What's Up, Doc? Harvest Hill Academy Picks Up STEAM

By Randall Freeman, PhD

This August, the Menifee Union School District celebrates 2016 by opening its very first magnet school. Harvest Hill STEAM Academy will be our very own STEAM magnet school. It is located on Pat Street near Winchester Road in the French Valley area of our district.

But what is STEAM, anyway?

STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics. The idea of emphasizing these subjects in delivering the curriculum has been driven by the business community, with the goal of preparing an agile and competitive workforce. It is important to note that STEAM is not a program, but a philosophy.

STEAM skills are vital for success in the 21st century and critical to our collective future. The 4 C’s - Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Communication – are emphasized through project-based learning, usually through interdisciplinary (across subjects) activities.

Harvest Hill STEAM Academy has also developed four innovative C’s of education: Computers, Curriculum, Community and Culture. Computers include state-of-the-art classroom technology; software for enhancing creativity; 1-to-1 devices for all students grades 2-5; IPads in all K-1 classrooms; paperless in-class assignments. Curriculum provides Common Core-aligned lessons delivered in a 21st century manner.

In the HHSA culture, all students are innovators and the school is a family of support and learning. Community involvement is essential to success at HHSA. Social media will provide communication of school-to-home/community news.

Harvest Hill STEAM Academy teachers are dedicated to building a strong educational foundation and love of learning in the traditional academic subjects through innovative, interdisciplinary teaching techniques. HHSA teachers are risk-takers with a passion for science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

The staff of Harvest Hill STEAM Academy have chosen INNOVATORS as the mascot name. School colors and the actual mascot will be provided by the exceptional HHSA team at a later date.

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his lovely wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the proud parents of four beautiful daughters: Daniela, Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Other family members include dogs Scruffy and Max, and turtle Tuttles. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. When not assisting Karen in driving the girls to all of their sporting events, Randy volunteers at the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley.