Woodlawn School’s STEAMfest is featured in February’s Lake Norman Currents Magazine in an article written by Grace Kennedy this week. She interviewed Paul Zanowski, Head of Woodlawn School, and Lee Blakely, a Woodlawn parent and one of the founders of STEAMfest, regarding Woodlawn’s annual celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.
Mr. Blakely described last year’s success and the drive behind this year’s event. The current COVID pandemic forced Woodlawn School and the STEAMfest leadership team to rethink this year’s event. Blakely is quoted as saying, “We felt this was an opportunity not only to carry on our original mission, but also to offer a resource that could help bring joy to our community.” STEAMfest provides students with opportunities to Imagine, Discover, and Explore STEAM-related, hands-on learning activities. In light of the pandemic, many schools around the world have had to suspend science labs and art projects. Through STEAMfest’s website we hope to provide STEAM activities that can be reproduced in the students own home.
Paul Zanowski, Woodlawn’s Head of School, is quoted as stating, “STEAMfest ’21’s innovative approach is a wonderful example of dedicated parents, teachers, and volunteers refusing to allow COVID to inhibit joyful learning.” Ms. Kennedy also quotes Mr. Zanowski as stating, “No matter what, we want children to experience the joy of learning; they need that now more than ever. No matter where they are, we want children to have happy, constructive, hands-on opportunities to learn by doing.”