"The Current" 2025 Year-End Edition
- Deanna Bledsoe
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Issue No. 3 - Dec. 2025
Think. Create. Code. — And Reflect.
At Kai Coders, we teach kids that learning doesn’t happen all at once — it happens through curiosity, persistence, reflection, and trying again. This year, we practiced what we teach.
We originally planned a monthly newsletter, but as our programs and partnerships grew, we realized something important: when you’re busy doing meaningful work, reflection sometimes needs more space. So The Current naturally found its rhythm as a quarterly pause-and-reflect — and that feels just right.
As we wrap up 2025, here’s a snapshot of what we built together — and where our students are headed next.
2025 at a Glance
📍 Where We’re Teaching
During-the-day programs at
Lewis Dual Language Elementary & Harlan Elementary
After-school programs at
North Star Elementary & Warner Elementary
We’re having active conversations with additional schools to expand in-day programming
More students are now experiencing hands-on, inclusive computer science as part of their school day — not just as an “extra,” but as part of how they learn and create.
Milestones We’re Proud Of
🌟 STEM.org Certified
Kai Coders earned STEM.org Certification,
placing our programs in the Top 5% of STEM
programs nationwide — recognizing our
commitment to quality, accessibility, and
future-ready learning.
🏆 Statewide Recognition
Our founder was honored by the Delaware STEM Council as a STEM Educator of the Year — a reflection of the incredible students, families, coaches, and partners who make this work possible.
Programs That Go Beyond the Classroom
🧠 Odyssey of the Mind — Division III
Kai Coders is proud to coach and sponsor a Division III Odyssey of the Mind team, guiding students through creative problem-solving, teamwork, and perseverance.
While OM is not a Kai Coders program, we’re deeply involved because we believe so strongly in its STEAM-rich, student-driven approach. OM continues to be a powerful space where kids learn to trust their ideas — and each other. Want more info about OM? Just email Pam: correspondence@deootm.org
🛠️ Junkyard Wonders
Our Junkyard Wonders
program is inspired by Patricia
Polacco’s beautiful story of
the same name.
This program blends coding, art, engineering, and community kindness, empowering students to turn recycled materials and big ideas into interactive, meaningful projects.
It’s creativity with purpose — and students rise to the challenge every time.
🌺 Welcome to the Team: Coach Jennell Bowler
We’re excited to welcome Coach Jennell Bowler to the Kai Coders ʻohana!
Coach Jennell brings a patient, curious, and can-do spirit that fits beautifully with both our students and our team. She meets learners where they are, encourages questions, and helps kids build confidence as they explore, experiment, and figure things out.
Her calm presence and genuine enthusiasm for learning make her a wonderful addition — and we’re so glad our students get to learn and grow with her.
Taking Student Voice to the World Stage 🌍
🎤 ISTE Live 2026
We’re thrilled to share that Kai Coders students have been accepted to present at ISTE Live 2026 Conference (International Society for Technology Education)!
A student team of two 8th graders and three 5th graders will lead a 90-minute interactive presentation, showcasing their community kindness coding and art projects. These students won’t just be presenting — they’ll be teaching, guiding educators through hands-on experiences they designed themselves.
Community Connections That Matter
👩🏽🔬 Engineering Your Tomorrow 2026
On February 28, Kai Coders will lead hands-on coding workshops at Engineering Your Tomorrow 2026, hosted at Conrad School of Science.
The event will welcome 150–200 middle school girls. Kai Coders will facilitate 45-minute workshops for approximately 75 students, intentionally tying coding concepts into the event’s engineering challenge — helping students see themselves as future innovators.
🏫 A STEM Family Night Win
Downes Elementary School won our Kai Coders STEM Night Booth Giveaway! Schools entered during the Delaware PTA Conference, with the winner selected at the start of Computer Science Education Week. We’re excited to partner with their PTA on a hands-on, family-friendly STEM Night.
Looking Ahead: Scratch Day 2026
In partnership with the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science, Kai Coders is preparing our most ambitious event yet: Delaware’s Scratch Day Celebration.
Families will explore interactive coding stations throughout the museum, including Scratch, ScratchJr, Makey Makey, music, movement, calm coding spaces, and Hawaiian-inspired Talk Story.
Playful. Inclusive. Creative. Very Kai Coders.
Mahalo for Being Part of Our Ohana
To our students, families, schools, PTAs, and community partners — thank you for growing with us. Interested in bringing Kai Coders to your school or community in 2026? Visit www.kaicoders.com
Until next time… Keep thinking, creating, and coding — with Aloha. 💙
~Team Kai Coders
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