Families are encouraged to join the Danville Independent Schools in a District Science Night for all ages on Thursday, Feb. 15 at Danville High School from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

There will be several school and community resources set up in the lobby for exploration, all related to science. The district will also be seeking input from students and families about science instruction. They will be surveyed at the event, and representatives from the school district will also send out surveys for people who might not be able to attend. 

As for the activities that will be offered at the event, families have a lot to look forward to, both from community organizations and the Danville Schools. From Centre College, chemistry majors, members of the American Chemical Society, and environmental science students will be offering a demonstration and hands-on activities. 

Resources from Bluegrass Greensource will be available for exploration, including animal pelts and skulls and other environmental science activities. Boyle County Public Library will also be offering activities at the event.

Danville High School’s very own engineering students will lead several exciting opportunities, including robots for students to maneuver, a 3D printer and electronic boards. There will also be free books for families that were donated to the Danville Schools through a grant. These are just some of the activities and resources that will be offered. 

“We are excited to offer an all-ages event geared around a content area,” said Chief Academic Officer Suzanne Farmer. “This is something new for our district. We hope that an all-ages event will be appealing to families with students in multiple schools. It is important for us as a district to provide opportunities for families and students to engage with learning experiences offered by our schools and the community while also providing opportunities for student and family voice in our instructional decision-making.” 

This event is happening thanks to the DISD’s science cadre. The DISD is one of five districts in the state selected to work with the Kentucky Department of Education over the course of this year and next to improve science instruction. 

“Through this grant, we are provided coaching and support to work through a process that involves creating a vision for science instruction, identifying strong resources for science instruction, and implementing instruction using the resources,” Farmer said. “All along the way, there are opportunities for input from students, families, and educators.”