McKissick Elementary School transformed into the McKissick Academy of Science & Technology in the fall of 2018!
MAST is committed to giving students an edge in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Education, and it will introduce
a Project-Based Learning curriculum based on the "three pillars" of STEM:
Biomedical Science, Computer Science, and Engineering Design.
In January 2018, the school board approved MAST's five year plan to integrate its project-based curriculum.
In addition to project-based learning in all classrooms, students will have
access to the "Shark Tank," a computer lab and maker-space in which students
will have the opportunity to showcase their observations. New principal Heather
Touchberry is currently in the process of providing professional development
for staff to prepare for the new theme, and making key hires such as a
full-time computer science teacher to guarantee that students have unique STEM
instruction.
McKissick will offer a Montessori program in a “school-within-a-school” setting with two Montessori classrooms. The Montessori Method of education is a child-centered educational approach that values the human spirit and the development of the whole child—physical, social, emotional, cognitive. The Montessori Primary Class will be for grades 3K through 5K and the Montessori Lower Elementary program will be for grades 1st through 3rd.
Students who
live in the McKissick Elementary School zone are automatically approved to
attend MAST. The school also encourages
students outside the McKissick zone to attend on school choice! The district
does not provide transportation for students attending outside the school’s
zone. If the number of school choice applications exceed school capacity, the
school district will use a lottery system to determine admission.