West Hartford’s Hebrew High School of New England and Solomon Schechter Day School, and Bloomfield-based Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford have launched a new initiative.

Submitted

In this burgeoning era of technology, schools continually strive to enhance educational opportunities to better prepare students for life after graduation.

To meet this need, Hebrew High School of New England (HHNE), Solomon Schechter Day School (Solomon Schechter), and the Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford (Hebrew Academy) have launched an innovative joint science, technology, and Judaic initiative. This initiative builds on the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) curricula in all three schools.

Throughout the fall, seventh and eighth grade students from Solomon Schechter and Hebrew Academy visited HHNE to participate in programs designed to explore how we use and encounter science in daily life. During the first program, students worked with their HHNE mentors to define the standard of energy in food – the Calorie – and learn how the contents of our food can vary the amount of energy provided.

“Our goal is to foster the skills and knowledge that modern-day scientists, engineers, and academics utilize to tackle issues seen day-to-day. We look forward to developing the students into citizen-scientists,” said Zachary Towne, director of HHNE’s STEAM Initiative.

As the STEAM program progresses, students will use their growing body of knowledge and skills to explore and interact with challenging problems seen in the real world.

Rabbi Jeremy Bruce, head of school at HHNE said, “I am delighted with this innovative collaboration between all three Jewish schools in Greater Hartford. This STEAM project will encourage our students to develop into the outstanding leaders of tomorrow. Great thanks must go to the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford for their generous support.”