STEM Night Fun and Learning at Detroit Merit Charter Academy

Students and parents came together for a night of hands-on learning at Detroit Merit Charter Academy’s fall STEM Night event. The evening featured activities designed to encourage problem-solving and creativity for students in grades K-8, while also giving their parents a chance to join in.

Alyssa Jurczak, a seventh and eighth-grade science teacher, explained that the event served a dual purpose. “We started the night by having parents attend a meeting with our principal, while the students jumped into activities in the classrooms," Jurczak said. "Once the meeting was over, parents joined their students, and families were able to explore different classrooms and activities together."



For middle school students, the focus was on coding and wiring. "Our sixth through eighth graders worked on 'Feelin Code Kits,' where they wired and programmed their own video game controllers," Jurczak shared. "It was a challenging activity, but they worked in groups to figure it all out."



Meanwhile, younger students tackled simpler projects. "Fourth graders built structures with candy corn and toothpicks, and third graders created aluminum foil boats to see which could hold the most pennies," Jurczak said. "We even had chemical reactions in first grade where baking soda and vinegar were used to inflate balloons!"



What made the night really special was the sense of community it created. "Parents were excited to see their kids elbows-deep in learning," Jurczak noted. "Events like this are important because they give families a chance to see firsthand what their students are working on in school."

Parents also left with helpful resources. "We were able to pass out uniforms and provide information about our enrollment incentives," Jurczak added. "It was great to connect with families outside of the traditional school day and build those relationships."



In addition to the educational benefits, the night was about building a stronger school community. "Not only do events like this give families a voice and a chance to ask questions, but they also strengthen our sense of community. It’s important that parents feel like stakeholders, not just bystanders," Jurczak explained.

Great job Detroit Merit Charter Academy getting everyone involved in the fun!
About Detroit Merit Charter Academy
Detroit Merit Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Detroit, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.

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