In an effort to raise awareness of the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math literacy for children, Cathedral High School’s Key Club is planning a year-long literacy project to show kids how fun STEM can be.

The project will kick off with a book drive through the last two weeks of September.

Cathedral’s Key Club and Science Olympiad members are excited about promoting STEM literacy in local elementary schools, and they hope you are, too.

They will be accepting new or used book donations in Ralph Loe’s room as well as in the foyer of the high school.

Full sets or “lots” of elementary-level STEM books can be found on eBay for as little as $10.

If you don’t have any STEM books on hand, but you have some children’s books that you want to donate, they are equally appreciated.

Additionally, if you would like to make a monetary donation to be used for the purchase of STEM books, checks can be made to Cathedral High School with “STEM Books 4 Kids” in the memo line.

In October, students from Cathedral plan to take the books to four local elementary schools — Frazier Elementary, Susie B. West Elementary, ACCS Elementary and McLaurin Elementary — and read STEM books to the students of those schools throughout the month.

In the spring, Cathedral’s Science Olympiad team will follow by doing demonstrations of their events, such as a crane-building event called Boomilever, a plane-building event called Wright Stuff, and musical instrument-building event called Sounds of Music, at the elementary schools.

At Cathedral, the Science Olympiad team intends to promote an elementary-level Science Olympiad day to introduce younger students to the fun of science competitions.

If you would like more information about this project, please see the Cathedral High School Facebook and Instagram pages, check out the Pinterest account “STEM Books 4 Kids,” or email Samuel Freiberger at stembooks4kids@gmail.com.

Samuel Freiberger is a student at Cathedral High School and president of the Key Club.