Airmen adopt school; help with screenings

Published April 11, 2011
By Monica Mendoza
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Seven Airmen from the 21st Space Wing conducted vision screening exams on eighth-grade students at Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy in Colorado Springs April 5 and 6.

It's not unusual for Airmen to be at the school helping with a variety of programs.

It's part of the Adopt-A-School program the wing launched last fall with three schools in Colorado Springs District 11 as a way to engage Airmen with students, especially in the schools where the majority of Peterson family members attend classes. About 1,500 students out of the 29,000 students in District 11 schools are military family members.

"The Adopt-A-School Program is going great," said Lisa Ballard, 21st Space Wing school liaison officer. "This program has allowed Airmen at Peterson Air Force Base to give back and be a part of our community schools."

Airmen also have adopted McAuliffe Elementary and Mitchell High School in District 11. Staff Sgt. Anthony Modica, 16th Space Control Squadron, regularly rounds up volunteers from the 21st Operations Group for Swigert Aerospace Academy, a middle school for children in grades 6-8.

"We read to kids who need help," Sergeant Modica said. "Some students need help with math and other subjects."

This month, the Airmen volunteered to screen the vision of the Swigert students, an annual program that identifies children who might need glasses. Sergeant Modica also headed up a team of volunteers to chaperone at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, which featured a booth set up by the Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy students.

The students love having the Airmen in the school, said Larry Bartel, Swigert Academy principal.

"They are fascinated with the Air Force," he said.

After all, the school's curriculum uses space and aerospace themes and principles to teach subjects, including science, technology, engineering, the arts and math.

"We are getting kids excited about science and math - this is big," Mr. Bartel said.

The space-themed middle school, 4220 E. Pikes Peak Ave., opened two years ago through a partnership between the Space Foundation and the Colorado Springs School District 11.

In Colorado, parents can choose where they want to send their children to school, regardless of where they live. Swigert Aerospace Academy has an enrollment of about 600 students and is accepting applicants, Mr. Bartel said.

The Swigert Academy and Peterson AFB partnership is one of many, said Mary Ley, Colorado Springs School District 11 project director. This year, the school received a $5 million federal magnet school grant which will provide laptop computers for every student by next fall. The school also received $3.2 million in software from Analytical Graphics, Inc. for a satellite tracking computer system and space simulation lab that mirrors systems used by the U.S. military. In addition, Dell contributed $50,000 to build the school a cyber café where children can call their deployed parents via the Internet each school night until 7:30 p.m.

"Our No. 1 goal is to support Peterson parents and kids," Ms. Ley said. "This is our mission."

The academy's newest space exploration lab is a "Mars Yard," which simulates the terrain of Mars. Children will use robots for exploration, said Bryan DeBates, Swigert Academy director of education. Next year, the academy will open the Mars Yard to students from all District 11 schools. Airmen are looking forward to volunteering in the Mars Yard, Sergeant Modica said.

"The schools appreciate having military volunteers assist with various school projects," Ms. Ballard said. "My goal is to continue to foster a close relationship with schools that provide educational opportunities for our military kids and to give a venue for our Airmen to make a difference and give back to the community through volunteering at the schools."

Swigert Academy was named for Colorado native and astronaut John L. Swigert, who served on NASA's Apollo 7 and Apollo 13 missions. Mr. Swigert died in 1982.
Visit the Swigert Academy website at, www.d11.org/SWIGERT/.
Find out more about Colorado Springs District 11 at, www.d11.org.
Peterson parents who would like more information about area schools can call the school liaison officer at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, at 556-6141.