The schools in the area have been so supportive and accommodating in order to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on our exciting STEM program. We started the 2020 school year by working with our Health and Safety officer and the Virginia Department of Health in order to implement a variety of safety protocols such as masks, disinfecting equipment regularly, and social distancing in our classrooms to keep everyone safe. This allowed our STARBASE program to bring students into the Winchester Readiness Center in order to participate in our exciting STEM program.
We started the school year by inviting private schools to take part in our program. Students from Randolph-Macon Academy, the Independent School of Winchester, Mountain View Christian Academy, and Classical Cottage had a great time participating in a large variety of STEM activities. Due to the “no field trip policy” at the public schools, we then went “on the road” and delivered the STARBASE curriculum to 5th grade students in their school classrooms. Our fabulous STARBASE instructors have inspired students from the Clarke County Schools Boyce and DG Cooley, and the Frederick County Schools Stonewall and Evendale Elementary Schools. We will then continue on with two more Frederick County Schools by visiting Middletown and Jordan Springs Elementary.
Even in these difficult times, it has been a pleasure to continue to excite and inspire students to consider a future in STEM. We thank all teachers and administrators for allowing us to continue our mission.
MISSION
To expose our nation's youth to the technological environments and positive civilian and military role models found on Active, Guard, and Reserve military bases and installations, nurture a winning network of collaborators, and build mutual loyalty within our communities, by providing 25 hours of exemplary hands-on instruction and activities that meet or exceed the National Standards.
VISION
To be the premier Department of Defense youth outreach program for raising the interest in learning and improving the knowledge and skills of our nation's at risk youth so that we may develop a highly educated and skilled American workforce who can meet the advance technological requirements of the Department of Defense.
