Poway High School recently celebrated the grand opening of "Café Innovate," an innovative new space located inside the library, designed to inspire creativity and collaboration among students. This milestone was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by students, parents, staff, PUSD Board members, and District 2 County Supervisor Joel Anderson.
The project was made possible through a generous $31,782 grant to the Poway High School Foundation from the Neighborhood Reinvestment Program, through the County of San Diego and Supervisor Joel Anderson. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program provides grant funds to County departments, public agencies, and to non-profit community organizations for one-time community, social, environmental, educational, cultural or recreational needs. The financial support underscores the community's investment in the future of education and the importance of providing modern, versatile learning environments for students.
Café Innovate is not just a testament to financial investment but also to the collaborative efforts of the PHS community in enhancing educational infrastructure. The Poway High Library team, led by Lisa Gore and Kathleen Lewis, was instrumental in spearheading this project, along with volunteers from the PTSA and the Foundation. The space itself is a blend of functionality and creativity. It offers areas for students to engage in engineering, design, and 3-D printing, fostering a hands-on learning experience. Students like Reed, an engineering student, expressed his excitement, "We have 3D printers now? I was incredibly happy to hear that because it's such a wonderful opportunity for students."
Additionally, Café Innovate provides spaces for relaxation and socialization, acknowledging the importance of a balanced educational environment for students' social-emotional wellbeing. The transformation of a resource room into Café Innovate was a strategic use of the grant funds, resulting in a welcoming and vibrant space. In a symbolic gesture, Supervisor Anderson declared November 15 as "Café Innovate Day" in District 2 of the County of San Diego.
