Marine City Middle School STEM demo and county mental-health arts awards highlighted at East China board meeting

Marine City Middle School showcased hands-on STEM learning at the East China School District Board meeting on April 27 when Principal Nicole Kirby introduced STEM teacher Elisabeth Westrick and students who demonstrated a new piece of equipment called the "Chompsaw," which board materials noted was granted by the ECEF.

Principal Nicole Kirby led the spotlight portion of the meeting and invited board members to observe and try the equipment. The presentation focused on student projects completed with the Chompsaw and the benefits of hands-on STEM programming for middle-school learners.

During the same portion of the agenda, Heidi Forgarty, Child & Family Services Director at St. Clair County Community Mental Health, and Aubree Mayhew, Community Relations Specialist at SCCCMH, presented awards from the SCCCMH Creative Arts Contest to students across district schools. Winners announced included Claire Edgette (Palms Elementary, first-grade bookmark), Jolene Roberts (Palms Elementary, second-grade bookmark), Graham Vogel (St. Clair River Elementary, fifth-grade bookmark), Jaxon Dunn (Marine City Middle School, second place, middle school poetry), Amelia Hirst (St. Clair Middle School, honorable mention, middle school poetry), Peytan Bingham (St. Clair High School, first place, high school art), and Payten Danneels (St. Clair High School, people’s choice, high school art). Additional winners named were Nicole Drouillard and Rilei Vannater from Marine City High School.

Board members and administrators acknowledged the student presentations and awards during the meeting; the board did not take any formal action on these items. The academic spotlight and awards were presented for Board recognition and community engagement.