COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — It’s a brand new school, with a brand new acronym.
On Friday, The STEAD School will transfer into its new constructing in Commerce City. STEAD stands for science, know-how, engineering, agriculture and methods design. The charter school in the Brighton 27-J school district is beginning with simply ninth graders, however will finally embrace all excessive school grades. Students will select one in every of 4 pathways, however the agriculture piece will likely be an enormous focus, particularly next-generation agriculture.
“The reality is we don’t have enough resources the way we do things today to feed (a growing) population, and we need to build the next-generation of thinkers and problem solvers,” mentioned Kelly Leid.
Leid is the director of way of life operations for Oakwood properties, which is constructing the 10-acre STEAD school campus. Leid initially got here up with the concept for an agriculture-focused school whereas working for the Denver mayor’s workplace on the National Western Complex. When he returned to Oakwood properties, he introduced his imaginative and prescient for the school to the Reunion growth in Commerce City.
“We’re at the nexus of rural, urban, and suburban interests,” Leid mentioned, stating that the school is being constructed on what was as soon as a 40,000-acre farm. The acronym STEAD can also be a play on the phrase “homestead.”
“There’s a real emphasis on the history, but also a focus on the future,” he mentioned.
The school could have partnerships with Colorado State University, the National Western Complex, and Future Farmers of America. Once absolutely constructed, the campus could have animals, beehives and a greenhouse. Leid mentioned the concept is that agriculture touches all industries, and college students will even research matters like engineering, aerospace, and environmental design.
Another distinctive characteristic of STEAD is a deal with project-based studying.
Science trainer Amie Weldy mentioned she and her husband moved to Colorado to work at The STEAD School particularly due to the hands-on mannequin.
“We looked all across the United States for these innovative practices and just really breaking down the barriers of what a traditional high school looks like,” Weldy mentioned.
Students will repeatedly keep engaged in tasks primarily based on the matters they’re learning.
Freshman Sophia Mendoza mentioned she preferred the proven fact that she wouldn’t be sitting in a classroom all day.
“It had a whole lot of attention-grabbing alternatives that you do not get out of regular excessive school,” Mendoza mentioned.
The college students have been attending school in one other constructing since August however spent a number of weeks on the new campus portray a mural and getting ready for the opening of their new school.
Freshman Olivia O’Leary mentioned she was wanting ahead to transferring in.
“It’s really exciting to just be able to create a legacy for the school and start it off,” she mentioned.
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