Students make 3-D printed Christmas toys, ornaments to raise money for charity
Students at Paramus Catholic High School have been raising money for charity by selling 3D-printed Christmas ornaments and puzzle pieces that they designed themselves.
It began when students in the Paramus Catholic Robotics Club showed an interest in learning about CAD, or computer-aided design.
Math teacher Sonny Capizzi took the initiative to revamp an old 3D printer and learn CAD himself. With the support of the Paramus Catholic administration and Dr. Stephanie Macaluso, Capizzi ordered parts and all the necessary items needed to get the 3D printer up and running. Te Paramus Catholic CAD Club was born.
The club created a working robot whose function was to solve a Rubik’s Cube. As more students began to show interest in learning CAD, Capizzi began writing curriculum for an elective CAD class. Capizzi’s elective quickly grew to be one of the more popular classes among junior and senior students in the Paramus Catholic’s STEAM curriculum.
The CAD club also meets several times a month and, in the spirit of Christian giving, club members have begun to put their design skills to work to create items to sell for charity. Combining elements of computer design and community service, the club runs two annual charity projects.
At Christmastime, it has become a tradition for students to design, print, and sell Christmas ornaments in the shape of the school’s mascot, the Paladin. Each year, students raise several hundred dollars through this initiative to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Students also began designing personalized puzzle pieces two years ago to sell as part of an autism awareness fundraiser. In the past, funds raised through this initiative have been donated to Autism Speaks.
Students are taking on a new project to design 3D-printed toys this year. These toys will become part of Paramus Catholic’s “Adopt A Family” Christmas project.
The biggest joy for Capizzi is to “see the students’ ability to plan something from scratch and to follow that item until it is successfully printed.” The hands-on component of teaching CAD is thrilling for both the teacher and the students.
The ornaments and puzzle pieces are sold only at the school.
