The District's mission is to educate students in a safe learning environment so that they may develop to their highest potential and become contributing citizens.

SVVSD students shine in middle school MESA Day Design Challenge

April 17, 2012, Department of Communications

Three St. Vrain middle schools participated in the 2012 MESA Day Design Challenge on April 13, 2012 at the University of Colorado, Denver. The Design Challenge is a hands on engineering competition in which middle school students compete in a series of mathematics, engineering and science related projects.

The district sent five teams from three middle schools: Westview, Trail Ridge and Coal Ridge. A Westview Middle School team, which built a “prosthetic arm”, won first place in the state with a perfect score.

Awards for SVVSD participating schools:

• Westview – Jayme Margo-Sneider & Paulette Holland, MESA advisors
  • 1st Place – Prosthetic Arm, 6th grade students: Jessica Brause, Holly Nicholas, Genevieve Frye This all girl team created a prosthetic arm to lift a set weight of sand and pour it into a cup in just eight seconds. Students were judged on design, materials, and if certain tasks could be completed in a designated amount of time. The girls started by doing research, split up tasks, collaborated, worked on design development and then built the design (while finding they had to go back and try different designs).
  • 3rd Place – Solar Sill, 8th grade students: Roxy Brown, Emma Scarano, McKenzie Peila, Charlotte New
  • 3rd Place – Impromptu Rocket Launch, 8th grade students: Roxy Brown, Emma Scarano, McKenzie Peila, Charlotte New
• Trail Ridge – Elizabeth Sims & Robert Simpson, MESA advisors
  • 3rd Place – Wind Turbine Challenge, 8th grade students: Alexandra Hellenberg, Aabriti Shrestha, Kelli Jones, Dylan Koutsos
• Coal Ridge – Cheri Giammo & Layla Bowes, MESA advisors
  • 3rd Place – Spirit Video, 8th grade students: Emily Kalvels, Emily Parker

Students who participate in MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) programs have opportunities to learn essential 21st century skills by thinking creatively and critically, working collaboratively, and using systematic reasoning, while practicing self-direction and invention. MESA programs strive to build community and outreach partnerships so that students may connect with possible career paths.

St. Vrain Valley School District has MESA programs at fifteen elementary schools, ten middle schools and four high schools, including Centennial Elementary, which serves as a MESA focus school. Almost 2000 students participate in district MESA activities, and seventy outstanding teachers serve as MESA advisors.

For additional information, contact Elizabeth Towlen, St. Vrain K-12 Science & MESA Coordinator at 303-682-7388.