School bells are ringing for children in Kawartha Lakes who are interested in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM).
Ampere has announced its STEAM School in Lindsay is returning for its second year, expanding to include children aged five to eight as well as those aged nine to 12.
Enrolment kicks off on Tuesday, September 9 for kids aged five to 12 years old to attend the STEAM School, which is hosted in the Kawartha Lakes Makerspace & Skills Hub at 12 Peel Street and runs weekly.
Ampere is the only STEAM-focused private school in Kawartha Lakes, and offers traditional academics combined with hands-on and play-based STEAM learning aimed at helping students develop essential critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
“We are hoping that this school offers a new way for youth in the community to deeply explore topics that interest them in an environment focused entirely on STEAM,” Ryan Oliver, CEO and founder of Ampere, told kawarthaNOW before the school launched in 2024.
According to a media release, Ampere has adjusted this year’s curriculum to meet the needs of five to eight year olds as well as making other changes.
“Last year’s STEAM school for nine to 12 year olds had overwhelmingly positive feedback, but we also learned a lot,” said Ampere chief operating officer Caitlin Patterson. “This year we are making significant improvements by incorporating more immersive experiences, more guest speakers, and we’ve expanded our curriculum so that we can also cater to younger students between the ages of five to eight.”
The school offers an inclusive, “culturally responsive environment” where every student is given space to thrive, contribute meaningfully, and feel a sense of belonging in a community designed for and with them, Ampere noted.
“At Ampere, we truly believe that STEAM is for everyone and understand that everyone, including our youngest learners, learns differently,” Patterson said. “By embracing a learner-led approach, and small class sizes, STEAM School educators are able to engage with each student in the most impactful way possible.”
Rather than adhering to rigid schedules and activity plans, learners at STEAM School have some choices in what they do and how they absorb new knowledge and experience, while still engaging in work that aligns with the Ontario curriculum.
STEAM School offers flexible attendance and enrolment options. Enrolment for single sessions is $65 per day. For those interested in a longer-term commitment, a full session of two months, one day per week, is available for $45 per day.
Drop-off for STEAM School starts at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up is from 3:10 to 3:30 p.m. Kids aged five to eight will be attending on Tuesdays and those aged nine to 12 will take classes on Wednesdays.
To learn more about STEAM School and to enrol, visit steamschools.ca.
Founded in Pangnirtung in Nunavut and formerly known as the Pinnguaq Association, Ampere has partnered with rural, remote and Indigenous communities for more than a decade to provide access STEAM education and opportunities.
The organization offers programming through its makerspaces in Lindsay, Iqaluit, Nunavut, and New Brunswick, and works directly with community partners, social organizations, governmental funders, and educational institutions across the country.
Ampere applies a “lifecycle approach” to ensure that it’s supporting learners at every age and in every stage of life.
