Page 4 - TTWISept2022

Careers in Motion — Energy
page 4 electronic edition: www.teachingtodaywi.com

SteM future is Bright at fontana elementary

school library for the 2021–2022 school year design, CAD software, and career and college Fontana Elementary School had its roots in
to add a fab lab featuring 3D printers, laser readiness. several years of discussions with Torrez.
cutters and “greater access to greater technol- The recently-announced shared grant “We donated part of the array, with a
ogy for the kids.” award for the 2022–2023 school year, Torrez grant from the state for part of the array and
The fab lab is under the direction of librar- said, came out of a “partnership with Big Foot the balance the school has agreed to pay,” he
ian and 21st Century coordinator Annelise to expand and allow some connection from noted. “It was a collaborative one third, one
Gutierrez. middle school into high school.” third, one third share. Living here in the com-
Torrez said an Elkhorn-based furniture “That will hopefully expand not only the munity, it’s a good opportunity to give a little
manufacturer assisted Fontana Joint 8 School opportunities for our kids, but also carry over something back.”
District with writing last year’s grant and later what they learned here into high school and Kivlin said the “small demonstration
assisted the school with the redesign of the beyond,” he noted. system” solar array will provide educators
library space for the fab lab facility. The firm Part of Fontana Elementary School’s with monitoring and performance data to
also assisted with the purchase and set-up of fab lab technology expansion, Torrez said, is explain how solar works and allow students to
fab lab design software and equipment includ- student exposure to green energy engineering see real-time performance.
ing 3D printers and laser cutters, as well as and future STEM employment opportunities “There’s some good opportunities for the
professional development for school staff through the school’s collaboration with a Lake kids to look at it and form questions of their
involved with the fab lab. Geneva-based commercial and industrial solar own that will lead to who knows what,” Kivlin
Among the cross-curricular connections developer, which installed a small rooftop said.
to arise out of the fab lab, Torrez noted, is solar array at the school in April. “Scientists and engineers of the future,”
use of the fab lab for art applications, includ- “The array of opportunities and employ- Torrez replied.
Taken in part from “Fab-ulous news: ing educational decorative wall designs for ment that come with solar is diverse,” Torrez “Or in the present,” Kivlin said.
Big Foot High School, Fontana Elementary the pre-school area and the creation of t-shirt said. “It’s not just green energy and solar, it’s
receive joint $32,399 WEDC grant to update, apparel for band, sports and other groups. engineering, it’s construction, it’s developing,
expand fab lab facilities” by Eric Johnson for Other technology offerings at Fontana it’s building, it’s typography. We’re just trying
the Lake Geneva Regional News Elementary School, Torrez said, includes the to layer-up and expose kids to multi-multi-fac- www.fontana.k12.wi.us
Fontana Elementary School principal school’s drone club and a curriculum expan- eted opportunities that come with it.”
Steve Torrez said a grant awarded last spring sion partnership with their local technical Solar developer president, John Kivlin,
funded a reconfiguration and redesign of the college in areas including drone flight, 3D said development of the small solar array at

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