Junior and senior students in Reneé Yake’s AP Computer Science Principles class at Iron Mountain High School participated in a “Future School Convention” presentation. From left are Superintendent Jerry Sardina; Brett Ramme, senior; AP Computer Science Principles teacher Reneé Yake; Sam Yake, senior; Emma Ellis, senior; Aziza Burgoon, senior; Hailey Greenleaf, junior; and Leah Winch, senior.

RON MOUNTAIN — Junior and senior students in Renee Yake’s AP Computer Science Principles class at Iron Mountain High School participated in a “Future School Convention” presentation on April 27.

Students formed groups of five to six and were assigned differing roles in a fictitious school district, such as “superintendent,” “parent of a 10th grader,” “teacher,” “food director,” or “facilities director.” The students, in their school stakeholder roles, were tasked with researching and/or developing creative computing innovations that would benefit their pseudo-school, and then presenting their findings to their fellow students, teachers, and school administration.

Superintendent Jerry Sardina and Principal Amy Galvan, in addition to several other IMPS staff members attended the convention and students had the opportunity to share their ideas, and receive feedback.

Mountaineer senior Riley Gauthier explained the benefits of a school-district phone application that would push notifications to district students, staff, and families and house all district communications in one convenient location.

Additional examples of the innovations proposed by the AP student groups at the convention included: interactive phone applications for nutrition information and district lunch menus, a smart-HVAC system that conserves energy while heating and cooling classrooms, a 3-D printer, a hall pass app, and audiobook software for students to listen to their textbook lessons.

The convention offered the opportunity for AP Computer Science Principles students to gain insight on how innovative computer science technology can be utilized in an environment the students are familiar with.