Novi City in Spotlight as Catholic Central High School Unveils $61M Advanced STEM Center
Novi City, a renowned spot in Oakland County, has reason to celebrate as the Catholic Central High School unveils a remarkable, state-of-the-art STEM center. A whopping $61 million was invested in the center which boasts an observatory equipped with a daylight-sensing telescope, 5,300-square foot space for robotics competitions, and an incredibly high-tech aviation simulator.
The impressive RedBird 180° Flight Simulator is a massive hit in the new center. It gives the students a chance to try their hands at flying around 20 different aircraft. Interestingly, the Ground School program at Catholic Central, where the senior Charlie Dierkes is making his flying dreams a reality, uses the same type of simulation that Air Force pilots train with. This is possible through the collaboration with Cross Winds Aviation.
What’s even better? The simulation hours are FAA certified and can help students advance towards achieving their pilot’s license. Amy Ely, director of STEM at the school, shared her enthusiasm and expressed her hope for students getting more practice before they hit the skies for real.
In addition to the flight simulator, the center takes pride in an advanced robotics setup. The students have the liberty to operate, program, and even build their own robots in the machine lab. Ely asserts that the machine lab will be open to other robotics teams without similar resources, under an initiative called ‘Shop Mentors Saturdays.’
The star-gazing enthusiasts also have a reason to rejoice. The observatory dome in the STEM center allows students to track stars, photograph them, and use the images for studies. In a generous move, the school is planning to host ‘Star Parties’ to share real space images with the public.
In conclusion, with such an advanced setup, Catholic Central High School is setting a new precedent in STEM education among schools in the region. It not only enhances the learning experiences of its students but extends warmth and goodwill to other aspiring students in the wider Oakland County.
