Pinecrest Elementary School was buzzing with excitement at the recent Immokalee Schools’ Showcase. Everyone is familiar with the district’s big STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Conference held in Naples. This Immokalee Showcase looked to be a mini version of the STEAM Conference and highlighted the activities that take place in our Immokalee classrooms during the year.

So, what would you expect to see at such an event? Don’t expect your typical reading, writing, and arithmetic!

For starters, Village Oaks Elementary displayed its clay throwing and craft activities. Pinecrest Elementary wanted to show off its Bee Bots, bubble art, and MakerSpace projects. Highlands Elementary’s straw pan flutes and star lab were great features. And iTECH brought in its virtual Google glasses while talking programming and financial aid.

Eden Park Elementary demonstrated Osmo, which brings in music, coding, and math to inspire and engage its young learners. Lake Trafford Elementary decided to show off its art skills with face painting and a make-your-own necklace area. And no showcase would be complete without the famous VEX Robotics program from Immokalee High School!

The musical arts were also alive and well with Immokalee Middle students providing solo performances (shout out to Golden Apple teacher Philip Barton!) and Immokalee High School’s drumline and steel drums pumping up the crowd.

And while it all sounds like a lot of fun, each activity that was showcased brought in elements of learning…in a very memorable, hands-on kind of way!

“It’s a win-win…a unique opportunity to really provide and make those connections between community and school,” shared Abel Jaimes, Director of Title I for Collier County Public Schools.

Look for this event next year as it’s planned to be back, bigger and better than ever!