Constructing the Future: DRHS and DRJHS Team Up to Prepare Students for the Future

Desert Ridge High School (DRH) and Desert Ridge Junior High (DRJH) are more than just neighboring schools; they are partners in education, working together to provide students with unique learning opportunities. You may have already heard about the worldwide success of DHS’s robotics team, which has won multiple Arizona State Championships and competed in World Robotics Competitions. Standing out among the rest, Sundt Construction asked DHS’s robotics team to help them with a project for Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s Big Dig for Kids event. Ultimately, this project gave students the opportunity to gain a hands-on learning experience that they can add to their resumes, develop leadership skills, and contribute to the community.

Desert Ridge High was tasked with transforming miniature cranes that Sundt Construction made into interactive "clawbots," similar to arcade claw machines. A team of dedicated students from both schools took on the challenge of creating a concept and designing a system that would bring the cranes to life. Simply put, Sundt Construction made the physical cranes, but DRH and DRJH made the cranes work. On the surface, the design was simple: a hand crank would move the crane’s trolley forward and backward while the press of a button would lower a magnet that could pick up foam construction hats floating on a pool of water. Although it was visually simple, the project was no easy task. Students from DRH and DRJH worked on electrical engineering, 3D printing, coding, soldering, and more, investing over a month of hard work to complete the task. This project not only gave students the opportunity to work on something they could add to their resumes, but it also gave high school students the chance to mentor younger students while preparing junior high students for more advanced work they’ll see later in their academic journey.

“It’s cool to see my son do the same things that I do at work,” said Oscar Gastelo, the parent of a student at Desert Ridge High.”The mentorship aspect is particularly valuable, as it allows older students to share their expertise while giving younger students the chance to share new ideas."

The partnership between Desert Ridge High and Desert Ridge Junior High extends beyond individual projects. Through Project Lead the Way, the schools are working to create a seamless educational experience for students from 7th to 12th grade. This initiative allows younger students to access advanced high school coursework in subjects like French, Math, Engineering, Robotics, Performing Arts, and more. High school students, in turn, serve as mentors, guiding and supporting their junior high counterparts. This collaborative approach not only fosters a strong sense of community but also prepares students for future success, whether it be entering the workforce or pursuing higher education.

“Our overarching goal is to examine how we can share resources between DRH and DRJH so that we can put our students in a position where they are ready for their future - whether it be coming into high school or post-graduation. This opens the door for us to be a central hub for our community, connecting our students with community partners like Sundt Construction. We don’t just want to be a brick-and-mortar campus, we want to be something more,” said Scott Smith, Principal at Desert Ridge High School.

The partnership between Desert Ridge High and Desert Ridge Junior High School is a model for collaboration and innovation in education. By breaking down traditional barriers and fostering a culture of shared learning, these schools are providing students with unique learning opportunities that prepare them for their futures. As the schools continue to work together, they are not only shaping the future of education but also inspiring the next generation of leaders and innovators.