POTTSTOWN – The Pottstown School District and Montgomery County Community College have launched Montco 360, an immersive STEM program for select eighth-graders at Pottstown Middle School, held at MCCC’s Pottstown campus.

The program provides 18 students with hands-on learning experiences focusing on science, technology, engineering, physics and mathematics. In addition to meeting curriculum requirements, the program aims to develop students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, intrapersonal, interpersonal and other important soft skills.

“This is a great opportunity to challenge students beyond what they would experience in a traditional classroom,” said William Lawless, 8th grade principal at Pottstown Middle School.

Students are selected, he said, based on their academic performance, attendance and overall motivation. Students are expected to work as a team and think independently.

“This is totally innovative,” said Andy Bachman, a math and engineering teacher in Pottstown who will lead the program. “Students have to be highly motivated and self-reliant. I won’t be standing in front of the class lecturing all the time. They will learn to approach tasks with a project mentality, asking questions and designing experiments.”

Montco 360 will launch on August 19, when the school year begins. Participating students will be transported to MCCC in a new Pottstown School District minibus. Students will be divided into two groups of nine students each, with one group attending for two hours in the morning and the other in the afternoon. This schedule ensures that students can continue to attend their regular middle school classes and participate in extracurricular activities such as music and athletics.

In collaboration with MCCC, the school district adapted classrooms on campus to provide sturdy work tables, tools, materials and technology needed for project creation.

“We are thrilled that after more than a year of planning, Montco 360 is now a reality,” said Ryan Oxenford, director of curriculum and educational programs for the Pottstown School District, in a press release. “This program offers a comprehensive experience that will not only inspire the next generation of innovators and problem solvers, but also give them the skills they need to succeed.”

“Montco 360 embodies MCCC’s commitment to educating learners of all ages and developmental levels,” said Amy Auwaerter, MCCC senior principal of the Pottstown Campus. “It will help them build their confidence on a college campus and develop skills that will serve them in their future academic and professional endeavors.”

A key benefit of the MCCC campus is that students have access to the college’s state-of-the-art facilities, including missions at the Challenger Learning Center and use of Science on a Sphere, a room-sized global display system that uses planetary data. They also benefit from guest lectures by MCCC faculty and gain insight into college programs such as Dual Enrollment and TRIO Upward Bound.

“As part of Montco 360, this group will participate in a pilot program with Crew Concept and the Drone Soccer Academy,” said Catherine Rauenzahn, MCCC Youth Engagement Program Manager. “Through this partnership, students will learn how to build, program and fly drones in a competitive, fun soccer environment.”

The Pottstown School District and MCCC hosted an open house for parents, families and students on July 31. Attendees had the opportunity to tour South Hall, visit the classroom, learn more about the program and meet the program planners and organizers.