STEAM at WJES
Our Focus: Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability
Students at West Jackson Elementary have many opportunities to explore STEAM through environmental and agricultural education experiences. Through a variety of outdoor spaces including an aquaponics garden and greenhouse, multiple raised gardens for herbs and vegetables, livestock areas, and a nature trail with outdoor classroom, students have opportunities to engage in daily learning experiences that connect to the world around them. As a community school, we leverage many business and industry partnerships to deepen the learning and provide real-world experiences for students.
Our Business/ Community Partners
Jackson County is primarily a rural, agricultural area mixed with a variety of manufacturing and warehousing industries. Because of the surrounding agriculture influence and the support of nearby business partners (Amazon, FedEx, Elachee Nature Center), and postsecondary and arts partners (UGA, High Museum of Art, Alliance Theater), students are exposed to real-world, relatable, innovative experiences, which include growing and selling basil to Sliced Pizza, caring for goats, rabbits, and chickens, collecting eggs, nature trail appreciation and stewardship, recycling, weather research, life cycle analysis, gardening experimentation, and robotics and engineering solutions.
Vision Statement
West Jackson Elementary School will inspire and empower all students to engage and excel in the opportunities of a global society.
Mission Statement
WJES students can ask questions, think critically and creatively, and work with others to solve problems in their lives, in our community, and in the world.
STEAM at West Jackson Elementary
Throughout the year, teachers at WJES collaboratively plan and implement year-long extended project based learning units (grades PreK-5). Additionally, we all work together to help students connect their learning and apply concepts to the world beyond the school walls. We have adopted a school-wide process for design thinking, which we use with students and staff as a way to approach challenges. Additionally, we leverage school-wide STEAM push-in support as well as STEAM aligned specials including Inquiry, Applied STEAM, Art, Music, and PE, where we strategically impact our school culture and cultivate a growth mindset. We have embraced the theme Dream Big! Aim High!, and we commit to providing rich, integrated learning opportunities for students aligned to our STEAM focus, tapping into community partnerships and connecting to the world beyond our school walls.
West Jackson Elementary School STEAM Contacts:
391 East Jefferson Street
Hoschton, Ga 30548
Ms. Kathy Venable kvenable@jcss.us
Mr. Joe Leach jleach@jcss.us