Paramount School of Excellence STEAM Program

Paramount School of Excellence incorporates its edible schoolyard into the K-8 curriculum. Every class has a garden plot to maintain. As a school, this process helps children discovery a vast array of curricular connections through gardening.

As students grow in our program, they can become eligible to be a STEAM Team member. The STEAM program at PSOE is open via application to middle school students. Each year 10-12 STEAM participants will be selected to receive training and become paid members of the summer STEAM Team. As a member of the STEAM Team, students work M-F from 8AM to 12PM in the school garden and designated project areas.

The STEAM Team works collaboratively with school and community partners as they nurture and care for the school’s garden, maintain local community gardens, and run summer farmer’s markets. With guidance from their mentors, the STEAM Team members learn from each other as they develop coping skills, social skills, leadership skills, and a deeper respect for environmental sciences.

6th and 7th grade summer graduates of the STEAM Team return to PSOE and maintain their STEAM Team status in a “train the trainer” model for new middle school students. During the academic year, the STEAM Team coordinates activities around their efforts in the garden, green team events, environmental science, service learning, and school lunch.