One School, One Book … One purpose
McKinley STEM Academy pupils learning about past
PROGRAM OPENS — McKinley STEM Academy pupils took to the stage as part of the school’s One School, One Book kickoff. Those taking part in the event included, from left, Terrence Sinclair, Charlotte Meyer, Kaemir Brown, I’lynn Wright and Lennon Presley. -- Contributed
READY TO GO — Pupils at McKinley STEM Academy enjoyed having the opportunity to get a jump-start on their homework with the addition of a “lunar landscape” as a backdrop. The space theme is part of the One School, One Book event taking place throughout February. Children taking part in the special homework session include, from left, Jeremiah Foster, Addilyn Czoka, Dominance Crawford and Jameson Jones. -- Contributed
PROGRAM OPENS — McKinley STEM Academy pupils took to the stage as part of the school’s One School, One Book kickoff. Those taking part in the event included, from left, Terrence Sinclair, Charlotte Meyer, Kaemir Brown, I’lynn Wright and Lennon Presley. -- Contributed
READY TO GO — Pupils at McKinley STEM Academy enjoyed having the opportunity to get a jump-start on their homework with the addition of a “lunar landscape” as a backdrop. The space theme is part of the One School, One Book event taking place throughout February. Children taking part in the special homework session include, from left, Jeremiah Foster, Addilyn Czoka, Dominance Crawford and Jameson Jones. -- Contributed
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STEUBENVILLE -- By the end of the month, students at McKinley STEM Academy in Steubenville will have a better understanding of the space race and how America got to the forefront, thanks to this year's "One School, One Book" celebration.
"One School, One Book" is when an entire school family reads, discusses, participates in and celebrates one particular text during an assigned period of time.
This year's selection was Margot Lee Shetterly's "Hidden Figures," the true story of three African-American women who made NASA's early missions possible.
"When making our selection, we attempt to choose a book that connects with our students and typically elect for a fictional story, but last year we took a new approach," McKinley teacher Heather Hoover said.
"Not only did we alter our timeline for when we presented our 'One School, One Book' to our students, but we changed the type of story that we wanted our students to read," she explained.
Hoover said students typically "are more eager and engaged" to read fictional stories and less so when it comes to an expository text -- true stories that give facts and information about a specific topic.
Hoover said that changed last year when McKinley opted to celebrate writer Gene Baretta and his story, 'The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver.' She said they saw a "dramatic change" in their community's response.
"The overwhelming amount of positivity from our parents and families, and the enjoyment from our students to read a book like this, prompted our school to look for yet another expository text and extraordinary author to highlight again this year during our 'One School, One Book event,'" Hoover said.
"We selected a book that we thought would relate to our kids," Hoover continued. "We wanted to expose them to a story that they might not select for themselves at the library because it is an expository text, (and we) wanted to make that connection because it is Black History Month. So, we thought this is the perfect book to celebrate."
Set in the 1950s and 1960s, "Hidden Figures" addresses the challenges the three women had to overcome, not least of which were sexism and racism, and the critical roles they played in getting Americans into space.
McKinley Principal Donnie Reeves stated the hope is that by the time they are done reading it, the students will have a better understanding of the "American Dream."
They will also have a better understanding of "what people -- not only just women, but more significantly, African-American women, accomplished here in the 1930s to the 1960s with all the barriers that were out there -- especially in the field of science at that time."
"It teaches students to fight for what they believe in," Reeves said, "and that any dream can become a reality."
The celebration kicked off with a space-themed assembly earlier this week, complete with snacks -- Space Oreos, of course. Throughout the month they'll have drawings and trivia questions.
"We were just looking online for snacks and stuff and when those Space Oreos popped up (we had to have them)," Hoover said, explaining they were probably an eclipse-themed issue.
"And we're looking for eclipse glasses," she added. "So, if anybody knows where we can get those, we'll take them."
Hoover said they figure they'll be done with the book on Feb. 29, which is Leap Day.
Students will learn about the science of Leap Day and why it happens.
It is "all about our atmosphere and the rotation of the earth," she said, noting coincidentally, it ties into the "Hidden Figures," subject matter.
Harding Middle School students who previously attended McKinley will be coming back during the afternoon for the opening of a time capsule they helped to fill four years ago.
"They all put something in the time capsule," Hoover said.
"We're going to open (it) up and let them get out the things that they placed in there, and all of our new students here this year will put something in it for the next four years, so we have a lot planned on Feb. 29."
The school's Literacy Night festivities, an after-school event for families, will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 29.
Reeves said McKinley's families "will have the opportunity to construct and launch straw rockets, visit a student-constructed planetarium, enjoy a project walk and participate in a few other STEM activities" that night.
"One thing that we are doing differently this year is that our fourth-graders will host a live wax museum honoring an individual who has made a significant impact in society -- either with a particular invention, discovery or social change," Reeves said.
He added the staff is "extremely excited to open the eyes, hearts and minds of our students, as well as their families, as we bring them into our school" for Literacy Night.