The Lawrence Township Public School District has been awarded $32,500 to support STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) education by the Lawrence Township Education Foundation.
LTEF Executive Director Bonne Giglio presented a check for $32,500 to the school board at its Aug. 12 meeting.
The funding was made possible by a grant to the foundation from Bristol Myers-Squibb Co., Giglio said. BMS has its corporate headquarters in Lawrence Township.
“The LTEF is proud and excited to be able to provide this grant funding from a wonderful community partner that we have a long-standing relationship with,” she said.
Giglio said BMS is a valued part of Lawrence Township and the foundation is thrilled that the pharmaceutical company has chosen to invest in the project.
The grant is divided into two parts, Giglio said.
One part for $20,000 will help to cover the costs for the hands-on kits that are associated with the new science curriculum recommended by the New Jersey Department of Education.
The science curriculum program, called Open Sci Ed, is strongly aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Science, she said.
“The curriculum documents for this program are freely available, but the kits that provide hands-on learning experiences in each unit – four units per grade – are costly,” Giglio said.
The second part of the grant for $12,500 will help pay for a social media, tech and health STEM symposium.
The Saturday morning symposium is a districtwide event that aims to strengthen mental health literacy, digital safety, STEM awareness and family engagement for all families in the district, Giglio said.
The symposium, which has a special focus on disadvantaged and vulnerable youth, will feature keynote speakers, hands-on STEM learning and student-led instruction.
It will also highlight community partnerships that include the Lawrence Township Police Department, local health organizations, nonprofit groups, teachers, administrators and counselors, Giglio said.
STEM education is crucial in schools because it equips students with the skills needed for the future workforce, Giglio said. It fosters innovation and problem-solving abilities.
Historically, STEM has been underfunded nationwide, she said. Underfunding of STEM programs leads to limited access and opportunities for many students.
“Addressing this disparity is essential to ensure that all learners can thrive in our increasingly technology-driven world. Thanks to BMS, the LTEF is able to do just that with this grant and greatly enhance STEAM education at all grade levels in the Lawrence Township Public Schools,” Giglio said.
Since its inception in 1992, the LTEF has funded more than 1,100 program on the basis of requests from the school district’s teachers and administrators.
Funds for the grants, which have totaled more than $4 million over the past 34 years, come from individuals, local businesses, corporations and foundations.
