Carroll Dragons will gaze into the starry-night sky after receiving a grant through the Hudson Foundation to build an astronomy observatory.
Carroll ISD plans to use part of the grant money to purchase a portable star lab to be used by both students and community members.
The Dragon Astronomy Observatory will be located at Johnson Elementary School, pending approval by city council members, according to mysouthlakenews.com.
Students and community members will have the opportunity to view planets, star clusters, galaxies and nebulae. Families can also gather to view the night sky.
The Hudson Foundation has a tradition of supporting Carroll ISD. In 2004, the organization provided the grant to begin the Carroll Medical Academy which grew to serve approximately 200 students.
Carroll ISD plans to utilize this grant in a variety of ways including an observatory built on one of the Carroll ISD campuses, school and community star-gazing nights and formation of campus astronomy clubs.
The Carroll ISD science department is creating an Astronomy Committee to make this dream a reality, which will consist of science curriculum coordinators, teachers and community members.
This group will serve as a committee to support program start-up, provide insights for constructing the observatory as well as purchase equipment.
Additionally, the creation of a new Dragon Observatory website will take place.