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 space simulation at the Museum of Flight’s Challenger Learning Center in March. The classes truly worked on skills embedded in the 2020 Vision, as they collaborated using teamwork to problem-solve and critically think while successfully completing a Mission to Mars. During the mission, students faced problems and challenges similar to those experienced by real astronauts and mission controllers.

Without funding from the Foundation, this field trip would not have been possible. Thank you, citizens of Mercer Island, for your generous support that enabled us to enrich the experiences of our students through this high-quality, realistic, yet futuristic program. The Challenger experience gave our students a genuine opportunity to “touch the future.”

Stephanie John-Lewis

Kerida Millison

Thelma Ritchie

Island Park fifth-grade teachers