Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School Students Support STEM Learning in Marlborough Public Schools

For immediate release

MARLBOROUGH – Superintendent Ernest Houle is pleased to share that members of Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School’s honor societies are actively supporting STEM learning in Marlborough’s Public Schools.

Juniors and seniors from each high school’s honor societies teach the same predetermined STEM lesson each month, imparting the value of science through fun experiments.

Assabet Valley is paired with the Raymond C. Richer Elementary School as a member of the Marlborough STEM Council, which includes Marlborough Public Schools, Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School, life science and biotech companies, Marlborough Economic Development Corporation, MassHire Career Centers, and Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Assabet Valley students and paraprofessionals recently visited Richer fourth-grade students, assisting them with creating catapults using popsicle sticks. The goal of the exercise is to impart an understanding of the transfer of energy, torque, and leverage, meeting a standard in the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks.

Richer students used math to determine the cost of supplies they needed, engineering to build the catapult, and the scientific method to test their catapult’s effectiveness.

“This is the second time this year that our Assabet students have worked with the Richer Elementary School fourth-graders. Earlier this year we ran a Slime Lab that was a lot of fun,” said Rob McCann III, Director of Academics & Title I Services. “I am proud of our students who embrace the entire process of this program. They prep and practice in advance and collaborate as a team to make this awesome learning experience happens for both the fourth-graders and themselves.” 

Assabet students Thomas Brennan, Vinicius Conceicao, Rachel Connor, Erin Dwinells, Claire Helwig, Samuel LoConte, Ava Matkins, Kathleen McManus, Gabriela Pereira, Alexa Stuka participated in the classroom activity. They were supported by Paraprofessionals Almerinda Andrade, Barbara Mulligan, Glori Negron, and Sean Walsh.

“Congratulations to our students and Paraprofessionals for being great ambassadors for Assabet Valley,” Superintendent Houle said. “By sharing the knowledge and expertise they have learned here, they will be growing in confidence and helping younger students find a passion in STEM-related fields.”