Students lead service projects while teachers use STEM enrichment to boost engagement

A fifth‑grade student council president and teachers presented examples of student-driven service and hands‑on enrichment that staff say support academic engagement.

Chandler Harris, introduced as student council president at Enor Heights, told the council about student projects including a Thanksgiving food drive, a birthday celebration plan adapted for budget constraints and an effort to add shade on the playground after students reported heat and sunburns. "I feel like it's my responsibility to listen to those concerns and find a solution so that recess can be safe and enjoyable for everyone," Chandler said.

Staff then outlined enrichment work designed to reward and accelerate students who meet I‑Ready goals. Mr. Burton, the school’s health and PE teacher who leads the STEM enrichment, described tiered Tinkercad 3‑D design tasks, a NASA/Code.org collaboration that supplied 3‑D printers, and incentives such as printed toys or a golden‑ticket challenge tied to classroom achievement. "We start with a blank slate ... then we say, 'Break down the shapes, use your mind, think about what you're doing,'" Mr. Burton said, describing how students progress from simple models to creating printable tools and video games in block‑coding environments.

Teachers said enrichment is intentionally used as a positive reward to shift attention to students who excel academically and to provide hands‑on practice that reinforces math and reading skills. Student leaders also described a planned county‑wide recycling campaign and other service initiatives they hope will expand beyond the school.

Council members applauded student presentations and the enrichment work; presenters said the programs are ongoing and tied to measurable incentives but did not request district funding during this session.