Pine Ridge Elementary students present podcast, share $2,000 Construction Ready grant
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Summary
Students and staff from Pine Ridge Elementary described a STEAM-linked podcast project and announced a Construction Ready grant of about $2,000 that supplied tools and materials for a new construction-readiness program and male-mentoring component led by teacher Mr. Ashcraft.
Pine Ridge Elementary used the board’s opening to showcase student work and announce a small grant to support hands-on learning. Miss Sawyer introduced second-grade students and staff who described a podcast project produced as part of a STEAM unit; Kara Humphreys, the school’s media specialist, said the class recorded and published the episodes on Spotify.
Miss Sawyer told the board that earlier in the school year "Mister Tyler Dunn reached out to me and asked if we would be interested in applying for a grant for the Construction Ready program," and that the school had since received "over $2,000 worth of materials, so we've got everything from shop vacs, cordless drills, lumber, everything to start the program." The program will be led by third-grade teacher Mr. Ashcraft and include a male-mentoring component that pairs nominated third- and fourth-grade boys with male role models and staff.
Kara Humphreys described the students’ podcast work: the second graders wrote scripts, recorded episodes and are producing a short series tied to their STEAM unit on pollinators. The class plans to interview a staff member at Columbus Botanical Gardens as part of an upcoming episode. Board members praised the students' independence and creativity and said the project could serve as a model for other elementary classrooms.
The school noted the district’s STEAM recertification visit is scheduled for Feb. 5 and invited board members to attend. The presentation concluded with board appreciation for the student performers and the program leaders.