Dream Flight USA STEM Shuttle Visits Pacelli Catholic Schools

For the first time since the pandemic hit, the Dream Flight USA STEM Shuttle took up its first mission. On Monday, students from both Pacelli Catholic Elementary School-St. Stephen (PCES-St. Steve’s) and Pacelli Catholic Elementary School-St. Bronislava (PCES-St. Bron’s) experienced the hands-on work stations on the unique coach bus resembling a space shuttle.

According to their website, stemshuttle.com, the stop at PCES-St. Steve’s was their first mission since November 2019. Boasting its 15th year of missions, the STEM Shuttle proudly bills itself as “the field trip that visits schools.”

The STEM Shuttle, manned by two veteran on board teachers, gives several small groups of students about an hour to be challenged by hands-on activities combining space travel and STEM education.

“It’s exciting to have the STEM Shuttle back up and running and we were thrilled to be their first mission this spring,” said Ellen Lopas, principal of PCES-St. Steve’s and Pacelli Catholic Middle School.”

The stop at PCES-St. Steve’s was one of many taking place throughout Central Wisconsin thanks to a donation from Connexus Credit Union’s Connexus Cares Committee to the Dream Flight USA Foundation. The STEM Shuttle will return to Stevens Point to visit grades 5-8 at Pacelli Catholic Middle School on May 20.

“We’re grateful to Connexus Credit Union and the Dream Flight USA Foundation for giving our students the opportunity to participate in some interactive, engaging space-related STEM activities outside of the classroom,” said Lopas.

>> Click here to view photos from the STEM Shuttle visit!

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