St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) has entered into an agreement with The Patuxent Partnership to implement the National Flight Academy (NFA) – Aviation Classroom Experience (NFA-ACE) for the 2013-2014 school year. This ambitious and rewarding program will immerse middle and high school students in game-based learning environments that apply the fundamentals of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). In the classroom, students will work through challenging assignments or “missions” that will enable them to acquire new skills and discover real-world applications for their math, science, and physics skills. NFA also developed the Aviation Inspired Missions (AIM) program which is an immersive STEM experience for museums and science centers. AIM provides opportunities for multiple-school ACE competitions.
The Patuxent Partnership has received funding in the amount of $250,000 from the Naval Air Warfare Center – Aircraft Division (NAWC-AD) to cover the cost of creating a state of the art learning environment where SMCPS students will have access to flight simulators, an air traffic control lab, and a mission command center. Dedicated software will run each element of the classroom and allow our students to conduct virtual missions and compete in real time against other students across the nation. The National Flight Academy – Aviation Classroom Experience (NFA-ACE) will be housed at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center. “This is a phenomenal opportunity for our students and I am thrilled with our incredible community partnerships that made this happen and that support our students,” stated Dr. Michael J. Martirano, Superintendent of Schools.
