MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – When parents of Sparr Elementary School students asked their children, “How was school today?” on Wednesday, their child’s answers should have been pretty animated.

After all, it’s not every day a helicopter lands at your school and you get to get to see it up close.

Students watch as the Marion County Sheriff’s Office helicopter lands on the campus of Sparr Elementary School. Courtesy: MCPS

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office landed its helicopter at the school to mark the launch of the Future Aviators Academy, a one-of-a-kind program that the Marion County Public School district says will ignite “passion, aspiration, and intrigue in the aviation industry” within the minds of elementary students.

On Wednesday, students helped cut the ribbon to officially launch the program.

Sparr Elementary School students help cut the ribbon Wednesday morning to their new Future Aviators Academy. Courtesy: MCPS

The district says the Future Aviators Academy offers students opportunities to improve their skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by sparking interest in STEM-based careers within the aerospace industry. This program aligns with the Civil Air Patrol Program at nearby North Marion Middle School.

The district says all third through fifth-grade students in the Future Aviators Academy will learn by engaging with the fundamental concepts and approaches of aerospace engineering, historical developments in aviation, industry contributions, and aviation regulations and safety.

The program involves students in three main components of learning: engagement in the classroom, exploration of the industry, and extension of experiences via field trips and guest speakers.

Sparr Elementary School staff members, Marion County School Board Chair Dr. Allison Campbell, and Superintendent Dr. Diane Gullett pose with personnel from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to celebrate the school’s new Future Aviators Academy.
Courtesy: MCPS