initiative under the leadership of Principal Pam Hill-Gilmartin and Vice Principal Veronica Griffith. This pilot program has rapidly become a key part of JVES's culture, offering 26 diverse courses that range from Special Effects Make-up to Forensic Science. These courses not only allow teachers to share their passions with students but also turn Mondays into eagerly awaited events for the school community, with sessions from 1:30-3:00 PM.

Central to the Explorations program is its focus on student choice and engagement. Utilizing feedback from both staff and students, JVES has tailored the offerings to include more of what students are interested in, such as crafts, games and art projects. This approach has led to improved behavior and attendance, with the first semester seeing no discipline issues and a noticeable increase in Monday attendance.

The program was inspired by a visit to the Design 39 campus in Poway, CA, where the D39's Deep Dives Program left a lasting impression on the JVES team. This experience prompted the introduction of a similar passion-driven learning model at JVES, enabling students to explore beyond the traditional curriculum.

However, the program's success comes with its challenges, including logistical issues like scheduling and class size management, as well as funding, given the reliance on consumable materials for many of the passions. Community support has been instrumental for 23-24 school year, with significant contributions from Donors Choice, Minden Rotary Club, and a generous $5,000 donation from the Genoa Volunteer Fire Department. These donations have directly impacted the classroom, allowing Mrs. Keuhner to purchase TinkerTar guitars for song making, Mrs. Estees to buy ingredients for her cooking class, and Mrs. Jezek and Mrs. Wanderscheid to acquire sewing machines for their sewing exploration.

As JVES continues to pioneer this experiential learning model, the goal is to extend the Explorations program to other elementary schools, sharing the benefits of this innovative approach to education. With the support of the community, educators, and students, JVES is setting a new standard for engaging and personalized learning experiences, proving that when students are given the choice to explore their passions, they look forward to being at school.

List of Explorations:

For Grades 3-5:

• Drawing with Mrs. Kelly
• Theater with Mrs. Hastings
• Sports Rules with Ms. Adams
• Kindness Krew with Mrs. Wilkes and Dr. Finch
• Special Effects Make-up with Mrs. Hostler
• Amigurumi with Mrs. Arellano
• Songmakers with Mrs. Kuehner
• Sew Happy with Mrs. Jezek and Mrs. Wanderscheid
• Lego Lab with Mrs. Pfeil
• Cake Decorating with Mrs. Wolfe
• Board Games with Mrs. Borgman
• Origami with Mrs. Rojas
• The Art of Storytelling with Mrs. Linford and Mrs. Herrera
• Forensic Science with Mrs. Gramolini
• Careers with Mr. Moultrup

For Grades Pre-K-2:

• Painting and Pasta with Mrs. Estee
• Rockets with Mr. Giorgi
• Songmaker with Mrs. Kuehner
• Engineering with Mrs. Goins
• Maker Space with Mrs. Amador
• The Moon with Mrs. St. John
• Card Mania with Mrs. Torres
• World of Color with Mrs. Peck
• Coding and Robots with Mr. Ruvalcaba
• Crafts and Games with Mrs. Gilmartin
• Healthy from the Inside Out with Mrs. Combs