During the school year, the Whitaker Lab is a space of constant creativity and innovation. In recent years, however, it is also in use during the summers — but not only by Menlo students.
For the past three summers, Menlo has partnered with three non-profit organizations: StreetCode in East Palo Alto, the Boys and Girls Club of Redwood City and Peninsula Bridge. All three organizations expand the educational opportunities for kids from underprivileged backgrounds.
“We have such an amazing engineering education facility and [these organizations] have a need for space, so it was an obvious collaboration,” Science Department Chair James Formato said.
It’s more than just the resources that draw outside groups to the Whitaker Lab — it’s the community. Menlo teachers and students help the children develop science and engineering projects in the lab. “Menlo students who have spent a good deal of time in Whitaker classes are often asked if they want to help out and it’s a really good service opportunity for them,” Formato said.
To encourage participation, both students and teachers are incentivized to volunteer with the program. Students can earn community service hours, while teachers can receive additional pay.
Junior Bianca Voltmer is one of the Menlo students who helped teach kids from Peninsula Bridge and the Boys and Girls Club in Whitaker this past summer. “It was a fun opportunity to spend more time in the Whitaker Lab after taking Mechanical [and Electrical] Engineering last year, and I really enjoyed being able to give back to my community,” Voltmer said.
The programs have enabled young learners to dive into a variety of different engineering projects, from entry-level soldering with sixth and seventh graders from Peninsula Bridge to high school students from the Boys and Girls Club designing and building skateboards and electric fan-powered cars.
This year, inspired by the success of the summer programs, Menlo will expand its collaboration with these organizations to the school year. During winter break, for example, Menlo will partner with Peninsula Bridge to create a three-week science program in the Whitaker Lab for sixth and seventh graders.
“I think it’s a win-win-win situation. Teachers who don’t teach in Whitaker get exposed to a whole different style of teaching, Menlo kids can try their hand at teaching and the kids love the program,” Formato said. “It serves everybody really well.”
