When the Galaxy Came to Our Classroom: A STEAM Adventure at Roots
Guest Blog by Tyshawn M. Chisholm, Principal of Roots Public Charter School
May brought something extraordinary to our halls at Roots Public Charter School – an experience that transported our students from our Kennedy Street campus to "a galaxy far, far away" while keeping their feet firmly planted in real-world learning.
A Force for Learning
On Thursday, May 30th, our school buzzed with an energy that could only be described as “out of this world.” The Theresa Sondra Jacobs (TSJ) Foundation transformed our learning spaces into an interactive STEAM laboratory, complete with Star Wars-inspired robotics that had students wide-eyed and ready to learn.
What made this event truly special for us wasn't just the cool gadgets, though watching our students interact with futuristic robots was absolutely magical. It was seeing how the TSJ Foundation seamlessly combined science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics to create an experience that felt like play but packed a serious educational punch for our students.
Community Comes Together
At Roots, we believe that learning extends far beyond the walls of our school, and Thursday’s event perfectly embodied that philosophy. Students from all across D.C. joined our Roots family for the day, creating a vibrant tapestry of young minds all exploring together. There's something beautiful about watching kids from different schools collaborate, question, and discover side by side.
We were also honored to welcome some incredible community leaders who understand the power of innovative education:
Councilmember Janeese Lewis George from Ward 4 showed her continued support for educational innovation with a letter, which was read aloud at the event by Roots founder Dr. Bernida Thompson
Tami Ferguson-Culmer from the Embassy of The Bahamas brought an international perspective to our local celebration, and is currently in the process of taking the TSJ Foundation to the Bahamas
Our neighborhood ANC Commissioners, Garrett Moore and Michael Cohen, demonstrated their commitment to supporting educational excellence right here in our community
The Roots Difference in Action
This event perfectly showcased what makes Roots unique. We don't just teach STEAM subjects—we create experiences where students can touch, build, question, and imagine. When our kindergarteners programmed robots alongside our middle schoolers, when art students saw how their creativity could bring technology to life, and when math concepts suddenly made perfect sense through hands-on robotics, that's the Roots approach in action.
The TSJ Foundation's mission is to “inspire minds, uplift spirits, and create lasting memories with a unique approach to promoting the learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) through immersive and interactive themed experiences." This aligned so beautifully with our own commitment to culturally relevant, engaging education. Watching our students, many of whom rarely see themselves represented in traditional STEAM narratives, take command of advanced robotics and programming was nothing short of inspiring.
Looking Forward
As we reflect on this incredible day, we're already thinking about how to build on this momentum. The conversations didn't end when our guests left – our students are still talking about what they learned, still asking questions, still dreaming about what they might create next. This event reinforced our belief that when you make learning relevant, engaging, and fun, students don't just participate – they thrive. They see themselves as scientists, engineers, artists, and innovators. They understand that the future isn't something that happens to them – it's something they're actively creating.
To the TSJ Foundation, our distinguished guests, and all the educators who made this day possible, thank you for helping us prove once again that when we invest in innovative, culturally relevant education, every student wins. We’re looking forward to hosting the event again during the 2025-2026 school year and plan to invite more DC charter schools to join the fun.
The Force is strong with learning at Roots – and we can't wait to see where our students' journeys take them next.
Interested in learning more about our unique approach to education? Visit us at Roots Public Charter School, where every day brings new opportunities for discovery, growth, and joy in learning.
