Welcome to STEAMM @ Hartford: Innovating the Future Together

Dear Families, Students, and Community Members,

Welcome to an exciting new chapter at STEAMM @ Hartford! As we evolve, our mission remains rooted in providing an exceptional educational experience that prepares our students for a dynamic world. We offer a robust STEAMM curriculum, where we are intentionally leveraging the power of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics to foster 21st-century skills, critical thinking, and real-life experiences.

At STEAMM @ Hartford, we believe that innovation does not happen in a vacuum. By deliberately collaborating STEM concepts with the Arts, we unlock a higher level of creativity and engagement. Our classrooms are turning into vibrant, hands-on learning environments where students don’t just memorize facts—they solve real-world problems.

To guide our students through this rigorous, creative journey, we utilize  the LAUNCH Cycle, a powerful seven-phase Design Thinking Framework that encourages continuous improvement and resilience:

• L – Look, Listen, and Learn: Our students begin by building awareness through deep observation and authentic research, understanding the world around them.

• A – Ask Tons of Questions: We spark natural curiosity, encouraging students to question everything and identify the core challenges they want to solve.

• U – Understand the Process or Problem: Students dive into the data, gathering the vital knowledge required to tackle complex issues.

• N – Navigate Ideas: Through collaborative brainstorming and critical analysis, students combine concepts to map out solid, actionable plans.

• C – Create a Prototype: This is where the magic happens—translating thoughts into physical or digital models, artwork, systems, and solutions.

• H – Highlight and Fix: We redefine failure. In this phase, students treat setbacks as necessary experiments, refining their projects based on testing and feedback.

• Launch! Finally, students release their finished products, presentations, or solutions to an authentic, real-life audience.

By embedding the LAUNCH framework into our daily culture, we are equipping our students with the adaptability and problem-solving skills they need to thrive in the 21st century.

We are thrilled to embark on this journey with you and cannot wait to see what our students will create, innovate, and launch this year. Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to excellence.

Yours in Education,

Troy A. Russell , M.A. Ed.

Principal, STEAMM @ Hartford