Jane Ball Elementary School
Jane Ball Elementary School is part of the Hanover Community School Corporation and is located in Cedar Lake, Indiana. Serving approximately 348 students in Pre-K through 2nd grade, the school fosters a welcoming and nurturing early learning environment. Jane Ball Elementary is dedicated to building strong academic foundations, promoting curiosity, and encouraging positive character development in every student.
What STEM means at Jane Ball Elementary School
At Jane Ball Elementary School, we envision a future where every child discovers the joy of learning through curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Our mission is to empower students to reach their full potential through integrated STEM education that nurtures critical thinking, innovation, and real-world problem-solving across all subject areas.
Our goal is to build a strong reputation as a community leader in STEM education—one that reflects Cedar Lake’s values of curiosity, collaboration, and care. From hands-on, project-based lessons in our classrooms to our vibrant STEM Day and after-school enrichment programs, Jane Ball students engage in meaningful, experiential learning that sparks imagination and builds lasting confidence. Every student is encouraged to explore, ask questions, and create solutions that connect learning to the world around them.
We are deeply committed to ensuring equitable access to high-quality STEM experiences for all learners. Through inclusive initiatives like our All-Inclusive STEM Days, every student participates in hands-on design challenges that foster belonging, teamwork, and problem-solving. Teachers work together across grade levels to integrate STEM concepts, supported by ongoing professional development and collaborative feedback designed to strengthen instruction and spark continuous growth.
Our partnerships with local industries, high schools, and community organizations make Jane Ball a hub of family and community engagement. Together, we are expanding access to real-world experiences that connect early learning to future opportunities—building the foundation for career awareness, creativity, and leadership from the very start of a child’s educational journey.
At Jane Ball Elementary, every student is known, supported, and inspired to become a confident thinker and compassionate problem solver. Here, curiosity is celebrated, collaboration is encouraged, and learning leads to a lifetime of innovation.
Above all, we see Maple Crest as more than a school of choice. It will be recognized as the premier pathway to future success in Kokomo. Here, students will be known, challenged, and supported as confident, resilient, and well-rounded individuals who grow into inventors, problem solvers, and lifelong learners.
What makes our STEM program stand out
STEM Implementation K-12-to-Career
STEM is a pillar to the WD approach to education and preparing students as functioning members of the community by being exposed to the increasingly technology driven world. Between the three STEM labs, every student is exposed to the career opportunities available with STEM.
STEM Promotion
STEM Day and other events throughout the year expose students on what is to come as
their educational journey in the building continues. Elementary students are exposed to
opportunities at the high school, and high school students are exposed to industry
employers looking for talent or mentorship opportunities.
Diversified Options for all Secondary Ed Students, College and Workforce Bound
WD hosts several different NLPS pathways that allow students to explore their interests in
engineering, digital media, cybersecurity, information technology, business operations, and more. There is not another school of this size offering such a vast array of career exploration
opportunities.
STEM SPOTLIGHT
Jane Ball Elementary recently held an exciting after-school STEM Showcase featuring the amazing work of students from every grade. Our first graders stepped into the shoes of creative architects, building houses strong enough to protect the little pigs from the big bad wolf’s huffing and puffing. Kindergarten students explored the animal kingdom by creating animals from recycled materials, turning their displays into a vibrant zoo-themed exhibit that delighted everyone. Instead of Flipgrid videos, they focused on bringing their recycled animals to life in this fun and imaginative way. Our second graders studied Animal Life Cycles, learning about two different animals—such as baby chicks and butterflies—and comparing and contrasting their development. They created interactive slideshows presenting their findings, which parents enjoyed exploring during the showcase. The event was a wonderful opportunity for parents to engage with their children’s learning, celebrate their creativity, and discover all the fascinating STEM projects on display.
STEM Day
Jane Ball Elementary recently hosted a vibrant STEM Day packed with hands-on activities and creative learning across every classroom! Students rotated through themed STEM stations that brought their lessons to life in exciting ways. Our second graders studied birds by building birdhouses, crafting nests designed to hold an egg without breaking, and creating camouflaged birds to blend into their habitats. First graders explored the world of fish with a fishing activity in a baby pool, sorting their catches into groups that help or harm the environment, and designing camouflaged fish for their aquatic homes. Kindergarteners engaged in frog-themed challenges, building frog catapults, completing frog puzzles, and making frog rafts. Our special teachers collaborated to lead a fun music and movement project where students made instruments from recycled materials and then put on an energetic show for their teachers featuring music and dancing. Teachers added to the excitement by competing against our superintendents in Minute to Win It STEM challenges, earning points for their classes. The day wrapped up with students constructing their chosen animal—bird, fish, or frog—using just one type of material like paper plates or popsicle sticks. High school volunteers supported each classroom throughout the day, making the event smooth and memorable. STEM Day at Jane Ball was a joyful celebration of curiosity, creativity, and teamwork for students, teachers, and staff!
ALL INCLUSIVE STEM DAY
Jane Ball Elementary proudly embraces full inclusion in our STEM program. Over two special days, students from the Learning Resource Room and our EH classroom joined the STEM room for a collaborative, all‑day building experience that celebrated teamwork, creativity, and hands‑on problem solving.
On the first day, one group began constructing a farm, house, or other structure using safe, kid‑friendly tools — including a specially designed chomp saw for cutting cardboard under close supervision. When that class finished, a second group entered and added new layers and features to the existing builds, turning single structures into multi‑layered creations like a stacked “hotel.” Working in small groups allowed students to practice communication, planning, and collaborative decision‑making in a supportive environment.
Each class took their completed farm or hotel back to their homeroom to continue adding details and personal touches, extending the learning beyond the STEM room. The two days were a wonderful demonstration of how inclusive practices create meaningful, hands‑on learning opportunities for all students. This collaborative project not only taught engineering and design skills but also reinforced respect, cooperation, and a sense of belonging — a truly amazing opportunity for inclusion at Jane Ball.
Our Current STEM Focus
At Jane Ball Elementary, our focus this year is to strengthen community partnerships that expand and enrich STEM learning for every student. We’re seeking partners who can sponsor programs, donate resources, or volunteer their time and expertise to support hands-on, meaningful STEM experiences. To guide these efforts, we’ve formed a STEM Advisory Board made up of school staff, parents, and community members who help set priorities and connect the school to local resources.
A major initiative this year is a volunteer-run After-School STEM Program. The model is simple and sustainable: each teacher volunteers one hour, one time during the school year to share a hobby, talent, or STEM activity with students. Community members and parents are invited to join as regular volunteers, bringing workshops, demonstrations, or mentoring sessions that are free for families.
This volunteer-centered program creates low-cost, high-impact opportunities for students to explore new interests, see role models from their community, and build real-world skills. For partners, it’s a chance to give back in a manageable, rewarding way—sharing passions, expertise, and time to inspire the next generation of problem solvers. Together with our STEM Advisory Board and committed volunteers, Jane Ball Elementary is building a network of support that will make STEM learning richer, more accessible, and more connected to our community.
