With summer in full swing, students at Stout Middle School turned their curiosity toward the stars this week during the DiscoverWorks Program. Throughout the five-week program, students have engaged in a range of educational topics meant to keep their minds active through the summer break. On Friday, July 24, students discovered the fun and awe of outer space as they explored the science of planets, phases of the moon, elementary physics, and more.
On Friday afternoon, students welcomed their parents to present a wide variety of projects crafted during the week’s English language arts and math classes. As a surprise, Principal Hebat Abdelbaki awarded first and second place winners with unique prizes Elyas Alkusari won first place with his phases of the moon project and will receive a new bicycle. Reem Alwardany, Rimas Jouri, Mohammad Abdaljawwad, and Hassan Monzer all tied for second place with their collective rotating planet model. Each will receive either a new bicycle or a new scooter. Additionally, all participating students received their choice of a small prize.
“[The students] knew that they were going to pick one project to present to parents and students, but they didn’t know that they were all going to get prizes,” said Principal Abdelbaki, “We were just happy that the parents came out to see all the learning that their kids have been doing throughout the summer program.”
Thanks to a generous grant, Dearborn Public Schools expanded its summer programs to include kindergarten through ninth grade for 2026. Now in its third year, DiscoverWorks (previously called Summer Discovery) provides summer fun and activities designed to strengthen math and literacy. With weekly themes like outer space, the program ensures students spend part of their break engaged in academic curiosity and return in the fall ready to excel. Currently, 3,676 students are enrolled in 19 sites throughout the district, and the program remains free for families thanks to funding by the United Way for Southeastern Michigan and the Ballmer Group.
Dearborn Public Schools traditionally offered some summer programs at most schools, but typically the programs were much smaller and focused on helping struggling students strengthen their academic skills. DiscoverWorks is intended to reach a much larger number of students and provide more instruction and more enrichment to any interested students.
During the summer, students across the district have been able to participate in a variety of activities thanks to expanding DiscoverWorks initiatives. As a result of the $8 million grant, students learned about healthy snacking and safe cooking, cruised on a Detroit River tour, participated in community gardening, and experienced space with an at-school planetarium. Free breakfast and lunch was also available to participating students thanks to funding from the National School Lunch Program.
“Students strengthen their reading, writing, and math skills every day as well as their STEM engineering skills,” noted Principal Abdelbaki, “There was a lot of learning that took place here that wouldn’t have otherwise happened if the summer program wasn’t available for them.”
The DiscoverWorks program concludes this week with various wrap up activities. Students will return to school on August 24th for the first day of the new school year.
