We would like to express our gratitude to the Mercer Island Schools Foundation for their continued support of our fifth-grade science program.

Thanks to the Foundation, fifth-graders at Island Park Elementary were able to participate in an exciting Mission to Mars space simulation at the Museum of Flight’s Challenger Learning Center this spring. Our students worked on skills encouraged in the 2020 Vision, as they collaborated using teamwork to critically think and problem solve in order to successfully complete their mission. During the Mission to Mars simulation, students have specific jobs and face challenges similar to those experienced by real mission controllers and astronauts.

Without funding from the Foundation, this field trip would not have been possible. We thank the citizens of Mercer Island for their ongoing and generous support that enabled us to enrich the science experiences of our students through this high-quality program. The Challenger experience gave our students a genuine opportunity to “touch the future.”

Stephanie John-Lewis, Angela McCann, Kerida Millison, Shelley Wangen

Island Park fifth-grade teachers