By: Kylie Coffin, Co Editor-in-Chief
Posted February 25th, 2016
On March 14th a few Slinger students will have the opportunity to work with Educational Television Productions of Northeast Wisconsin executive director, Dean Leisgang, to create a video highlighting Slinger’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) programs as well as ways students connect with the community. The video will be a part of the Public School Experience project which ETP-NEW was recently awarded the Spectrum award for. This award goes to projects that show the best communications work in displaying Wisconsin schools and also emphasize the significance of having community support behind their schools. The Public School Experience project puts together brief videos that do profiles on students and allows them to speak about their experiences in an area where they have been successful within their schools. It is an honor for Slinger to be chosen to be a part of this. Mr. Leisgang specifically has won more than 45 awards for his work in broadcasting, and in 2015 he produced over 50 videoes for schools. His work displays the value of community, culture, and history.
Students with experience in STEM, STEAM, and projects involving communication within the community have been chosen to work on this project. Some will be recorded speaking about their experiences for the video, while others will play a role in creating and organizing the storylines. Both roles offer Slinger students a valuable communications experience and a way to showcase the skills and knowledge they have gained throughout high school.
It is hopeful that the stories in this project will be shown at future 8th grade open houses, school tours, district inservices, and the introduction to Slinger’s Manufacturing, Innovation/Engineering, and Design Night this May. What is so special about this experience is that it is made by students, faculty, and community members to show how they come together as one unit to benefit each other. The public will be able to view a snapshot of the successes of these connections.
Mr. Grimm, American Studies II, Sociology, and Modern American Literature teacher, is the faculty leader of the Public School Experience video at Slinger. He has been keeping in touch with Mr. Leisgang and working with students to put together their stories for March 14. When asked why he is passionate about the Public School Experience video being made at Slinger, he responded, “I'm proud of our students and want to showcase their work for a larger audience. I think students can communicate what is going on in school quite well to help the community and future students understand the opportunities available in the Slinger School District.” Mr. Grimm also feels that this project will help not only people currently involved in Slinger Schools, but also older community members who have not been a part of a school experience for a long time. He said, “Some community members have a picture of school being exactly like it was 20 or 30 years ago when they were in school. There really have been components that have changed that we could showcase for them.” Ultimately, what is special about this experience is that current, future, and former students can see the opportunities Slinger students are provided with on a daily basis. These are opportunities that allow them to engage their skills in real-life experiences and apply their knowledge in fresh ways.
Slinger’s interdisciplinary research theme for the 2015-2016 school year is Local Manufacturing, Innovation/Engineering, and Design. At the start of the year, faculty members were encouraged to make the work done in the classroom as innovative as possible. Mr. Grimm commented on the ETP project’s role in this, saying, “The three stories will showcase some of the student project skills that make their education more than just a standardized test.” Students involved in this project will be able to demonstrate to the world how the skills they gain in innovative ways have impacted their lives.
Be watching for the Educational Television Productions’ showcase of Slinger for their Public School Experience video in the spring!
