Ferndale Magazine - Fall 2023

Elementary

Robotics

Innovative Vehicle Design Course E-Sports E-Sports Feature Feature

HIGHLIGHT:

K-12 Computer Science Curriculum

5th grade students exploring autonomous vehicles & augmented reality in the STEMi Mobile Innovation Station.

CONTENTS Forward Thinking Ferndale educators develop a computer science roadmap.

PAGES 3-4

Building Innovators

Levelling Up Extracurriculars

LEGO League and Tech Challenge bring robotics, teamwork & fun to 3rd-8th grades.

E-Sports open up school spirit to a new segment of students with inclusive, accessible, & scholarship-primed program.

PAGES 5-6

PAGE 8

Rolling Ahead

Computer Science Pathway - Graphic

UHS students accelerate STEM education with Innovative Vehicle Design course.

See the opportunities available to FPS students for Computer Science education.

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BACK COVER

CREDITS All Stories and Layout: Jason Naumann Senior Editor: Robert Tolbert Photos: Jeremiah Sanders, Vaughn Davis, Maisson Fennig, Michelle Miller Interim Superintendent, Ferndale Schools: Camille Hibbler Interim Deputy Superintendent: Felicia Wright Board of Education: President Sandra N. Dukhie, Vice President Jennifer LaTosch, Secretary Jackie Hart, Treasurer Jonathan Turner, Trustees Peter Ceglarek, Sarah Elturk & Mary Fulmer

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Photo by Jeremiah Sanders

Ferndale Family,

At the FHS National Honor Society induction ceremony, Interim Superintendent Camille Hibbler welcomed students and congratulated them their commitment to achievement.

In directing the activities of the young, society determines its own future.- John Dewey

LEGO Robotics teach students programming principles to prepare them for greater career possibilities.

Our responsibility in Ferndale Schools includes preparing our students for challenges that we have not yet imagined. As the pace of technology increases, we rely on the fundamentals of critical thinking and Computer Science building blocks to set them up for success. Whatever future awaits them will likely include a combination of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and augmented or virtual realities; and the future of work could look dramatically different from what our modern education system was designed to prepare them for.

In this issue, we will introduce you to the Computer Science pathway project. FPS staff from all different perspectives are connecting the many touchpoints of Computer Science across our curriculum to identify potential gaps and opportunities for expansion.

Several new opportunities have been developed in recent years, and we are excited to highlight some of them for you. Classroom electives like Game Design and Innovative Vehicle Design are complemented by extracurricular robotics and gaming competitions. In these pages, we highlight what makes these programs successful and unique. Spoiler alert: It’s the people.

Supportive parents, welcoming competitors, and engaged community members are the secret sauce that brings everything together.

This is a great time to be an Eagle. With strong academics supported by Social Emotional Learning and opportunities in arts, music, athletics and technology, your Ferndale Eagles are set to soar!

In Education,

Camille Hibbler

Interim Superintendent Ferndale Schools 2

CAREER PATHWAYS

Forward Thinking FERNDALE EDUCATORS ASSEMBLE A COMPUTER SCIENCE ROADMAP Computer Science (CS) skills are everywhere in Ferndale Schools. Some of these learning opportunities are obvious—courses like Game Design, Innovative Vehicle Design, and FIRST Robotics. Other CS skill building may be less apparent. Designing computational systems and developing software relies on many fundamental skills children learn at an early age, like following instructions and filtering useful information from noise. A group of Ferndale Schools team members are taking a closer look at this branch of skill development in our curriculum and formalizing our approach to preparing students for a 21st Century future and beyond.

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CAREER PATHWAYS Kelsey Perkins is the Technology Integration Specialist for Ferndale Schools. “Our K-12 classrooms are teaching essential Computer Science skills everyday without even using a computer,” Kelsey says. “Following steps to complete a task is practicing rudimentary algorithms. Removing steps or data they do not need is a refinement process continually appearing in computer programming procedures. So, we have little pieces of the puzzle from K-12.” Now this special committee of administrators, teachers, principals and counselors are putting them all together. Through this process, they are figuring out where they connect and what gaps need to be filled. “We are asking, ‘How can we support all students?’ We know this is such an important and growing field, and we want to make sure our students are prepared for the future.”

The committee has developed the following vision statement: We will teach Computer Science because it empowers ALL students to develop critical thinking skills and thrive as individual members of their community. On the back of this magazine, you can see the existing Computer Science pathway available to Ferndale Schools students.

COLLECTIVE RESOURCES Many of these programs are supplemented by opportunities provided by Oakland Schools (OS) and take full advantage of OS support staff like Phil Kimmell. “Student’s don’t know the pathways. In 4th and 5th grade, they want to be doctors, firefighters, astronauts. We are finding out ways to show them different career paths.”

