We are delighted to award a grant of $102,376.21 from AJ Educate-Innovate USA Campaign to Deer Park Elementary School for Bucky’s Rest Stop and Bucky’s Learning Lab (STEAM Lab).

AJ grant to Deer Park ES

The grant check was handed to Deer Park ES principal and school officials in a small ceremony today attended by Sekhar Puli (AJ Founder) with core AJ team – Raja Puli, Roshni Puli, Vinny Thota, Shivani Puli, Spurthi Thota, and Sreedhar Tirumalasetty.

Deer Park Demographics:

Deer Parks’ diverse population includes: 32% free and reduced lunch status; 21% English Language
Learners with a 16% mobility rate. Deer Park educates students who experience homelessness
as well as a large population of students who experienced a significant amount of trauma in
their young lives. In addition, approximately 150 students out of 600 are identified as students with
Special Education needs. Special classes designed are all unique and differentiated to meet the needs of all learners including students on the autism, spectrum, nonverbal, twice exceptional, and a variety of multiple disabilities. These students require various techniques, specialized instruction, stimulation through real life encounters to students through field trips and assemblies etc.

Purpose served by STEAM Lab:

  • support students from all backgrounds recognizing that some students do not get the same opportunities as others.
  • Ensure every student has equitable access and opportunity here at Deer Park Elementary School.
  • Empower students through Science and Technology in a fun and engaging way.

STEAM Lab will create an innovative space with mobility in mind, to problem solve with a focus on the process of learning rather than the outcome.

  • Tutor Cafe: Deer Park engages members of school community to provide reteaching, remediation, and enrichment in small groups . In addition students from the Middle and High School (Stone MS and Westfield HS) volunteer at the end of the day with our students as well. Tutor Cafe will be a lounge-like atmosphere where students feel comfortable seeking extra help while utilizing social emotional learning features
  • Science is Alive: Main Lobby Area : Exhibit multiple life science themes in the main lobby is an area which every student, staff member and parent travels through multiple times a day to encourage students to think above and beyond, be inquisitive, and ask questions. Students will be able to connect these life science themes that are displayed to their curriculum and standards they are learning in the classroom.
  • Local Fishery Preservation: Many local areas/streams are experiencing deficiency in their fish population. Programs like TIC (trout in the classroom) help rehabilitate local areas with Trout and other fish. 2 tanks will be purchased for students to view the fish and participate in the entire process (from egg to release) with learning along the way.
  • The Bucky Habitat: In the habitat for live animals, students will be able to observe and learn about (reptiles or other small mammals). Classes will take turns being in charge of the habitats for periods of time. During those times students will take a deeper dive into the animal they are taking care of and create presentations of learning through our county Portrait of a Graduate Skills; Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical and Global Citizen, Creative and Critical Thinker, and Goal-Directed and Resilient Individual.

These spaces are meant to inspire the future inventors, engineers, and makers at Deer Park and hopefully to reach beyond the community to serve the entire Western Fairfax family. Also where students can come to re-energize and refocus so they can access learning throughout the day. With the installment of state of the art sensory items all students will have the opportunity to visit this space.

This investment will significantly contribute to creating a conducive learning environment and fostering innovation and creativity among the students, particularly for the high volume of special needs kids at Deer Park.

This contribution towards an innovation lab is one of many technology/STEAM based labs that AJ has made since 2018 i.e .Chantilly High School Innovation Lab ($106,000), Rocky Run Middle School ($60,000), Waxpool Elementary School’s Sensory Room ($45,000), etc.

But that’s not all—our commitment extends beyond Deer Park; AshaJyothi will continue to sponsor an Innovation lab for one (1) High School each year. In addition, Maker Spaces in three (3) Elementary Schools and a Technology refresh in one(1) Middle school that feed into the selected High School. This is to foster an ecosystem of early adopters and innovators.

AJ grant to Deer Park ES

Thanks to @Raja Puli for his immense and continuous efforts to help coordinate this effort with the school principals and officials.
Such a thoughtful and wonderful contribution by AJ. 👏🏼👏🏼

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