Sandra Giordano, a proud alumna of Montclair State University, former teacher, and dedicated principal, heads the groundbreaking Heart of ARC and ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) partnership.
Heart of ARC, formerly known as Immaculate Heart of Mary School, is an organization formed after the school’s closure to continue fostering creativity, innovation, and education for students. Under Giordano’s leadership, the Heart of ARC has brought together former IHM students for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a live connection with astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) through the prestigious Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program.
Students will engage with astronauts to learn about life, work, and experiments aboard the ISS. This program serves to bridge the arts and sciences by combining research, creativity, and communication. As part of the Heart of ARC’s mission to combine STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) with the creativity of the arts, students have worked on space-themed projects, created artwork inspired by the cosmos, and engaged in research that prepares them for this unique opportunity to interact with astronauts.
Slated to be held on February 10th, this event is being hosted by the Clifton Arts Center in New Jersey, whose support made it possible for the students to connect with the ISS from this location. Student projects and artwork will also be on display in celebration of the event. From this event, students will become inspired to make positive impacts within their community through their curiosity, dedication, and innovative projects, while emphasizing the importance of space exploration.
The students will ask the astronauts about some aspects of space travel that they find fascinating, such as “How do you stay connected with loved ones during your time on the ISS?” and “How does your perspective on Earth change after seeing it from space?”
Giordano was determined to keep the program alive when the school shut down. To make this happen, she turned to new partnerships and opportunities to ensure the program’s survival. Through this partnership, she brought together science, technology, engineering, math, and art, giving students a chance to connect their creativity with the wonders of space exploration.
