Tharrington observes innovation, global days

B. H. Tharrington Primary School students recently had the change to explore innovative and creative learning opportunities during the school’s Spring Innovation Day 2019.

Students rotated to three different sessions: two of the so-called STEAM challenge stations to study science, technology, engineering, art, and math, and one service session.

Some STEAM challenges included building famous landmarks using KEVA planks (another acronym meaning Knowledge Exploration and Visual Arts) and inventing designs that could fly using specific supplies and resources.

Service sessions highlighted ways people can be kind to one another, including painting kindness rocks and using kind words when communicating.

Many community guests took part in the event. These guests included Karen Beasley from the Culinary Science department at Mount Airy Middle School, yoga instructors Linda Parks and Becky Kipreos, Surry Community College’s coordinator of student and community engagement Kasey Martin; and SCC Ambassadors John Billos and Amber Webster, and Jonathan Jones and the Mount Airy Middle School band.

Others included two Mount Airy Police Department officers, Sgt. George Daughenbaugh and Allison Tilley, along with Altec Inc.’s Gray Trotter, Brad Currin, and Todd Drake, and artists Aaron Gibbons and Candice Martin.

The school also recently observed the 2019 Global Leadership Day. Each classroom was assigned a different country to study throughout this school year.

During BHT’s Global Leadership Day, students showcased concepts they have learned about their assigned country including songs, traditions, and dances.

Maggie Lin stands in front of a display of cuckoo clocks that she and her fellow classmates made during their study of Germany during the school’s Global Leadership Day.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Maggie-and-Cuckoo-Clocks.jpgMaggie Lin stands in front of a display of cuckoo clocks that she and her fellow classmates made during their study of Germany during the school’s Global Leadership Day. Submitted photo

Nathaniel Hawks and Luke Wright prepare to speak about the foods commonly eaten in India.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Nathaniel-and-Luke.jpgNathaniel Hawks and Luke Wright prepare to speak about the foods commonly eaten in India. Submitted photo

Amanda Sechrist holds daughter Carlee’s watercolor painting of Mount Fuji, which she explained is the highest volcano in Japan.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Sechrist-Family.jpgAmanda Sechrist holds daughter Carlee’s watercolor painting of Mount Fuji, which she explained is the highest volcano in Japan. Submitted photo

AAva Smith, Mateo Hervert, and Beau Shinault are figuring out how to maneuver their robot through a Kindness Rocks maze in the Technology STEAM Challenge session.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Ava-Mateo-and-Beau.jpgAAva Smith, Mateo Hervert, and Beau Shinault are figuring out how to maneuver their robot through a Kindness Rocks maze in the Technology STEAM Challenge session. Submitted photo

Brittany Jeffries, Tharrington’s guidance counselor, talks with Audrey Orozco-Willis and Gerardo Cabrera Rodriguez about how they designed their Kindness Rocks.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Brittany-Jeffries-and-Kindness-Rocks.jpgBrittany Jeffries, Tharrington’s guidance counselor, talks with Audrey Orozco-Willis and Gerardo Cabrera Rodriguez about how they designed their Kindness Rocks. Submitted photo

Demi Johnson, Adelyn Wall, Trey Fussell, Eli Cox, and Lyric Reynolds greeted guests as they arrived in ‘Asia’ also known as the school’s first grade pod of classrooms.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Greeters-to-Asia.jpgDemi Johnson, Adelyn Wall, Trey Fussell, Eli Cox, and Lyric Reynolds greeted guests as they arrived in ‘Asia’ also known as the school’s first grade pod of classrooms. Submitted photo

In the session Coding Connection, Liam Tate and Tiffany Tong use an Osmo to experience how computer programming works.

https://www.mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Liam-and-Tiffany.jpgIn the session Coding Connection, Liam Tate and Tiffany Tong use an Osmo to experience how computer programming works. Submitted photo