Expanded curriculum

Margate school using federal grant to start magnet program

New teachers, new technology and a whole new program— that’s what Margate’s Liberty Elementary School is getting as a result of a grant given to it by the federal government.

Liberty is one of six Broward schools to receive the $ 11.6 million grant and is using the money to create a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math ( STEM) magnet program.

“This grant has a few simple things it’s going to help us do,” Principal David Levine said to parents at the school’s recent open house. “Number one is to increase student achievement. Number two is to hire additional staff to make our teachers better and the children smarter. Those [ new] people have one responsibility: help the teachers do great things for the children in science, technology, engineering and math.”

The grant allowed the school to already hire four new staff members to work on developing curriculum: a magnet coordinator, science coach, math coach and instructional facilitator. The programwill include new technology, such as tablets to take on field trips, a lab with learning software, a project- based learning style and after- school clubs focused on engineering and robotics.

Melissa Keefe, the school’s new magnet coordinator, said, “[ Students] will be working on projectbased learning and inquiry- based learning activities, things that the teachers can help lead them to the answers and lead them to complete their projects. But ultimately, it will be the students who find those answers on their own, rather than being told what to do all the time.”

As part of the STEM program, Liberty Elementary is a museum magnet, so each time the students

complete their STEM projects, they will be displayed in a museum- like setting for viewing.

“After the completion of each project, [ the students] are going to set their projects up in the hallways and classrooms and turn it into a museum- type place,” Keefe said. “They’ll be able to invite their parents and community members in to come view their projects and showoff their work.”

The program will be implemented in the regular classroom, Keefe said. Students zoned to attend Liberty won’t have to fill out an application, but out- of- area students who want to come to the school will have to apply.

For more information, call 754- 322- 6790 or visit Liberty. browardschools. com.