MARION COUNTY – For students at Sparr Elementary School, the sky truly is the limit for careers thanks to a new aviation program that took flight this morning.
The Future Aviators Academy is a one-of-a-kind program igniting passion, aspiration, and intrigue in the aviation industry – all within the minds of elementary students.
The program offers students opportunities to improve their skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics by sparking interest in STEM-based careers within the aerospace industry. This program aligns with the Civil Air Patrol Program at nearby North Marion Middle School.
All third through fifth-grade students in the Future Aviators Academy will learn by engaging with the fundamental concepts and approaches of aerospace engineering, historical developments in aviation, industry contributions, and aviation regulations and safety.
The program involves students in three main components of learning: engagement in the classroom, exploration of the industry, and extension of experiences via field trips and guest speakers.
This morning, students helped cut the ribbon to officially open the program. They also encountered their first space craft, compliments of a landing and visit by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office helicopter unit and its pilots.
Sparr Elementary School is located at 2525 E. County Rd. 329, Sparr, FL, 32192.
For more information, contact Sparr Elementary School Principal Renee Johnson at 352.671.6060 or [email protected].
Sparr Elementary School students help cut the ribbon this morning to their new Future Aviators Academy, the newest program in Marion County Public Schools.
Students anxiously watch as the Marion County Sheriff’s Office helicopter lands on the campus of Sparr Elementary School in Northeast Marion County.
Sparr Elementary School students examine the Marion County Sheriff’s Office helicopter up close and personal this morning.
Sparr Elementary School staff members, Marion County School Board Chair Dr. Allison Campbell, and Superintendent Dr. Diane Gullett pose with pilots and personnel from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to celebrate the school’s new Future Aviators Academy.