Eastside Connection School in Niles has launched an after school STEM Academy. STEM stands for the integrated study of science, technology, engineering and math through creative hands-on projects and activities.

According to school officials, more than 120 students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade are participating in the program.

As part of an academic enrichment, Eastside students work side by side with national STEM experts — including experts from the University of Notre Dame Joint Institute of Nuclear Astrophysics, the University of Notre Dame’s DNA Learning Lab, Notre Dame Energy, Notre Dame Microscopy, Cook Nuclear, Southwestern Michigan College, WNIT-PBS, WNDU-NBC, Berrien RESA and many more.

The program, which is currently underway, seeks to ignite students interest in fun, hands-on STEM lessons, games, activities and contests.

To date, students have made homemade rockets, assembled their own brush bot in a study of simple electricity, designed and engineered bridges, learned how to analyze and record materials under microscopes, and engaged in hands on chemistry experiments.

In the coming weeks, Eastside STEM club members will build machine robots out of recycled materials and explore Newton’s laws physics through hands on instructions with experts from the University of Notre Dame’s Joint Institute for Nuclear Astro Physics.

“Through our STEM Academy we have ignited a spark in our learners for STEM,” said Joe Racht, the principal of Eastside Connections School. “We’ve exceeded our expectations and goal to generate enthuasiam among our students for math and science. The question now is: How do we harness the excitement we created going forward — both in and out of the classroom. As a K-8 school this is good position to be in.”