Each Spring, Oakland Schools delivers the STEMi to Ferndale High School. This 53' long semi-truck is loaded with virtual reality headsets, drones, robotic arms, and other exciting technology. At Ferndale Schools, The STEMi experience is an opportunity for 5th, 7th, and 9th graders to discover applied Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Teachers can also check out STEM learning kits from the OS STEMco lending library to practice coding principles, mechanical engineering, and circuitry through play.

STEAM OR STEM Kelsey also shared a perspective on the difference between STEM and STEAM. STEAM integrates Arts into the STEM acronym. She says, “Art is really integrated into every curriculum already. Students are drawing a diagram of a plant in 2nd grade.” We are a visual being, and art is the first language many of us learn to recognize. Developing human-computer interfaces draws on intuition and human experience to create a User Experience (UX) that is less moderated by machines. Whether we use the acronym STEM or STEAM, we are talking about the same set of skills. In order to prepare students for fulfilling careers that are developing in real-time in response to technological advancements, Ferndale Schools continues to integrate fundamentals with future readiness through tech integration and new curriculum.

DISCOVERING PASSIONS Several teachers are also working hard to bring additional opportunities to students. Vaughn Davis, 5th grade teacher at Ferndale Upper Elementary (FUEL), wrote in and earned a spot for his students to experience the STEAM Slam Tour this November. In his application, Mr. Davis wrote, “As STEAM is becoming more visible and important to our students and families, it is critical that we instill a lifelong love in any area that will allow our students to thrive as working and functioning adult citizens.” Mr. Davis has been a teacher at FUEL for eight years. “My goal each year is to find the hidden talents our students may possess. I have seen many artists, engineers, singers, and musicians come before me. When I see it, I make it my goal to bring it out in them however possible. STEAM is important to the future success of our students because…

If people are not doing what they truly love, will they be able to lead a happy and productive life?”

Ferndale Schools is also taking full advantage of Professional Development resources from OS to expand student access. At these Professional Development sessions, teachers learn what STEM learning tools are available, how they work, what processes are being taught, and best practices for integration with curriculum.

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The STEMco Lending Library–operated by Oakland Schools– offers free teaching tools for classroom use including robots, electronic building blocks, advanced manufacturing tools, augmented reality tools and other interactive media.

The STEMi Mobile Innovation station introduces advance manufacturing, construction, healthcare, transportation & Information Technology to 5th, 7th, & 9th graders every spring with hands-on learning experiences.

Browse the STEMco Lending Library »

VISIT » FerndaleSchools.org/STEM 4

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CAREER PATHWAYS

Building Innovators Practicing the fundamentals of engineering and robotics might not sound very interesting to an eight year old.

They would probably prefer to be playing with LEGOs or hanging out with friends. However, thanks to the innovative minds of FIRST Robotics, over 72 Ferndale Upper Elementary students can do all three as part of FIRST LEGO League (FLL).

Ferndale Upper Elementary has hosted a LEGO robotics program for its students since 2016 as part of FIRST Robotics hands-on STEM learning program. This year, nine parent-led teams are gearing up for competition in engineering and robotics challenges using LEGOs. In the Explore League, 24 3rd grade students are focusing on a collaborative research project. Spread across three teams, students work together to research a real world problem and design a solution, while building and practicing motorization and coding skills together.

LEGO LEAGUE AND TECH CHALLENGE BRING ROBOTICS, TEAMWORK & FUN TO 3RD-8TH GRADES Our 4th-5th grade students enter the Challenge league, which mirrors more advanced FIRST programs featured in our high school and middle school. On our five teams, 47 total students practice coding and construction as well as FIRST Core Values including teamwork and inclusion to complete a robotics game.

Teams also develop solutions to their own real-world problem with an Innovation Project.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED Maisson Fennig teaches 4th grade at FUEL and coordinates the LEGO League. “It’s so cool. The kids get so excited about it!”

Gathering over 18 parents to support this program is no easy feat, and Maisson depends on parent leadership from people like Nick Kokotovich. Nick works in Advanced Electric Vehicle Development for GM, so he sees the real-world value in teaching these skills to our students. He has been an ambassador for the program since 2019, and he currently has three children (3rd, 6th, 8th grades) all participating in FIRST Robotics programs in Ferndale Schools. “I feel like I would be letting the kids down if I didn't help, but sometimes I find a bit of fun in it, too,” Nick told us.

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FIRST LEGO Challenge League teams use their creations to complete tasks within a lego-scale arena, earning points for toward victory.

Ferndale High School will be hosting its first Division Competition for LEGO League teams on December 2nd.

Joe Robinson was featured on the cover of Runner’s World as co-founder of WeRun313, a social run club building community across the city of Detroit.

