According to a recent U.S. Department of Commerce report, “The greatest advancements in our society from medicine to mechanics have come from the minds of those interested in or studied in the areas of STEM.”

“Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workers drive our nation’s innovation and competitiveness by generating new ideas, new companies and new industries. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics workers play a key role in the sustained growth and stability of the U.S. economy, and are a critical component to helping the U.S. win the future.”– STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future, U.S. Department of Commerce, July 2011

The United States will have more than 1.2 million jobs open in science, technology, engineering and math related fields by 2018 yet there will be a significant shortage of qualified college graduates to fill these careers. Our economy and future success in playing a role in addressing our global challenges require that we meet this challenge. Wauwatosa STEM seeks to address this as early as kindergarten.

“If America is to maintain our high standard of living, we must continue to innovate. We are competing with nations many times our size. We don’t have a single brain to waste. Math and science are the engines of innovation. With these engines we can lead the world. We must demystify math and science so that all students feel the joy that follows understanding.”– Dr. Michael Brown, former Nobel Prize winner for medicine and the Paul J. Thomas Professor of Molecular Genetics and Director of the Jonsson Center for Molecular Genetics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas

Required 21st Century Skills

  • Ways of thinking: Creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making and learning
  • Ways of working: Communication and collaboration
  • Tools for working: Information and communications technology and information literacy
  • Skills for living in the world: Citizenship, life and career, and personal and social responsibility

Our technology goals are in place to ensure that:

  • the school’s investment in computing infrastructure and internet connectivity be fully accessed
  • students have the best opportunities to learn beyond their classroom
  • students are prepared for the twenty-first century
  • the school remains #1 in the state
  • the school be the model for how all schools can prepare students and secure our future as a competitive country

Sustaining the T in STEM

“Our goal is to maintain a 1:1 technology ratio.”

Technology is critical in students’ ability to navigate their own course and fully succeed in preparing for a future in STEM. Since the inception of WSTEM, we have learned much about how students can use technology and how teachers incorporate it. Our goal is to maintain a 1:1 technology ratio. This ratio will provide the appropriate infrastructure for teachers to meet the needs of each individual learner. A flexible individualized learning environment is best realized and supported by individual access to technology and the educational programming supported on the internet.

In addition, the school and the district have made a significant investment in technology infrastructure that will allow every student access to powerful wireless Internet to reach beyond the school walls and in an industry quality server to save their portfolios of work-linked learning. Without adequate devices, this investment goes to waste and the students, who are only one step away from accessing the nearly limitless information and potential, miss out on this amazing learning opportunity.

Where your investment will take our students

“Our solution is to provide devices that will grow with the students.”

Our solution is to provide devices that will grow with the students and offer opportunities to create learning for others. Devices like tablets and Google Chromebooks allow for a more controlled and uniform environment granting students access to all educational resources and applications stored on the school’s local server and in the internet cloud. These attributes reduce the need for students to require new technology every two years. The programming is accessed online and updated by the creators, mostly free of charge, and therefore there is no need to continue to purchase licenses for an entire school.

Our Request

We are a growing nonprofit instrumental charter school. As such, any unique experiences we would like to provide for our students, over and above the traditional elementary school experiences, require fundraising. However, our constant fundraising efforts cannot always provide our students with these opportunities for learning.

To facilitate and adhere to STEM’s philosophies and mission, the Governance Council voted on June 3, 2013, to approve a $100 annual technology contribution to sustain the 1:1 technology ratio. This suggested annual contribution will be assessed per student each year. The contribution is voluntary and confidential. Families who may not be able to make this contribution can confidentially opt out. Students do not own the devices, nor are they expected to bring them home.

The opportunity to sponsor an additional child’s contribution is an option and all contributions are tax deductible due to WSTEM’s 501 3c status.

Additional costs such as charging/housing stations, covers and accessories are anticipated within the contribution. The WSTEM budget may be called on to assist with any annual shortfall in contribution collection.

Please consider helping us maintain our goal.

You can use this secure PayPal link to instantly submit your annual technology contribution, donate to Project W.I.L.D. or contribute to the school in any way you choose. Please indicate how your funds should be earmarked during checkout. PayPal will send you a receipt via email that can be used for tax purposes.