Newsletter of the UFS Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math Program
December 2012
UFS Is Tearing Down the Walls
This fall, teachers and students at the United Friends School (UFS) Middle School began tearing down walls — walls that segment learning into neat but confining subject areas. Teachers across all disciplines are challenging students to look at subjects and issues from a variety of perspectives. Students and teachers are using cloud-based technology to share and access resources, collaborate on projects, and delve more deeply into various topics.
This transformative approach, known as the UFS Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and
Math (STEAM) Program , continues our commitment to providing our students with a rigorous education with an integrated curriculum, while preparing them for college, careers and civic engagement in the 21 st
century. STEAM represents the addition of the arts to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. It is a melding of logic-driven and creative skills, helping children learn how to brainstorm, problem solve, collaborate, contribute and communicate new ideas. State-of-the-art technology supports our students’ ability to help solve important world problems and to serve our community.
Initially, the UFS STEAM Program is focusing on our Middle School students. It will unfold over a three-year period and will be fully operational by the conclusion of the 2014-2015 school year. During the current school year, our goals include:



Acquisition of technology
Professional development of Middle School and arts staff
Introductory exploration of a chosen issue by students
We are excited by the progress we have made thus far:

Technology.
This fall, UFS purchased and configured 30 MacBook Pro laptops and five
Mac mini desktop computers for use by the Middle School. We also were able to

 purchase and configure a Windows 2008 Small Business Server. Students and teachers are being trained on the Mac operating system and Microsoft Office Suite software.
Staff.
Brian Bohmueller joined our staff as our information technology manager. He also teaches elementary math and middle school algebra.
Collaboration. Collaborative learning is an important part of the STEAM Program.


Cloud-based collaboration.
The information technology manager set up Google
Apps for Education, a cloud-based collaboration tool, to enhance communication and creativity. Teachers and students can freely share resources and access their work on or off campus.

Library resources.
Thanks to the new Windows server, the UFS library now has a cloud-based Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), which can be accessed by students and teachers at school and remotely. This cloud-based system includes many advanced features that support 21 st
century learning and teaching.

STEAM Toolbox.
Caronne Taylor-Bloom, our librarian, media specialist and fifth grade math teacher, is also our STEAM-keeper, the archivist of the STEAM
Program. Caronne has created and will maintain the STEAM Toolbox, which includes among other things, best practices, lesson plans, operating procedures, program components and resources. It is available to UFS staff and upon request by others so the level of interest and inquiries can be tracked.
The projected cost for launching the UFS STEAM Program over a three-year period is more than
$320,000. Thanks to generous individual donors and foundations, UFS has raised $102,000 to date in support of the STEAM Program. Click here to learn how you, too, can support this exciting program.