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Canton Elementary’s STEAM Festival, which first took place 2 years ago, has become a very popular night to learn all about science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math. This year, another component was added to the usual STEAM festivities. Elementary students got to experience a whole day of STEAM fun thanks to the interest of parents in the area. Miranda Peffer, one of the parents who wanted this idea to come to light, began working on a grant application for the Tioga Downs Regional Community Foundation. This grant gave $5,000 toward the project, which helped fund a STEAM assembly. Miranda also applied for grants through the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission’s Business Education Partnership (NTBEP) and the Northern Tier Workforce Development Board (NTWDB), which funded science kits for every student to take home and experiment with.
The school day began with a STEAM assembly, continued with different activities in each classroom, and concluded with science kits for each student to take home. Then, in the evening, the STEAM Festival provided endless entertainment with a band concert in the theaterette, art projects from every grade lining the hallways, and presenters in the library and the gym offering fun, educational activities for students and parents alike to experience. Many students were overheard saying, “This was the best day ever!”
Thank you to all guest presenters who made the night a success: Kris West, Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, Northern Tier Career Center, Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, Northern Tier Solid Waste, Schoonover’s Plumbing and Heating, Head Start, Penn College, Blast IU 17, PIVOT, Nathan Wiles, Canton Elementary Teachers and CHS FFA.