Twenty fourth-grade girls at Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School were chosen to participate in the Somi Sleigh STEM Kit Giveaway on Dec. 8. Students unwrapped their kits, which included a talking Somi doll that introduces basic computer science concepts in a fun way, and the Princess Can Code, a computer science activity and storybook.

The event was hosted by Innovant Technologies LLC, Maddy’s Place and the Dottie Rose Foundation, which partnered to provide the event to inspire creativity, curiosity and confidence in young learners through hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) exploration.

Principal Patrick Brann said Elizabeth Traditional Elementary is a leadership magnet school, and the students were chosen by their teachers based on different leadership criteria. A Title I school, Elizabeth Traditional has made significant gains, raising its school performance grade from a D to a B and exceeding growth over the past two consecutive years. 

“Obviously, our business is academics,” Brann said, “however, if you’ve focused solely on that, you’re really not attending to the whole child. This event gives more experiences to our students, and that’s what we’re all about.”

The event also featured a special appearance by Maddy, a young STEM advocate and recipient of the N.C. Governor’s Award and three Presidential Gold Awards for Service. Through her “Your BIG Day” platform, Maddy champions service, education and STEM enrichment across North Carolina.

“We’re trying to continually, throughout the year, find opportunities to engage them, make school fun, enjoyable, desirable,” Brann said. “And when they wake up, they get off the school bus or get out of the car rider line, this is something they’re excited about, and they’re in a place that they want to be.”