IDOE Grants Open 'Gateway' for Middle School Academics

Avon Schools recently received grants totaling more than $30,000 in partnership with the Indiana Department of Education. These funds will be used to provide training for Project Lead the Way Gateway courses, allowing students to get richer, deeper Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math experiences during their time at Avon Middle School North and South.

These courses are already available to students in grades 7 and 8:

Design and Modeling

Design and Modeling provides students opportunities to apply the design process to creatively solve problems. >> Learn More

Automation and Robotics

Automation and Robotics (AR) allows students to trace the history, development, and influence of automation and robotics as they learn about mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems. >> Learn More

Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, students will now get the chance to experience these new courses:

App Creators (grade 8)

App Creators introduces students to the field of computer science and the concepts of computational thinking, through the creation of mobile apps. Students are challenged to be creative and innovative, as they collaboratively design and develop mobile solutions to engaging, authentic problems. >> Learn More

Computer Science for Innovators and Makers (grade 7)

Computer Science for Innovators and Makers teaches students that programming goes beyond the virtual world into the physical world. Students are challenged to creatively use sensors and actuators to develop systems that interact with their environment. >> Learn More

Flight and Space (grade 7)

The exciting world of aerospace comes alive through the Flight and Space unit. Students become engineers as they design, prototype, and test models to learn about the science of flight and what it takes to travel and live in space. They solve real-world aviation and space challenges and plan a mission to Mars. >> Learn More

Medical Detectives (grade 8)

In the Medical Detectives unit, students play the role of real-life medical detectives as they collect and analyze medical data to diagnose disease. They solve medical mysteries through hands-on projects and labs, measure and interpret vital signs, dissect a sheep brain, and much more. >> Learn More

Avon Schools remains committed to providing enriching STEM experiences for all students in our elementary, intermediate, middle, and high schools. 

About Project Lead The Way - Project Lead The Way provides transformative learning experiences for PreK-12 students and teachers across the U.S. They create an engaging, hands-on classroom environment and empower students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills they need to thrive. Professional development for teachers provides training, resources, and support to engage students in real-world learning. Their pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science engage students in hands-on activities, projects, and problems; empower them to solve real-world challenges; and inspire them to reimagine how they see themselves.