As one of three pillars in our current strategic plan and highlighted in our Lauremont School vision statement, innovation is an important mindset and one that is receiving increased focus as we attempt to add value to the programs and student experience at the Upper School. One particular example of this mindset in action is the partnership we have developed with The Steam Project (TSP) as was described in the latest edition of Going Beyond.

Last spring, a small group of Lauremont School faculty organized by MYP Coordinator, Jessica Wong, walked north up Edward Ave. from the Upper School campus to be introduced to and tour The Steam Project’s facilities. After seeing the workshop space equipped with laser cutters and printers, sewing machines, woodworking tools, coding areas and robotics equipment, it became clear that Lauremont students could really benefit from involvement in their programs. The hands-on STEAM offerings have been uniquely designed by owner Jay Wengle and his staff to engage learners of all ages. Independent modules allow students to experience the equipment, learn design, coding and shop skills, all while constructing varying projects of varying scope and complexity. The Steam Project programs bring an intentional blend of the Arts into Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

From that initial visit some six months ago, Lauremont School has created a vibrant partnership with The Steam Project. This fall, their staff ran two lunchtime programs for our Grade 7 and 8 students. One such program is called Inventor Series in which students work in small groups to invent, design and build an item. Carmen N. describes how her group is designing and building a jack-in-the-box toy using Tinkercad software across the 10 week lunch program. At the end of November, our Middle School Coordinator, Ms. Harris, who has helped to steward the programs at the school, will be giving a new group of students an opportunity to engage in the Steam Project modules, and this will then be extended and rotated a third time in the spring term. Due to the modular design of the projects, students wishing to engage in multiple sessions can gain a new experience each session and build on their skills incrementally.

Simultaneously, Lauremont’s partnership with The Steam Project has allowed our students exclusive access to several extra-curricular school programs including woodworking, battlebots, tiny homes and robotics. Kylee S. in Grade 7 comments, “in woodworking, I have learned how to use certain tools, such as a belt sander and a drill press. It was a fun experience for me because I love learning new things.” Serena J. shared that, “I enjoy engineering so when it came time to do it in a TINY version (Tiny Homes) I was so happy to design and build a house, learning sketch up software in the process.” Shayan S. states, “I enjoy the teachers who are really fun and I have learned how to use Tinkercad to make designs and how 3D printers work in the Battlebots program.” New faculty member Ms. Aileen Li, who is helping with the robotics team twice a week, enjoys seeing the teamwork and evident learning by the eight Middle School students who are preparing to build, program and enter a robot in the First Tech Challenge competition in the spring. This particular group is learning advanced coding, collaboration, engineering and presentation skills as they work towards their competition deadline.

With an eye to continuing to evolve our unique partnership, The Steam Project will be using the Upper School at Lauremont as a home base for its 2025 summer camp. Students from Lauremont and other local schools will have the opportunity to attend these extra-curricular programs for two-week sessions across July and August. Aimed at students from Grade 3 to Grade 9, there may also be some opportunities for senior students at Lauremont to either volunteer or work as summer counsellors helping to mentor younger students in their design projects. 

In only a few short months, it is clear that the TSP-Lauremont partnership is helping to address a need in our school program. Engaging our Middle School students in creative, fun and skill-building experiences both at lunch and after school, marks an important beginning to providing enrichment opportunities in STEAM areas. As the Upper School continues to grow, there is tangible excitement to gather and accrue Lauremont resources, as well as plan for future growth of programs and spaces. It is our hope that a new innovation space in which programs like robotics and design can be housed is in the not so distant future of Upper School expansion. In the meantime, our partnership with TSP and the development of internal resources is pushing us to find transition space to help facilitate the delivery of more of these experiences at Lauremont.