Lewiston-Porter Central School District receives stem grant, tech donation

By Lisa Bielmeier

Public Relations Director

Orleans/Niagara BOCES

The Lewiston-Porter Central School District has received a $990 STEM grant from the Toshiba America Foundation. Funds will support the Intermediate Education Center STEM program. In particular, monies will be used to purchase Ozobot robots to assist in teaching elementary students how to write code. This will provide students with opportunities to be creative thinkers and engage in higher level technology projects.

IEC school library media specialist Rebecca Metz was integral in writing the lesson and designing the student’s project to facilitate this endeavor.

Toshiba America Foundation grants fund projects designed by individual classroom teachers. This “direct-to-teacher” approach brings immediate results. Teachers are able to change the way they teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, because the grant supports equipment for hands-on experiments and inquiry-based approaches to the curriculum.

Toshiba America Foundation said STEM is a lot more fun than just reading a textbook. Its grants provide teachers with the tools they need to be more effective educators. The grants make the classroom a more exciting place for both teachers and students.

The district has also received a donation of 3-D printers and supplies – valued at $3,029 – from Studica Inc. of Sanborn. A total of six 3-D printers were donated to the elementary buildings to help enhance the district’s growing STEAM program (STEM plus arts).

Jim Sheehan, from Studica, was integral in facilitating the donation. He presented at the Jan. 15 board meeting. Sheehan spoke of the fundamentals of what can be designed and created with the printers.

Three printers will be placed at the Primary Education Center, and three will be used at the Intermediated Education Center. Sheehan has graciously offered to assist in the initial training on the use of these high-tech machines.