Senator Cantwell visits Walla Walla to participate in STEM activity

Senator Maria Cantwell visited Pioneer Middle School Thursday afternoon to meet with students in the 21st Century Community Learning Centers After-School Program. An all-girls group of middle and high school students conducted a science experiment using balloons. They completed hands-on demonstrations on the properties of air. They filled the balloons with helium and launched the balloon clusters in front of school. This activity was a planning step in the process of launching a real weather balloon later this year. Cantwell said she was impressed with the students and program.

“This is a winner because it combines an afterschool program with STEM and we need more young women interested in these activities,” said Cantwell. “You can see from these young women here they are enthusiastic about their learning.”

About 21st Century Community Learning Centers
This program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.