STUDENTS EXPLORE PASSIONS DURING INTERMEDIATE CAMPUS ’ INNOVATION WEEK
Students at Alma Martinez
Intermediate School recently studied topics they wouldn ’ t normally explore thanks to Innovation Week at their campus . Scholars are preparing for lip synch battles , refining their card collections , practicing pet care and more .
Students in Ronald Middleton ’ s Distinguished Gentlemen class learned how to conduct themselves in public - from how to greet people to how to dress . The young men also learned about chivalry , and their homework included opening doors for others . On the final day of Innovation Week , students researched jobs and participated in mock interviews .
“ We ’ re learning about dedication , motivation , hygiene , and jobs we want to do ,” said sixth-grader Keitt Talafuse . “ It ’ s helping me to be better at baseball and just get better at life .”
In every class offered during Innovation Week , students must use their research , writing , reading , and math skills .
Aarika Saravanan and her classmates had the opportunity to experiment , create , and visit the University of
Texas at Arlington ’ s planetarium through the Super STEM class .
“ I want to be in STEM , and I thought it would be fun ,” Aarika said about deciding to take the class . The fifthgrader plans to be a robotics engineer when she grows up .
The classes must also offer an opportunity to give back to the community . For example , students in the Science Club class created activities for elementary students and spent the day with kindergarteners from Brenda Norwood Elementary . Also , students in the step class created dance videos and put together care
packages for a former student who is now battling cancer .
“ This helps to create the good humans we need to have in the world , leaving it a better place than they found it ,” said Principal Lea Boiles .
Innovation Week is held just a couple of weeks before the end of school . The timing is intentional ; it helps students continue to learn through the end of the school year when they may otherwise be thinking about summer break .
“ It ’ s the perfect way to end the school year ,” said Boiles .
LEFT : Dallon Read , left , and Fela Shoyeme build a rubber band car .
TOP LEFT : Aarika Saravanan , left , smiles as Sarah Bevins works on a rubber band car .
TOP RIGHT : Lily Johnson looks up the value of a Pokemon card .
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