ROCK SPRINGS — Each month Pilot Butte’s after school program holds a ‘fun day’ where students are able to participate in hands-on learning activities. Recently students in the after school program have been learning about space and for fun day assembled Styrofoam rockets constructed with rubber bands. Students lined up down the hall to test the accuracy of their newly made projects.

Damien Ward, 6th grader at Pilot Butte said, “My favorite part about the after school program are the fun activities, like building rockets and staying at school longer… I love school!” Melissa Estrada, 5th grader at Pilot Butte shared, “We have been learning about space and I have learned a lot. We now get to build rockets!”

The after school program focuses on project based learning where students spend an additional 1 hour and 15 minutes Mon.-Thurs. at school for continued learning. The program runs October-May. Pilot Butte’s after school program is in their 2nd year.

“We are hoping to expand the program to more students in the future, and are excited that most students from last year’s program have improved in both test scores, Dibels and MAP.” Sydney Hooten, teacher at Pilot Butte said. She went on to say, “Students in the program have developed a unity across grade levels and a camaraderie where they support each other throughout the school day.”

Principal Shannon Garrison said, “Thank you to our after school program teachers: Sydney Hooten, Steven Neal, Jodie Williams, LuAnn Wilde, Stephanie Yenger, Michael Moore, and Karla McCurtain. Your leadership is taking this program to new heights everyday!

–From a SWCSD#1 Press Release