It is the inaugural year for the school campus, so it was the first time that some attendees had the chance to see the airy art studios and state-of-the-art STEM labs
RIDGEFIELD — Artistry Night at Sunset Ridge Intermediate School and View Ridge Middle School showcased some of the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) projects Ridgefield students have been working on throughout the year. It is the inaugural year for the school campus, so it was the first time that some attendees had the chance to see the airy art studios and state-of-the-art STEM labs.
The walls of Alan Adams’ art classroom exploded in color; they were covered in original drawings and paintings all the way to the ceiling. Students utilized a variety of mediums to create the artwork, and students from 5th to 8th grade were represented in an array of projects. There was so much art, it spilled out into the hallways, with tables full of ceramics and display boards with progressions that started with pencil sketches and ended with finished products.
In the STEM Fabrication Lab, parents and students discussed the many projects on display. Students proudly pointed out some of the tools they used to create the projects, including 3D printers and trays of robotics parts. Some of the projects were creating solutions to real-life challenges, like designing mechanical toys for children with cerebral palsy or developing sample orthoses (braces or splints to stabilize an injured extremity).
The Black Box Theater hosted musical performances throughout the evening. From the hallway, you could hear the music of the vocal and instrumental solos. Attendees enjoyed the intimate theater setting, where they could be close to the performers.
And in the Commons, a wide range of seventh grade science projects were on display. The seventh-grade life science classes focused on problem solving for specific ecosystems. Ideas ranged from a trash collector for the Wildlife Refuge to prevent the spread of toxic chemicals to a water collector and purifier for the Amazon Rainforest.
Students at Sunset Ridge and View Ridge are using STEAM to design creative solutions to all types of challenges. These practical applications of science, technology, engineering, art, and math help them understand how they will use STEAM not just for class projects, but for a lifetime.
Information provided by Ridgefield School District.