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ALUMNI

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT

Ferndale Middle Schools students work with advisors and FHS Robotics teammates to design, build, & code robots for the FIRST Tech Challenge.

Without these parent advocates, the program might have disappeared in 2020 when Distance Learning required the shut down of hands-on collaboration like this. Nick says, “We were down to two parents—myself and Kristy Stoll—leading one team in 2021. By the next year, we had 56 kids participating.”

Part of this recovery is advocacy, but the fun and excitement generated by LEGO League is contagious. Jamilya Goree M. Ed, ATR was hesitant to take on the role when her son, William, needed another coach for his 4th grade team. Jamilya is a Registered Art Therapist with 20 years of teaching experience in Detroit Public Schools, but coding and programming was outside of her skill set. “[Challenge] teams are no joke! I am extremely fortunate to have been partnered up with a fabulous parent. We play to our strengths as leaders and teach the team to do the same...This is now our 2nd year together and loving it!” When asked what she loves about co-coaching, Jamilya says, “Time with our kids, meeting other wonderful kids and their families. Watching these amazing minds at work is such a humbling experience. I think my co-coaching has helped my son develop friendships that may not have otherwise developed.

It really strengthens the community to connect with kids and families outside of your circle.”

The FMS Robotics team is growing too, with three teams in the FIRST Tech Challenge. That growth is also supported by parents and students! Logan Stoll was on one of the first LEGO League teams in 2016 and the founding FMS team in 2017 with coaching support from his mother, Kristy. He is now co-captain of the Impi Warriors at FHS, preparing for a future in Engineering. “The things I am doing here and the feelings I get from making something real from our own ideas have been really impactful on me. The engineers that I’ve gotten to know as my mentors model the people who I want to be like." Logan was even able to tour an automation facility of Valiant TMS with a team mentor, Doug Lake; seeing firsthand what he could be capable of if he continues his education in robotics.

"This isn’t something that is going to end after I graduate.”

Logan also says, while the robotics pipeline at Ferndale Schools is a fantastic experience, its not essential for anyone interested in FIRST robotics. He says his teammates and their mentors are very welcoming to new participants with little or no experience in all areas, from coding to machining and construction to impact communications. “There is opportunity to learn.”

FREE TO

ALL

Come and see the LEGO League in action as the Impi Warriors host Ferndale's first FLL Division Event on Saturday, December 2nd!

DIVISION EVENT | SATURDAY, DEC. 2, 2023 AT FERNDALE HIGH SCHOOL | 8 AM - 5 PM 881 PINECREST DR | FERNDALE, MI 48220 6

CAREER PATHWAYS

Rolling Ahead UHS STUDENTS ACCELERATE STEM EDUCATION WITH INNOVATIVE VEHICLE DESIGN COURSE. Turn south on Woodward from Ferndale’s University High School and head straight for just six miles.

Shortly after entering Highland Park, you will pass the site of the original Ford Motor Plant. Some would say Innovative Vehicle Design started here with the first automobile assembly line over 100 years ago. Today, that tradition continues to drive the economy of our region. Inside University High School, students are learning how to apply their science education for engineering, adapting, improving, and innovating toward the next generation of mobility.

Students are participating in the IVD Challenge from Square One Education Network. From engineering theory and physics to gear ratios and coding, students make informed and data based decisions to optimize their vehicle’s design in competition against 40-50 other schools. Alex Shamaoun taught the Innovative Vehicle Design class from 2013-2019, working on big go karts. You can still see one of these student designs sitting in his classroom. “Back then, we were converting gas vehicles to electric motors and figuring out how to make them as energy efficient as possible.”

With over 26 kids now interested in the course—the first year since 2020’s distance learning put a freeze on hands-on courses like this one—the class has shifted to remote controlled vehicles. These “minis”—as Square One calls them—are 1/10th scale electric cars capable of reaching 60-70 miles per hour.

Students pose with Mr. Shamaoun and their » IVD freshly unboxed “mini.”

watch the IVD 2023 video to see vehicles in action!

In addition to full-scale karts and minis, Square One also hosts competitions for underwater and autonomous vehicles as well as a new ‘Vehicle to Everything’ project for designing obstacle avoidance and other sensor dependent systems for autonomous dependent systems.

SquareOneNetwork.org

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CAREER PATHWAYS “All of the design decisions our students make are data-based.” Students test the vehicles performance with different tires and gear ratios on different terrains and at different elevation grades, gathering and analyzing performance data to make improvements, just like commercial automakers. In May, each team takes their vehicle to compete at Kettering University on a variety of different courses including oval tracks, rock-climbing, and an All-Inclusive Course featuring many different terrains and challenges.

