Escalante Elementary wins math-science award

Escalante Elementary School in Salt Lake City was one out of six schools nationwide to win the 2007 Intel Schools of Distinction Award — along with cash and more than $160,000 in science goodies.

The annual awards recognize schools for implementing innovative math and science programs. And Escalante Elementary is known to have the Cadillac of elementary science programs in Salt Lake School District.

"We see this as a validation of what this community and teachers have put together," Richard Aslett, principal of the school. "We see it as a way to continue to be able to focus our efforts on science — it's a way for us to remain fresh and rejuvenated."

Aslett said from the school's beginnings a few years ago there has always been a science focus at Escalante, and inquiry science has guided and informed the curriculum.

The subject seems to lend itself to the school's demographic where many of the students speak limited English.

"With science you immediately have engaging content that in many ways can almost be language generic," Aslett said. "(Students) are picking up the language and the terms while being engaged and picking up the science content mandated by the state."

Leaders say hands-on science is the name of the game at the school, and Escalante boasts of an outdoor science lab with wildlife and ponds, a native garden and an indoor science lab that University of Utah students help run.

Each of the six winning schools receive a $10,000 cash grant from the Intel Foundation and an award package including curriculum materials, professional development resources, hardware and software valued at more than $160,000 per school.

Escalante leaders are still not sure exactly what kind of equipment they will be receiving but hope that it will enhance the school's science program

Michelle Dahl, science specialist who entered the school into the contest, said the new equipment could improve the program and maybe lead the school in a new direction.

Representatives from the winning schools will attend an awards gala in October in Washington, D.C., where one of this year's honorees will be named "Star Innovator" and receive additional prizes including a $15,000 grant from the Intel Foundation.

Intel leaders say the corporation annually invests more than $100 million around the world to improve the quality of education, particularly in the fields of math, science and technology.

For more information about the Intel Schools of Distinction Awards, visit schoolsofdistinction.com.

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E-mail: terickson@desnews.com