ROCK SPRINGS — Sweetwater County School District Number One students had a unique learning experience recently. On April 24, 40 RSJH students were able to experience a Guardian Flight helicopter up close marking the completion of a year-long unit on flight and velocity in science. The students, part of an afterschool community learning group, first learned about kites and hot air balloons before completing their program with helicopters.
The visit of the Guardian Flight helicopter was made possible by a recent grant received by Sweetwater County School District Number One. The Wyoming Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant provides over half of a million dollars for after school and summer programs at Rock Springs Junior High School. Program Director, Lisa Plant, was awarded $135,088 per year for five years for various educational programs. The award, a highly competitive grant award, was secured to expand afterschool and summer programs at Rock Springs Junior High, Rock Springs High School, as well as schools in Farson/Eden and Wamsutter. The grant also includes all home school and private school students who fall into the age group 12-18.
Programs provided with the aid of the grant include LEGO Robotics, Problem Solvers of the World, Destination Imagination, a traveling reading program, a school newspaper, and a volunteer service-learning after school and summer program. Ms. Plant explains the importance of these programs. She states, “We offer students and families a broad variety of additional services and activities such as citizenship, responsibility, self-esteem, higher school attendance, drug and violence prevention, and counseling referrals designed to reinforce and compliment strategies for achieving the 21st Century Community Learning Center Goals.” She also explains that these programs will aid in helping students meet state and local academic standards. “Through goal setting, safety, health and nutrition, effective partnerships, strong family involvement, enriched learning opportunities, linkage between school day and after school, and regular evaluations, we will prove our program’s effectiveness.”
-From a SWCSD#1 Press Release
