Among the changes at SJHHS this year is the growth of electives designed to attract students to new courses.

The swap of a weight room for a STEM lab in room E21 is quite significant. For those who do not know, STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.

The newly introduced class is designed for students to learn how to operate tools, such as CNC, computer numerical control, machines and three dimensional printers. A CNC machine uses computers to control a tool to make repeated, accurate movements. The machine operates by the user inputting the unique code for their desired action.

Not all students can sign up for this class. A student must fulfill two requirements in order to gain admittance. First, the class is only open to juniors and seniors. Second, each student must have passed at least one year of any of the physics classes offered at SJHHS. These include AP Physics I, II, or conceptual physics.

Currently, the lab is in its beginning stages due to it being the first year the class is offered. They have some materials they need like a couple of three dimensional printers, but they are missing many items. There is a difficulty in acquiring all the necessary materials for the class, but eventually as time passes more and more items will arrive. Once they arrive, teacher Collin MacDonald, will begin unveiling projects that first inspired the students to join the class

As of now the students are primarily focused on doing bookwork and learning the safety rules of the class. The bookwork entails how the equipment works and how to operate everything in a safe manner. They also pursue small scale projects with the limited tools they have at the moment.

Landon Cook describes one bonus to the absence of many materials as, “We are getting all of the mandatory bookwork out of the way early, allowing for us to spend more time on projects later in the year.” He also stated that, “The book work is a bit boring, but I am still enjoying the class.”

Although the lab is not completely set up, it is not to say that they will not get there in the near future. The focus of the STEM lab is constantly changing with the influx of new materials and new project ideas being brought forth by the students and MacDonald. Check back in again soon within the next couple months to see a re-evaluation of what the class is and all the progress it will make.