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Academics
High School STEM
Cypress Christian School students have opportunities K-12 to explore STEM programs. Critical thinking and problem-solving weave throughout all subjects and are then given an outlet to practice these skills in STEM classes and electives. The K-12 STEM programs give our students exposure and chances to excel in many areas.
Cypress Christian School students are challenged daily in their core classes and electives. The base curriculum enhances the student’s exposure to STEM in core classes that every student takes such as Algebra I, Algebra II, geometry, pre-calculus, biology and more. In addition to the core classes, students have opportunities to take their desires and passions to the next level with STEM electives in mathematics, science, engineering and computer science.
Senior Capstone Engineering Elective
The senior capstone engineering class (formerly referred to as honors engineering) has a unique opportunity to impact the world in Jesus’ name by providing a product that improves the life of a client at Reach Unlimited. Reach Unlimited is a nonprofit organization that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They believe that individuals with disabilities deserve to live a life full of joy, purpose, and accomplishment in a safe and caring environment.
The honors engineering class of 2021-2022 presented their projects to their clients from Reach Unlimited at a banquet on April 11, 2022. The semester began with the students visiting Reach Unlimited to meet their clients and understand a need they have in their community. The students worked through the design process and project management skills to present a product that would fulfill three needs.
Group one was tasked to create a fully automated stamp machine. Reach Unlimited has a gift shop that uses gift bags with stickers of their logo when customers buy items. The stamp of the logo would be used on the bags in place of the sticker and allow their client to help with the process even with her limited mobility. The students decided to use programming and an actuator inside of a metal plated wood frame. The client can simply hit a button and the machine will vertically stamp the gift bags one at a time.
Group two was tasked to create a headpiece for a client to be able to participate in art activities at Reach Unlimited. The headpiece incorporated a 3D-printed piece that connected the inside of a hard hat safety helmet with an art utensil such as a marker or paint brush. The group also created a mobile stand specifically designed for their clients’ wheelchair. The stand rolls up to the client and can adjust in height as well as hold different types of art paper or canvas on a white board.
Group three was tasked to create a soil sifter machine for a client who otherwise would not be able to help in the greenhouse. Large shovels are used to mix soil with perlite. The new product allows the client with limitations in his hands to poor smaller amounts of soil while the machine vibrates from an electric sander. The machine then has a motor that rotates PVC pipe to mix the soil and perlite before being used in the greenhouse.
“Last semester, we had so much exposure to engineering and what a first-year engineering class in college might look like. This semester, the students have used that knowledge combined with skills, desires and determination to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”
– Mrs. Yaw
High School STEM Electives
High school students are given the opportunity to choose electives each year that are of most interest to them. Cypress Christian offers a variety of STEM electives that not only give exposure, but practice and real-world experiences.
Computer science classes offer time coding and programming.
Science electives, such as careers in health sciences, forensics and anatomy & physiology, allow time to explore in-depth science studies.
Engineering classes range from an introduction to engineering and the different types of engineering in the principles of engineering class, to a deep dive into understanding the design process in honors engineering, to a full real-life project from beginning to end in the senior capstone engineering class.
Mathematics electives, calculus and statistics, help prepare students on a deeper level for college curriculum.
