Dothan City Schools start: new classes, S.T.E.M. lab growth at Honeysuckle Middle

DOTHAN, AL (WSFA) - Students at Honeysuckle Middle School have a lot to look forward to this school year.

The school is planning to take a collegiate-tour field trip, offering a new choral class, and their now internationally recognized S.T.E.M lab is growing, according to Principal Jeffery Torrance.

"Preparation for the 2017-2018 school year has been great. We've added a lot of new faculty and staff members. We're excited about the new school year. We have a lot of goals in mind and we intend on giving our students a great experience," said Torrance.

This is the school's second year having a S.T.E.M lab, or Science Technology Engineering and Math lab. They program was recently featured in the Pitsco Magazine which focuses on S.T.E.M learning and is published around the world.

"It does something for the kids to know that somewhere someone is seeing the school in a positive light. They are competing nationally and internationally. There are other kids that get to see them and read about them. It's awesome. It's a good feeling," said Alvin Wiggins, S.T.E.M facilitator.

The 600 students in the school have access to the program that focuses on science and math. The push this year is to integrate more subjects.

"Instead of making the full focus in the S.T.E.M lab, we've partnered with the teachers in the schools. It's like they get a piece of S.T.E.M. all day long in their grades," said Wiggins.

The goal of the class is to also help prepare students for the workforce in Dothan.

"When we pull these projects we want them to mimic the labor force in Dothan. We have a lot of architecture and the kids can relate to that, so we can pull that in. We have stuff that we do with parachutes and rockets because we have Fort Rucker," said Wiggins.

The program is looking to get the ball rolling on bringing in robotics this year.

Another new addition this school year is a choral class offered to students. There are no set dates for concerts, but there are plans for a holiday concert and a concert in the spring.

Copyright 2017 WSFA 12 News. All rights reserved.