Building Community and Creativity with VariQuest

Roger B. Chaffee Elementary, home of the Eagles, in Huntsville, Alabama, has experienced an exciting transformation since implementing the full suite of VariQuest tools (VariQuest Learning Suite) into their school. According to Curriculum Specialist Sara Northcutt, the tools have significantly enhanced instructional delivery, school-wide communication, and student engagement from PreK through 5th grade. Purchased with Title I funding, the VariQuest tools have replaced outdated and complicated tools with modern, efficient resources that teachers across grade levels now use every single day.

Enhancing Classrooms Across Grade Levels

Several classrooms have already made great progress using the VariQuest tools. In 2nd grade, teachers use the Perfecta® Series Poster Design and Print System to print large-scale graphic organizers that guide whole-group instruction and support comprehension during lessons. Meanwhile, 4th grade classrooms have tapped into the VariQuest® Cutout Maker Digital Die-Cut Machine to create visually engaging bulletin boards that not only add decorations to the walls but also reinforce learning themes.

Ms. Northcutt herself has used the Perfecta® to implement a schoolwide math fluency initiative centered around a “Ninja Math” program. This initiative spans from PreK to 5th grade and incorporates classroom assessments, take-home challenges, and community partnerships. Students track progress on large, printed posters from the Perfecta® displayed throughout the school, earning stars on their ninja characters and working toward an end-of-year celebration featuring a visit from a local karate studio. These unique visuals have greatly increased participation and motivation throughout each grade.

Building Community and Relationships

One of the most impactful decisions was placing the entire VariQuest Suite in the Curriculum Specialist’s room. “This room not only serves as a workspace now, but also as a space to build relationships with other teachers and staff that use the machines” Ms. Northcutt explains. As a collaborative workspace where teachers can access the tools freely while also building relationships and sharing best practices, the quality of learning for students is significantly enhanced by this decision. 

Support for Special Education and Family Engagement

Special education teachers have embraced the tools as well, using the Cutout Maker and the Motiva® 400 specialty printing system to create “first-then” visual schedules, personalized bulletin boards, sensory paths, and so much more. These materials help create structured, supportive learning environments for students with unique needs.

Family engagement has also seen a boost. The Parent Coordinator and PreK staff now use the VariQuest tools frequently to create engaging materials that were once difficult to produce. “Families have noticed the difference,” Ms. Northcutt says. Enhanced visuals and better communication have significantly strengthened the connection between teachers and families and have allowed parents to become more involved.

Conclusion

With just one year of use, the VariQuest Learning Suite has revolutionized how Roger B. Chaffee Elementary supports its students, teachers, and families. From enhancing academic instruction to building school culture and engaging the community, these tools have become more than just devices. As Ms. Northcutt puts it, “It really has changed the world around here.