iLab updates

iLab on its feet, standing tall

Aslow start to the use of our iLab facility has been replaced with rapid progression.

The 5,000-square-foot space opened as repurposed classroom space during the first year of the pandemic. And then an unfortunate staffing setback during the first week of school last fall created uncertainty at the start of its second year.

Enter the leadership of Luke Pelletier.

Mr. Pelletier brings with him not only his experience teaching science in our Middle School and leading the WMA Robotics teams, he also brings a wealth of experience managing similar spaces earlier in his career at Monsanto. He and his wife run robotics programs for his children and their friends out of his home. In his free time, Mr. Pelletier is a natural tinkerer and enjoys restoring and refining classic automobiles.

In coordination with Science Department Chair Dr. John Strauss, Mr. Pelletier and his small but growing cadre of student leaders are steadily bringing online all that this exciting new space has to offer. Students quickly began mastering the bank of 3D printers and the Epilog laser cutter; and the machinery in the wood and composite shop are being thoughtfully and carefully employed as time and training allow. The Robotics teams are succeeding and competing already at a much higher level than previously possible, and the space is a daily hub of activity from a growing list of classes and extracurricular pursuits like Science Olympiad, Fashion Design, STEM 9, Digital Photography and Design Studio.

There is still a lot of work to be done to utilize the iLab to its full potential, but we are encouraged by the recent progress and look forward to the benefit of this resource to the WMA program and its students for decades to come.

Inspired by the vision of the late Dr. Kathleen Gorski (shown teaching in top right photo), who succumbed to a long battle with cancer in 2018, the iLab was the dream of our former Science Department Chair. Demolition and construction were followed by equipment delivery, installation and setup. The space opened for student use in September 2021. Please visit www.wma.us/ilab to learn more.