Thanks to a generous donation from the Farhat Family Foundation and other donors, Immanuel will be renovating the current computer lab and science lab into one new STEM lab. The project will begin this summer and be finished in time for the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.
Principal Josh Bachman, "The project aligns with our school's purpose. We aim to form children in Christ who love learning and whose learning leads to love for God and their neighbor. We want to help students grow in their knowledge and understanding of the world God has created and to help them see how they can use that knowledge for the good of others."
Opportunities for loving service abound. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov), occupations in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) will grow at a pace more than double all other occupations during this decade.
"Immanuel's academic instruction in these areas has always been strong. A few examples: ILS students regularly place first in the Valparaiso University middle school math contest; access to robotics equipment (Lego, Vex, etc.) and programming have been available for decades; and over the last three years, 45% of ILS graduates have earned high school biology credit before finishing eighth grade," explains Principal Josh Bachman.
In order to ensure these levels of achievement are maintained and even grow, Immanuel is renovating the current science lab and computer lab spaces into one all-encompassing STEM lab. Demolition and construction are expected to take place during the ten-week summer recess from school. With financial support from the Farhat Family Foundation and other generous donors, Immanuel's cutting-edge and contemporary STEM lab will be adaptable to host robotics, coding, individual, group, and whole classwork.
"Ultimately, this new space will prepare ILS students to meet the robust demands of the digital world for decades to come," Principal Josh Bachman said.
For more information about Immanuel School, please contact Heidi Fields, Admissions, at hfields@immanuelvalpo.org or 219-462-8207.