2012-13 Tatanka Elementary STEM School

Children are naturally curious about the world around them.  They ask questions like, "Why is the sky blue?  What is the temperature in space?  How many fish does a shark eat in one day?" 

Beginning in the fall of 2012, Tatanka Elementary will offer a STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics) magnet program. Students attending Tatanka next school year will have an opportunity to tackle some of those puzzling questions.  Using a "minds-on" approach, students will be guided through research questions and data analysis to investigate those pieces of science and eventually develop an understanding of the concepts involved.

Tatanka STEM Development
Tatanka has been examining the STEM focus for the school since January 2011 and gained school board approval at the November board meeting. STEM has been researched and discussed through the Tatanka Teaching and Learning Council, staff meetings, STEM school visits, and parent focus groups. In May, Tatanka held three focus groups with parents to share the STEM philosophy and to solicit parents' comments and feedback.

Tatanka has received a $200,000 grant to plan for the implementation of a STEM magnet school program from the Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD). Staff met to identify staff learning objectives for the school year and began to review engineering standards and curriculum. Overall, staff and parents are interested in pursuing a STEM option for the school. They have already started this school year by piloting some engineering components of STEM that will be incorporated into the curriculum for next year. 

Tatanka Elementary Principal Don Metzler says that the curriculum will be the same as in the other elementary schools around the district, with "value added" pieces included into the curriculum that follow the STEM model.

"We are looking at this change to be sure we are preparing students with 21^st century skills that they will need in life to be successful," explains Metzler. "Becoming a STEM school will provide students with the opportunity to explore a variety of areas and to find interests outside of typical school and classroom subjects."

Who is NWSISD?
NWSISD was created in 2001 in response to the State of Minnesota's Desegregation Rule. The rule requires schools and communities to work together to design effective, voluntary strategies for creating desegregated learning environments, which increase parent  and student choice.  Specifically, NWSISD emerged because Brooklyn Center and Osseo School Districts were identified by the state as racially isolated. The other six member districts include: Anoka-Hennepin, Brooklyn Center, Elk River, Fridley, Osseo and Rockford.   

NWSISD's goals are to increase student achievement, provide more educational opportunities and create integrated learning environments. To meet the goals of NWSISD and BHM Schools, Tatanka will become a STEM magnet.

With the support of NWSISD, the district currently offers an Arts Magnet School at Buffalo High School.  

Who Can Attend the Tatanka STEM School in 2012-13?
Students who already attend Tatanka as their neighborhood school will continue to go to school there. As a NWSISD STEM magnet school, 20 seats per grade will be available to open enrolled students from within BHM Schools and outside of the district. There is no fee to attend the STEM school and transportation will be provided to those students who live within the NWSISD member districts (Anoka-Hennepin, Brooklyn Center, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools, Elk River, Fridley, Osseo and Rockford).

Applications for open enrollment are due by January 15, 2012.
Registrations are being handled by NWSISD. Applications and information can be found on the NWSISD website.

For more information about Tatanka Elementary STEM School, call Tatanka Elementary at 763-682-8600.

Promotional Video
Ioannis Miaoulis from the Museum of Science in Boston: Why introduce engineering into the mainstream elementary curriculum?