Caissons Cracking the Code to Success
Technology students at Fishburne Military School can earn CompTIA A+ certifications while expanding their coding and technological literacy.
Waynesboro, VA — Cadets enrolled in Fishburne Military School’s Technology classes this year are earning far more than high school credit for their efforts. Thanks to Fishburne Military School’s STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) initiative and to instructors like CPT Roxanne Rodes and Ms. Joyce Mello, Cadets are developing high-level coding skills and getting hands-on experience in “using, modifyi8ng, designing, repairing, upgrading and building one’s own hardware,” according to Rodes.
The new FMS Technology curriculum is designed to give students real-world skills while providing a solid foundation for success in college. During the course of the academic year, students will learn a number of coding languages such as: Scratch, BASIC, Python, C++ and Java. Cadets will utilize Fritzing along with virtual circuit and breadboards in order to learn about hardware construction and maintenance.
Along with earning certificates for completing ALISON ABC-IT, students taking advanced technology classes at Fishburne Military School study for and work toward passing the CompTIA A+ Certification (which is a qualifier for entry-level employment in the IT field); more advanced students are encouraged to take MIT EdX Introduction to Computer Science, and MIT EdX Circuits and Electronics. Completion of these will earn a Cadet a non-credit certificate of completion from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
In today’s world, “the ability to write code is just another aspect of general literacy”, notes Rodes. And, at Fishburne Military School, she explains, Cadets enjoy some very real benefits that allow a program such as this to flourish. “I found that [Fishburne] students have an extraordinary level of access…almost all have their own devices and Fishburne has a significant infrastructure for WiFi. Additionally [we] have a modern media center with access to over forty computers for teachers and students along with interactive whiteboards (both Promethean and SmartBoard). On top of all of this, there is the academic freedom that comes with developing and executing curricula at a private school.”
The technology curriculum’s practical focus on developing contemporary, real-world skills also serves to keep the students engaged and curious. Beaming, Rodes goes on to say, “It is so much fun seeing students learn and interact with technology. It is an honor to help students develop the skills that they will need in order to become the businessmen, scientists, and engineers of tomorrow.”
Fishburne Military School is the oldest and smallest of all military schools for boys in Virginia. Its college-prep curriculum is built upon the structure of an Army JROTC program. Boasting a 100% college-acceptance rate for the past 10 consecutive years, FMS has also been designated as a JROTC Honor Unit with Distinction and may nominate qualified candidates to the United States Service Academics. Fishburne hosts one of only four Summer JROTC programs in the nation, accredited by US Army Cadet Command.
