Video: Columbus Middle Schoolers Start New After-School Program

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — The Columbus school district is kicking off a new after-school program for middle schoolers.

“Right now it’s a real in-depth after school program dealing with STEM, engineering, and robotics and science, and kind’ve combining the two to give our kids a real rigorous touch with education,” said Dr. Philip Hickman, Columbus schools superintendent.

It’s called Project Falcon SOAAR – students optimizing academics to achieve results.

Throughout the school year, and part of the summer, most sixth through eighth graders will be enhancing their skills three days a week after school.

Outside of the classroom, they’ll work with volunteer organizations on service projects.

“Most of our kids in middle school, and elementary, their jobs are not invented yet, but we do know it’s going to have a high aspect of science and technology and engineering, and so to expose our kids to it early on will give our kids a competitive advantage,” Hickman said.

Similar programs have been implemented in schools across the country – 17 of them in Mississippi.

“It’s really a real rigorous program,” Hickman said. “We actually went to Alabama to see some of it in effect in Project Lead the Way, and so we’re real proud of it.”

Project organizers say the program prepares students for future careers with companies here in North Mississippi, like Toyota, and Weyerhaeuser.

“They’re looking for employees that have that background and knowledge with those critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, and focusing on that idea of the design process,” said Shabaka McKey, Project Lead the Way.

Educators hope to expand the program to more students in elementary and high school.

The project was funded through a $900,000 grant.