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As a way to enhance science education and encourage teamwork, Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District high school students collaborated to develop hands-on bioretention workshops for fifth graders.
The Livermore High students were welcomed to Marylin Avenue STEAM Academy (MASA) for their Green Engineering Academy Partnership Day, held Feb. 16. LHS eleventh graders worked together to design a series of stations to teach the elementary students about bioretention and stormwater management.
“These types of experiential activities and projects are vital in extending what we do in the classroom,” said GEA teacher and program coordinator Dorothy Morallos. “It teaches students that the concepts they learn in class go beyond paper and pen, and can actually have an impact at their school and in their community.”
In the fall of 2022, LVJUSD was awarded a $20 million Federal Magnet Grant to incorporate a STEAM (science technology engineering arts and math) program at the Marylin Avenue Elementary. After renaming itself as MASA, the school underwent various facility upgrades and curriculum additions to highlight science and math.
A new set of construction projects slated for this spring will further enhance the school’s ability to prepare students for a higher education in science, math and technology. The upgrades will include two new STEAM classrooms, transitional kindergarten classrooms, an outdoor play area and a new drop-off and parking area.
Construction for the project will begin in April of this year and is expected to be completed by fall 2025.
a four-level bioretention filtration system.
(Image courtesy LVJUSD)
MASA focuses on giving students early exposure to in-depth, hands-on science education. Students regularly visit the school’s science lab and benefit from a Project Based Learning curriculum.
The GEA program aims to prepare students for two or four year college programs with an emphasis on engineering and similar technical fields. All courses in the program are approved for UC/CSU admission requirements.
On Partnership Day, fifth graders were paired with LHS students who offered guidance through the four stations. Activities included making a four-level bioretention filtration system, looking at how different plants impact bioretention, creating a bioretention layout, and estimating length using strides of students.
High school student Nilan Dharmaraj recalled in a statement, “it was inspiring to watch younger students take such an interest in science that will make the world a better place.”
LVJUSD representatives said students of different grades and ages working together “provides mutually beneficial learning opportunities and important points of connection that tie to student achievement.”
“Having our students interact with highly engaged and motivated high school students gives them a glimpse into the opportunities that are ahead of them and instills a belief in their future potential,” said MASA principal Joe Meunier.
Kim McNeely, LVJUSD bond director, also shared remarks on the projects. She explained that topics discussed during the Partnership Day will be implemented and used in the construction.
“Plans for MASA’s renovations created a unique opportunity for us to once again partner with GEA students to help Marylin students better understand how bioretention and stormwater treatment will be integrated into the construction beginning on their campus this year,” McNeely said.
McNeely works with the district bond team to monitor project costs and timelines.
“The bond team is continually looking for opportunities to incorporate complex building and construction concepts into the classroom for the benefit of student learning,” she added.
“These improvements will be made possible because our district was able to apply for and receive a state bond fund reimbursement based on our community’s investment in Measure J,” said LVJUSD Superintendent Chris Van Schaack in a statement. “We are grateful to our community and bond team for playing integral roles in making these improvements possible.”
