The new lab will serve as a primary hub for engaging, scientific research
and cross-disciplinary learning for Somis Students
SOMIS — Somis Union School District recently held the grand opening of its new Innovation and Discovery Room at Somis School yesterday. As Somis School students continue to engage in coding and robotics, the Innovation and Discovery Room will provide them with the opportunity to access modern technology before, during and after school.
Currently, Somis students in kindergarten through 8th grade are engaged in a coding curriculum, with support from teachers and ongoing professional development led by Dr. Catherine Reznicek from the Ventura County Office of Education. However, the Innovation and Discovery Room will allow students to take the initiative a step further by developing their coding and problem-solving skills in a personalized manner.
“Engaging in problem-solving in order to make robots functional will promote computational thinking that will be used by students across the curriculum,” said Dr. Jesus Vaca, Superintendent and Principal.
The new Innovation and Discovery Room features a wind tunnel, laptop computers for coding robots, LEGO Mindstorms, Arduino starter kits, MBots, a 3D printer, HiTech construction building sets, LEGO Technic kits and LEGO BOOMTOWN BUILD kits.
To help make the new Innovation and Discovery Room possible, SoCalGas provided a $5,000 grant to the Somis Education Foundation. This grant is part of SoCalGas’ commitment to supporting local education and championing communities throughout its service area.
“We are proud to support the Somis Education Foundation and School District with their new Innovation and Discovery Room,” said Maria Ventura, senior public affairs manager at SoCalGas. “Youth are the driving force of the future. We hope this new science lab helps to build an important foundation for local students, that will help prepare them for future professional opportunities.”
About Somis Union School District — Somis School is a special place, serving students in Transitional kindergarten through the eighth grade. The Somis School District has been in continuous operation since 1895. The small, family-oriented environment is designed to meet the physical, emotional, cultural, and social needs of our children and our community. Somis School creates a seamless path through the elementary grades, allowing families to attend one school from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. The instructional program and curriculum address the unique ways in which each student learns.