prepares students not just for graduation, but for life beyond the classroom. INSPIRING LEARNERS The district’s innovative approach begins with its youngest students at Miami Trace Elementary School. This is exemplified through a unique partnership with Farm-Ed, a company that provides AI-powered grow chambers for classrooms. “We looked at this as a great opportunity for our youngest learners to start dabbling in STEM through a hands-on inquiry approach,” shares Sunny Cummings, Assistant Principal at Miami Trace Elementary. Available for students k through 5, the program is most heavily focused on fourth and fifth grade, with lessons adapted for younger students. Garren Angel, CEO and Founder of Farm-Ed recounts, “The joy that you get when a child lights up from the curriculum is really unparalleled. It’s a different form of education. The child is coming alive.” Through their observations, students are introduced not only to the science of plant biology but also to the principles of data analytics, environmental science, and agricultural technology. “Really what happens is you change the learner’s outcome,” Angel conveys. “They learn how things work. Most curriculum is based on what, and everybody forgets what, but we remember how.And this translates into subject mastery that they can take with them for the rest of their educational and professional journey.” AN INVESTMENT IN HOLISTIC EDUCATION The Learning and Wellness Center exemplifies the district’s commitment to students and families.This new facility has been designed to provide space for community partnerships and counseling services, while also supporting students with diverse learning needs. “Through the use of Student Wellness Grant Funds, we were able to construct a new facility,” details Assistant Superintendent Justin Lanman. “The center will be fully operational within the next school year.” Partnerships with the YMCA and the county’s Ohio State University Extension, offer opportunities for 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 MIAMI TRACE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
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