What is STEAM? What does it mean to be a STEAM Magnet School?
Please visit our school’s official Website to see our schools Vision, Mission, Guiding Principals and Core Beliefs:
Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary School – Guiding Principals
What is HQPBL – High Quality Project Based Learning?
Please visit our school’s official Website to see definition of Project Based Learning, and the Sample Units for each grade level:
Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary School – Project Based Learning
How is Project Based Learning implemented at Santiago?
Over the course of a PBL Unit, your student will encounter various components such as:
1. Exploration of the topic, real-world applications, and related careers.
2. Art activities related to the topic encouraging creativity.
3. Science activities related to the topic encouraging generation of questions, exploration, and revisions to thinking
4. Construction Engineering activities related to the topic encouraging building design techniques with various materials and problem solving.
5. Exploring uses of new technology such as robotics, coding, presentation tools, video production, and more
6. Assessments and tasks that evaluate student proficiency toward mastering the grade level standards being taught through the project
7. A live or virtual connection to an Expert in the topic or related industry to enhance an experience, feedback, or real-world connections
8. Creation of project teams across the grade level, encouraging collaboration and teamwork skills, to create a solution to a real-world problem.
9. Creation of a Final Deliverable, which is a project that encompasses the knowledge they have learned through the unit.
10. Presentation of a final project to the public or peers – at one of our Ignite Events or to another classroom – where parents and community members are encouraged to review and provide valuable feedback to students.
With a solid implementation, PBL creates life-long learners who never stop questioning the world around them. This reinforces valuable skills of critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and creativity. exploration with trial and error, teamwork skills, and presentation skills.
Un-Homework Policy
Instead of Homework, family time and other enrichment activities are encouraged. Students have access to login to ST Math from home – an online learning system that advances the student through engaging Math activities demonstrating the math skills expected to be learned at the grade level. Students who complete all levels for their grade will receive a certificate and gain access to more challenging levels.
How are Students Graded and Tested?
SVUSD no longer uses traditional A-F grades at the elementary level. Instead a simpler 1-4 score is presented on report cards and at Parent Teacher conferences to show how the student is progressing in reaching standards-based goals.
Students will receive feedback from teachers and peers during project presentations. Parent Teacher conferences occur twice during the year and may include the student so they can take an active part in setting and achieving their own academic goals.