Description
We are seeking grant funding to support a collaborative partnership with the Truckee Roundhouse, also known as the Makerspace.
Grant Applicant
Alicia Lampley-Gebel
School Site
Grant Category
Grant Date
2022-06-18T12:00:00
Benefits of Program
Through Excellence in Education grant funding for our Sources of Strength program, one of the things students have been able to benefit from is the MakerSpace partnership. Sources of Strength brought student-led wellness to Sierra High. One such program that gained popularity was the program partnership through Makerspace. Makerspace, also known as Truckee Roundhouse, is a non-profit makerspace that supports the teaching, learning, and practicing of a wide variety of crafts, skills, technologies, and arts in the Truckee-Tahoe community. Community members can access the space independently through membership or take classes in small sessions. Makerspace has offered a unique partnership to our program to offer extended learning to benefit student wellness.
Success of Program
Students have participated in the Makerspace program since the 2017-2018 school year. Over the last 5 years, students have participated in the program for 3 years. The two year period in which students did not participate was as a result of COVID mitigation. Over the last 3 years, over 35 students have participated in programming.
According to our Wellness Surveys, students who participated in the program stated that they appreciated “the connectedness,” that it gave them a chance to “learn something fun and new,” and that it opened up new opportunities for them.
Recent participants (who have not yet taken the Wellness Survey) stated the following:
Azteca: “It is a place where we can go to learn something new. This helps keep our mind off of things that can be negative because it helps focus on something positive.”
Josh: “For me, I believe that Makerspace is a way to keep me out of trouble. It is a safe place for kids to be.”
Hudson: “Makerspace gives me a feeling of accomplishment. Not just because I am learning new skills or even that I get to leave with something, but because I feel like I can do something challenging that I didn’t know how to do before.”
Junior: “It’s fun. It is just fun. And we don’t get to have a lot of fun.”
Since the initial implementation of the program, we are also finding that it has had benefits that go beyond the classroom. Two of the students who participated in the program in two different sessions (both in welding and woodwork) have reported that they have moved into those fields of interest, largely as a result of their experience at Makerspace.
Implementation
Alicia Lampley (the Counselor) acts as the coordinator for the program. She provides transportation and supervision while students are on site. She also promotes the program and measures the success of the program by collecting qualitative and qualitative data. We have also been talking about building a mentoring program through Makerspace volunteers and/or providing ongoing memberships for students to use during the summer.
Can you share this grant with your grade level or subject team?
The Sierra High School staff is supportive of the program and enrollment and planning is a whole-school collaboration.
Sustainability
Sierra High and Truckee Roundhouse have sought opportunities for grants in the community, and even at a state and federal level. The hope is to find specific funding sources that help expand the potential for mentoring and ongoing student membership outside of the school year.
Amount Funded
$0.00
Individual Budget Items(s)
$1200 - A total of four, six week courses at Makerspace. Fall sessions and spring sessions.
Shipping
$0.00
Taxes
$0.00
Other funding sources
Yes. Makerspace also offers matching funds to help cover the additional costs of programming.