STEM NEWS October 2016
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Academy
DIRECTOR'S DIALOGUE
Dear STEM Families,
Thank you for choosing STEM Academy!
At the moment, we are in the middle of various project based learning units at each grade level. Students are learning new content, competing in extra-curricular competitions and serving their community in various ways.
The recruitment season has started for the 17-18 school year. Thank you for being ambassadors of our program and sharing with prospective families your insight and perspective regarding STEM Academy. Our lottery form and shadowing sessions are now listed on the STEM homepage at www.neisd.net/stem.
Finally, our annual STEM Engineering Festival takes place this Saturday, November 5 from 9am - 12:30pm at the Nimitz MS gymnasium. This event is a community service project for our program, in which our students are encouraged to facilitate a booth. The teachers have been sharing this opportunity with our students. STEM invites all NEISD elementary age students to this festival for hands-on activities and booths to explore science and engineering with their family. It is always a fun event!
As you read through our newsletter, I hope you will enjoy seeing some of the amazing achievements of our students.
For the Kids,
Melissa Alcala, Ed.D.
Director
CONGRATULATIONS NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS!
Eight STEM Seniors were recognized nationally for their PSAT results. These students represent the top achievers in the nation!
The students are:
Elijah Pena (Natl Merit Hispanic Scholar), Madison Uyemura (Natl Merit Hispanic Scholar), Rebekah Stagg (Natl Merit Semi-Finalist), Grace Ranft-Garcia (Natl Merit Hispanic Scholar), Dr. Alcala (Director), Bradley Brickson (Natl Merit Commended Scholar), Daniel Bocanegra (Natl Merit Hispanic Scholar), Ryan White (Natl Merit Semi-Finalist) and Jorge Palomino (Natl Merit Hispanic Scholar).
STEM students named to the 2017 USA Archery Team
Congratulations Wilson and Peter!
Chalk It Up!
Middle School students in the STEM art program participated in the San Antonio Chalk It Up event in October 2016. Students went downtown and created a work of art using only chalk as patrons viewed their work and that of other schools and organizations.
Site Visits - a mutual benefit
College Scholarship Information
Grade 7 at San Jose Mission
The 7th grade students are completing their project based learning project regarding the impact of water resources in past historical settlements, as well as present day considerations.
Thank You TESORO Corporation
TESORO provided over $15,000 in monetary support to our varsity level, FRC, robotics team this past school year. Our team made a special "thank you" video to share with our generous business partner for their support.
STEM Reads Program
The HS STEM English team has designed an initiative to promote reading, while integrating our students in grades 9-12. In this program, students are reading a common text from a given selection and then participating in book talks led by the STEM upperclassmen.
HS STEM Females place at the Texas Junior Academy of Science Competition
Following a rigorous schedule of research, four STEM Academy students competed in the 2016 Texas Junior Academy of Science (TJAS) at Texas A&M University on October 19 to 21.
The TJAS is an annual meeting and science competition. High school students (grades 9-12) from across the state conduct research during the school year and present results at TJAS through both spoken and written word. Nearly two hundred students competed in 12 different categories ranging from Chemistry to Zoology. At the state event, each student presented their research and findings to a panel of judges with careers in the student’s field of research. Awards are given for each of the 12 different categories, as well as overall grand.
Our students were honored, as follows:
Behavioral and Social Sciences: 1st Place - Julia Singer (11th ISA) with the project "Compliance Trends in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema and Macular Degeneration"
Medicine and Health:
2nd place Grace Ranft-Garcia (12th) with the project "A Novel Approach: The Engineering of a Gold Nanorod Based High-Throughput Multiplex Biosensor"
3rd place Carla Carmona (11th) with the project "Investigation of the role of CB2 receptors in L-DOPA-induced Dykinesia"
Microbiology: Honorable Mention Arlene Salazar(12th) with the project "Preventing Biofilm Growth"
STEM Students Recognized each Grading Quarter
Over half of our freshmen class had Perfect Attendance during the first grading quarter. Amazing!
STEM Academy at Dia de Los Muertos
The art students at the MS STEM Academy participated in the La Villita’s Día de Los Muertos celebration. Their altar was a tribute to Gene Wilder and included images of the factory, Gene Wilder, and sugar skulls and paper flowers. It was a very popular altar at the event. The students showcased their expertise in drawing, painting, hand-building, spatial considerations, and lighting.
Día de Los Muertos Celebration brought together traditional art and culture with the best in live music entertainment, creating a two-day destination event for the City of San Antonio celebrating the Day of the Dead. The event hosted a variety of activities over the weekend celebration including the largest open altar exhibition and competition in the city. The celebration was Saturday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Oct. 30. Activities included: live music at the Arneson River Theater; original Day of the Dead art; living altar; dance, drum and puppet procession; and live poetry.
Congratulations STEM Academy student artists and their teacher Guillermo (Willie) Sanchez.
Nimitz/STEM PTA and Lee PTSA Updates
Both the Nimitz/STEM PTA and Lee PTSA are consistently doing things to benefit all the students at the campus.
Currently the Nimitz-STEM PTA is working to determine campus grant requests. We are grateful for our PTA volunteers and parent supporters that assist with this program!
The Lee PTSA has various open positions to be filled as they work to enrich the environment at Lee-STEM-NESA-ISA. To learn more about each position, visit the Lee PTSA website (https://www.pt-avenue.com/login.asp and enter the Organization Code of "Lee Campus") to see descriptions of each job. Then, send an email with your interest to our PTSA President, Belle Watson (belletroop230@yahoo.com).
- Second Vice President (Fundraising)
- North East Council Delegate
- ADEPT/Red Ribbon Chair
- Hospitality/Staff Appreciation Chair
- Greenback Chair
- Lee-esta Chair
- Presidential Volunteer Service Award
- 11th Grade Event Chair
- Clothes Closet Chair
REFERENCE TOOLS
NEISD STEM Academy
HS STEM Office: (210)356-1001
MS STEM Office (210) 356-5501
Email: jshaw1@neisd.net
Website: www.neisd.net/stem
Phone: (210)356-1001
Twitter: @neisd_stem