The STEM Academy at Booker T. Washington officially kicked off its 5th grade Signature Project, Operation StormWatch, on Monday, December 1. This semester-long learning experience immerses students in the world of emergency management, disaster response, and STEM-driven community problem-solving.
At the STEM Academy, each grade level participates in a Signature Project, a sustained, authentic learning experience that spans an entire semester. These projects leverage design thinking, real STEM application, and partnerships with regional experts to help students explore community-connected challenges.
A Powerful Launch Experience
To introduce Operation StormWatch, students engaged in a hands-on Design Studio led by Dr. John Baaki (ODU), with support from Dr. Joshua Behr, Research Professor with Virginia Modeling, Analysis & Simulation Center (VMASC) at Old Dominion University. Dr. Behr began the session by helping students explore the science behind storms, severe weather forces, and community preparedness. He brought with him an unforgettable collection of real storm-debris artifacts, including twisted anchors and bolts retrieved from tornado and hurricane-impacted sites, to demonstrate just how powerful severe weather events can be.
Inspired by these real-world examples, students worked in small teams to explore the essential question:
“How do storms impact our communities, and how can we prepare for severe weather events?”
Instead of simply describing their ideas, students were challenged to show their understanding through skits, flow charts, models, and timelines. Their discussions touched on engineering, meteorology, building safety, emergency planning, and the ways communities rely on science and data to stay safe.
About Operation StormWatch
With support from community subject matter experts, including the City of Suffolk’s Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, the Civil Air Patrol, Suffolk Economic Development, Hampton Roads Workforce Council, the U.S. Coast Guard, and additional partners joining as the project progresses, Operation StormWatch plans to place students in authentic emergency-management roles across six coordinated teams:
- City Operations: City Manager, Emergency Management, Communications
- Weather & Analysis: Meteorologist, Map Analyst, Data Recorder
- Public Safety: Fire and Police Leadership, Drone Operations
- Civil Air Patrol / National Guard: Pilot, Radio Operations, Disaster Relief
- Military & Maritime Operations: Navy, Coast Guard, Port Logistics
- Support Services: Shelter, Supplies, Medical Coordination
By working within these coordinated teams, students experience the structure and functions of real emergency-response agencies. Over the semester, they will analyze weather and hazard data, investigate historical storm impacts, collaborate with subject matter experts, and visit emergency-preparedness sites across Hampton Roads. This work builds toward a culminating experience: a full mock disaster simulation at the Suffolk Emergency Operations Center on March 16, 2026, where students will put their learning into action.
Follow “Forecast Friday at STEM Academy”
To highlight student progress throughout the semester, the STEM Academy is launching Forecast Friday at STEM Academy, a recurring series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at how 5th graders are growing in their emergency-management roles.
Throughout the project, follow along as students take on new responsibilities, build STEM skills, and deepen their understanding of how communities prepare for and respond to severe weather events, with each update offering a behind-the-scenes look at student learning as they prepare for the March EOC simulation.
Stay tuned and follow along as we chart the path from project launch to simulation day. The forecast: lots of learning ahead!
