Maker Lab

The Maker Lab doesn’t identify as a traditional extracurricular activity, but more of an open community for anyone to join. It’s moderated by several teachers as well as the Student Leadership Team, which organizes activities, hosts events, leads projects, and maintains the overall space.

Our inventory contains a range of tools, including a CNC Mill, Waterjet Cutter, Laser Cutter, 3D Printers, T-Shirt Press, and a variety of power tools. Once onboarded and properly trained, students may use our tools for any project they like!

Learn More About the Maker Lab

Philosophy & Mission

Vision

Build a strong, safe and inclusive community of makers and explorers who find their own agency through passion projects and collaborating on community projects, building skills and confidence.

Mission

Provide access to fabrication and organizational tools, enabling students to …. awaken curiosity, ignite passion, empower agency & be men for and with others.

Philosophy

Employ design thinking and agile manufacturing methodologies to.. Develop Empathy, Prototype faster, Evaluate clearly, Learn from failure, & Iterate to Innovate.

Our Tools

Subdivisions

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Combat Robotics

The Bellarmine Combat Robotics Competition (BCRC) is an organization based in the Maker Lab that aims to promote and make robot engineering more accessible to students. BCRC hosts combat robotics competitions with 1-pound and 3-pound weight classes, where custom-made robots use weapons to fight each other (in a safely enclosed arena).

BCRC members learn fundamental robot physics, assembly, and manufacturing by building a 1-pound robot before splitting off into teams to design and build 3-pound robots with guidance from student mentors. The BCRC uses a variety of Maker Lab tools to rapidly prototype robots with materials ranging from PLA plastic to rocket-grade titanium.

Twice a year, the BCRC hosts "Bell Brawls," a combat robotics tournament featuring a handful of the best 3-pound robots in Northern California, which are live-streamed on the BCRC YouTube channel.

Click HERE to learn more about the BCRC!

Bellarmine Aerospace

Bellarmine Aerospace is a program with a specific focus on space exploration, aerospace engineering, and astronomical science. The team is made up of about 20 students of all grades, and their open learning environment encourages students to learn and collaborate on space-related projects using tools such as 3D printing, laser-cutting, and Arduino programming.

Their main projects currently include the Cube Satellite Initiative, which will loft a small satellite into space, as well as the Human Habitation Team, which is designing a future Moon/Mars base that can fit inside a SpaceX Starship rocket.

With the support of their mentors and teacher leaders, the team is making steady progress and eagerly awaits the launch of their first CubeSat in 2023. Stay tuned to our Instagram for further updates on their exciting aerospace-based projects!

Click HERE to learn more about Bellarmine Aerospace!

Baker Lab

Baker Lab is a unique Summer Days program that teaches middle schoolers the art of baking. Our initiative focuses on hands-on learning, as students learn essential baking techniques and create delicious treats from scratch.

But Baker Lab is more than just a baking program for middle schoolers – we also believe in giving back to general San Jose community. That's why we've teamed up with other organizations like Bellarmine's Safe Park Program. This program provides a safe place for guests to park their vehicles and sleep overnight, and we're proud to support their efforts by baking delicious pizzas with the visitors. With Baker Lab, our students not only learn valuable baking skills but also gain a sense of community involvement and service.

Student Leadership Team

Mentorship

The Maker Lab is led by a dynamic team of mentors from diverse backgrounds, each bringing unique skills and perspectives to our community. With a range of expertise spanning from engineering and design to entrepreneurship and social justice, our Mentorship Team is committed to fostering innovation and empowering the next generation of makers!

David Dutton
David Dutton is the Director of the Maker Lab. He has developed the Lab over the past 7 years and constantly cultivates its vision and philosophy. He coaches students to find their agency through passion and community projects, and leads students through the journey of design thinking, towards co-creative solutions.

Sam Goldstein
Sam Goldstein (class of 2011) is the Manager of the Maker Lab. When not repairing or maintaining tools, they are the primary project manager for the Community Job Board and for student’s personal projects. They love to help students pursue their passions and to produce projects that will wow the world.

Kim Bathker
Kim Bathker assists in administrative tasks and oversees financial operations for the Maker Lab, helping students to manage their own budgets and foster a culture of responsible innovation.

Peng Yav
Peng Yav is the Maker Lab’s secret weapon, assisting with projects, fostering the Student Leadership team, and embodying the compassion and spirit of fun that all designers in the lab hope to emulate.

Videos

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Follow Us on Instagram and The Bell Online!

Click HERE to check out our weekly “Maker Monday” posts, where we showcase various projects produced by our community of 100+ Makers!

With a focus on creativity and innovation, Bellarmine’s newspaper, The Bell Online, frequently collaborates with the Maker Lab to feature stories on its exciting projects and activities. By showcasing the Lab's work through engaging articles and multimedia content, The Bell Online helps inspire and inform the wider school community about the importance of creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on learning.

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