair of the Somers Point Education Association, is in charge of writing grants to the union to sponsor events.
Emily Ford, treasurer of the SPEA, said she works to get costs reimbursed by the New Jersey Education Association.
“They have to put out their own money and wait to be reimbursed,” she said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff