2016-2017 Signature Mission
Operation Breakthrough
The Village Church Mission Committee and Village Endowment are excited to join other funders including JE Dunn Construction, Google, the Opus Impact Fund and Staples to help launch the creation of the first Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Smartlab in Kansas City. The total grant amount from Village Mission ($16,000) and Endowment ($14,000) is $30,000. Construction started in early May 2016 with renovation of the space and a launch of the program on June 1st in time for Operation Breakthrough’s summer programs.
With humble beginnings going back to 1971, Operation Breakthrough now serves 266 children from six weeks to 5 years in nationally-accredited early learning programs; 120 school-age children in before/after-school and summer programming, and the children's 215+ parents/caregivers. Eighty-seven percent of the children attending OB live below the federal poverty level and 21 percent of the families are homeless, living in shelters or staying with friends or relatives. Over 32 percent had experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences which is nearly three times the national rate.
The STEM lab that features fully integrated systems of hardware, software, furnishings, online curriculum, educational kits, manipulatives, and assessment tools. It is known to be effective at providing young learners with engaging STEM experiences from robotics, electronics, software engineering, mechanics and structures to the engineering design process. As a student-centered environment, the SmartLab is designed for personalized learning where autonomy and self-direction are encouraged and rewarded. Activities are also designed to develop critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, communication and project management. Student progress will be assessed through daily journals, presentations and a portfolio of work.
Thank you, Village Church, for helping make this new program possible with your annual gifts. Operation Breakthrough welcomes Village Church volunteers’ help mentoring students through their STEM learning activities and project work. If you would like to know more about Operation Breakthrough’s STEM lab or would like to volunteer with other programs, check out their volunteer opportunities.
With humble beginnings going back to 1971, Operation Breakthrough now serves 266 children from six weeks to 5 years in nationally-accredited early learning programs; 120 school-age children in before/after-school and summer programming, and the children's 215+ parents/caregivers. Eighty-seven percent of the children attending OB live below the federal poverty level and 21 percent of the families are homeless, living in shelters or staying with friends or relatives. Over 32 percent had experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences which is nearly three times the national rate.
The STEM lab that features fully integrated systems of hardware, software, furnishings, online curriculum, educational kits, manipulatives, and assessment tools. It is known to be effective at providing young learners with engaging STEM experiences from robotics, electronics, software engineering, mechanics and structures to the engineering design process. As a student-centered environment, the SmartLab is designed for personalized learning where autonomy and self-direction are encouraged and rewarded. Activities are also designed to develop critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, communication and project management. Student progress will be assessed through daily journals, presentations and a portfolio of work.
Thank you, Village Church, for helping make this new program possible with your annual gifts. Operation Breakthrough welcomes Village Church volunteers’ help mentoring students through their STEM learning activities and project work. If you would like to know more about Operation Breakthrough’s STEM lab or would like to volunteer with other programs, check out their volunteer opportunities.
