Saturday STEM Academies
NASA
The district began a partnership with the Hartnell College Foundation in July 2014 to provide a Saturday STEM Academies that engage and encourage students to follow a career in science, technology, engineering and math. This partnership is made possible by the NASA Minority University Research and Education Project Aerospace Academy. Students are invited to attend and eight week academy on Saturdays. This academy is offered once a year at each of our school sites. Each academy concludes with a Family Resource Day where families are invited to attend a community resource fair hosted by a variety community agencies, and parents attend their child's last class where they switch roles with their children and become the students while their children become the teachers. Students select a mission from their NASA curriculum and engage their families in a hands-on experience to complete the mission. This program serves over 1,200 students in East Salinas each school year in kindergarten through sixth grade. Learn more about our programs at https://www.hartnell.edu/AUSD
Introduction to Coder Dojo
In reponse to Hartnell's mission to support K-12 STEM programming the Harnell College Foundation in collaboration with the Alisal Union School District developed and piloted the Introduction to Coder Dojo STEM Academy in 2015-2016. This program facilitates learning experiences for students to gain interest in computer coding and lose the fear towards technology. It helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century. This program inspires students to increase their interest in coding by participating in a six week session and eventually sign up for our more focused Coder Dojo Hartnell College program at the Alisal campus of Hartnell College. Our program has allowed students to understand the basic concepts of computer programing and open their minds into Computer Science. Our Intro to Coder Dojo program combines computer time with hands-on activities that are fun and entertaining and will allow students to absorb concepts that otherwise they would consider too hard or advanced. This program serves close to 800 students each year in grades kindergarten through sixth grade.
Our Partners
