Empire Elementary in Carson City recently hosted a STEM Fiesta Family Night, drawing families and community members for an evening of hands-on science, technology, engineering and math activities designed to promote real-world learning and family engagement.
A highlight of the evening was a presentation from Doug Ming, a NASA planetary scientist who has worked on several Mars missions, including the Curiosity rover. Ming shared stories from his work studying Mars and exploring the solar system, helping students and families make meaningful connections between classroom learning and insight into careers in STEM fields and NASA’s exploration efforts.
The event also featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Empire Elementary’s new Living Wall project. The project originated from a student STEM Tank winning idea last year and became a reality through funding support from the Carson City Schools Foundation. The Living Wall promotes sustainability and environmental awareness while demonstrating how student innovation can create lasting improvements within the school community.
Throughout the evening, students and families participated in interactive STEM activities held throughout the campus. The space-themed event included engineering and science stations, immersive learning experiences, student projects and the school’s Glow Show art displays. Students also launched bottle rockets they designed at home as part of the STEM Fiesta Home Connection Project.
The evening highlighted the work of Empire Elementary’s English as a Second Language students through the Día de Mercado project. Students created and presented market-themed projects focused on culture, communication, creativity and entrepreneurship while practicing real-world language and problem-solving skills.
School officials also recognized the many community partners, volunteers and organizations that helped make the event possible. Their support provided students and families with opportunities to explore STEM education through engaging, hands-on experiences while strengthening connections between the school and community.
The success of STEM Fiesta reflects Empire Elementary’s commitment to providing students with meaningful learning experiences that encourage curiosity, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving while inspiring future innovators and leaders.
For the past three years, Empire Elementary School has been recognized as an “Established STEM School,” by Governor Joe Lombardo and the Governor’s Office of Science Innovation and Technology (OSIT). OSIT conducts site-wide evaluations using the Nevada STEM Framework rubric, visiting classrooms, observing lessons and talking with students.
Designation as a Governor’s STEM School denotes that the school meets the highest standards of STEM instruction and is a model for schools around the state. For parents and the community, the designation also communicates the level of high-quality STEM education that can be expected at the school.