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Tim Slusser is the Chief of Mobility Innovation for the City of Detroit, and he recognized the value to our communities. “The skill sets that they are learning and they are applying...for this competition [prepare them] for opportunities in automotive, software engineering, and consulting…The real world experience that they are gaining...is setting them up to be the future workforce here in the state of Michigan.” UHS is proud to be rolling out future innovators for exciting careers right her in automation alley.

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The 26 students enrolled in the course this year are divided into six teams, with about four students to a team. The team will self-organize to complete different tasks throughout the year—including programming, construction, and driving—but everyone is exposed to all aspects of the process and learns from each other.

“Everybody has a baseline knowledge of everything,” Mr. Shamaoun says.

At Kettering Day, students compete against schools across the state on a variety of courses designed to test modified vehicles to their limits. Through calculated, data-based improvements and adaptations to vehicle characteristics like suspension, torque, and gear ratios, students prepare their vehicles to face real world challenges and overcome obstacles with ease.

IVD students worked to convert full-scale gas-powered carts to fully electric vehicles from 2016-2019. Today, students are working on 1/10th scale MINIS. The principles learned are the same, and converting to the MINI competition has allowed the course to accept 26 total students this year.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Leveling Up Extracurriculars

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CAREER PATHWAYS

There is a new FHS athletics team making big moves, but you won’t find them on a field, a court, or even a mat. These student athletes are competing in virtual playing fields like Rainbow Road, the Mushroom Kingdom, and Kirby’s Dreamland on our new E-Sports team.

E-sports are competitive video gaming leagues and tournaments. Students test their reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and tactics against other gamers from across the state. PlayVS is the Michigan High School E-Sports League (MHSEL) organizer, and they currently host competitions in several games. All of the games MHSEL offers are deemed age appropriate for children 10+, with varying levels of cartoon action and comic mischief: Members of the 2022-23 e-sports team forged fast friendships.

SUPER SMASH BROS.™ ULTIMATE platform-styled fighting game Nintendo Switch

MARIO KART™ 8 DELUXE A cartoon racing simulator Nintendo Switch

SPLATOON™ 3 paintball meets capture the flag, but with squids Nintendo Switch

MADDEN football simulator

While some parents may be concerned that students are wasting their time on screens, E-Sports is actually the fastest growing competitive arena in the world, with many colleges and universities offering scholarships to top competitors. Started in 2020, the FHS E-Sports team has reached the semifinals in state competition two years in a row.

Although many of the competitions are individual, the team spirit is as much a part of E-Sports as any other traditional athletics program. “We had 12 kids on the team last year. Several of our team members bring in their own gaming hardware, and are happy to share with new players,” coach Maisson Fennig said. Students can come to the team with a game they want to play, or try something new.

E-Sports are also breaking down social barriers for non-traditional students.

Participation is not sorted into Boy/Girl leagues, making MHSEL competition more welcoming to all identities. “Several of our team members are gender fluid, and we are giving them somewhere comfortable to represent Ferndale doing something they care about while socializing,” said Maisson.

We are excited to see these rising stars in the new arena of E-sports as the Winter season gears up.

Playstation 4

OVERWATCH first-person combat simulator PC

ROCKET LEAGUE soccer, played by cars PC

Support the Team Donations made to the Ferndale E-Sports team will be used to purchase additional gaming equipment for this growing club.

Currently, students play on personal devices or borrow from a teammate, which is limiting for low-income families.

Donate via SchoolPay »

VISIT » FerndaleSchools.org/esports 10

Computer Science Pathway at FPS

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Course Name

Enrollment Category

Media

Required

Lego Club

After School

Media

Required

FIRST Robotics: LEGO League Explore

After School

Grade Level K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

After School FIRST Robotics: LEGO League Challenge

Tech 6

Elective

Digital Media

Elective

Project Lead The Way 1: Elective Design & Modeling

INSIDE : C.S. IN FERNDALE SCHOOLS Read how Ferndale Educators developed this computer science roadmap.

Project Lead The Way 2: Elective Automation & Robotics

BUILDING INNOVATORS

Project Lead The Way 3: Elective CS for Innovators & Makers

LEGO League and Tech Challenge bring robotics, teamwork & fun to 3rd-8th grades.

Project Lead The Way 4: Elective Medical Detectives

E-SPORTS IN ACTION

FIRST Tech Challenge

After School

Web Design

Elective

Game Design

Elective

App Design

Elective

GSuite for High School

Elective

GSuite for College & Career Prep

Elective

PLTW: Intro to Engineering Design

Elective*

Unlocking school spirit for a new segment of students with an inclusive, accessible, & scholarship-primed program ROLLING AHEAD UHS students accelerate STEM education with Innovative Vehicle Design course.

Computer Science (UHS) Required Innovative Vehicle Design (UHS)

Elective

FIRST Robotics

After School

* Course requires full year enrollment Scan to view a PDF with course descriptions »

VISIT » FerndaleSchools.org/CSPathway