On Wednesday, November 9, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students from USD 446's afterschool program, Kids Crew, traveled to ICC Fab Lab for a rich hands-on learning experience. "As a part of our 21st Century Grant, Kids Crew has formed a partnership with the Independence Community College Fab Lab, a creative space providing community and student access to advanced manufacturing and digital fabrication tools for learning academic and vocational skills," explains Kellie Puderbaugh, District Director of Learning Services. Because of this partnership, students will be able to create, make, and take home projects of their own using cutting-edge technology.
Kids Crew, under the direction of Erica Lemongello, is an afterschool program that provides critical academic support, significant expanded learning opportunities, and youth development activities for students in Independence Public Schools. Kids Crew began in 1999 with a grant through the US Department of Education. It has operated continuously for the past 23 years and continues to be the only supplemental academic resource available to students attending Eisenhower and Jefferson Elementary Schools and IMS sixth graders.