STEM NEWS January 2017
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Academy
DIRECTOR'S DIALOGUE
Dear STEM Families,
Happy New Year! As we kick-off a new year, the January calendar at STEM Academy is already full!
Here are a few highlights of our January events:
* All three of our robotics programs are in competition season.
* Our MUNSA team participated last week in a Model UN simulation at Trinity University.
* Our STEM CyberPatriot teams competed this weekend.
* Eight of our faculty, including myself, are collectively presenting seven sessions at the Texas STEM Conference in mid-January, where we share our instructional program and practice, while learning from others too.
* Select HS science fair students will compete at the Texas A&M Junior Science & Humanities competition, as well as the Alamo Regional Science Fair. Your very own STEM Academy will host this regional competition, at the end of the month, with over 200 student competitors from all over the surrounding San Antonio area.
* We continue to host shadowing events for prospective students. At this time we have over 400 students registered for the lottery and the number will increase as the January 25th application deadline approaches. Note: The lottery for all secondary NEISD magnet schools takes place January 26, with notifications to follow on January 27.
These are just a few of our January highlights. Our students are involved in various extra-curricular programs for the main campus, as well, i.e. fine arts, athletics, Academic UIL, specialized clubs!
With all that said, our students have a full course load with various other activities at school and within their community. Please monitor your child(ren)'s well-being to ensure they are getting ample rest. We continue to coach our students regarding time management and organizational skills, yet we all know the students benefit most from their parent's guidance and tips. You are powerful!
The information to follow shares some highlights from November and December, as well as upcoming events. I hope you will take the time to read about all the great things happening at STEM Academy!
For the Kids,
Melissa Alcala, Ed.D.
Director
The Lee/STEM Model United Nations Team made us proud!
STEM Advisory Board
Did you know that our STEM Advisory Board meets twice a semester? This special committee is comprised of business members, community members, representatives from higher education, parents and faculty. The purpose of the STEM Advisory Board is to support and offer input regarding academy operations such as facility requirements, resource acquisition, curriculum development, internships, externships, and student/community outreach in order to ensure a successful grades 6 - 20 STEM academic and career pipeline.
This year, STEM Administration has asked the board to assist with the development of a summer internship program and STEM summer camps. The board members have been instrumental in providing connections with various businesses and personnel across the city to assist with this initiative.
Additionally, the board listens to presentations from various students groups, recently it was MS robotics, to hear about their work and offer input or possible solutions to support their goals.
STEM Academy is grateful for the efforts of this special team. The 16-17 board members are:
Dr. Melissa Alcala - Director, STEM Academy
Chris Corbett - Developer, HEB
Dr. Courtney Crim - Associate Professor, Dept of Education - Trinity University
Bryan Erickson - Associate Vice-President, HDR Inc
Sandra Geisbush - Science Teacher, STEM Academy
Garry Hardcastle - Senior Director, Learning Support Services - NEISD
Penny McCool - Science Teacher and Admin Intern, STEM Academy
Ronnie Pundt - Engineering Teacher, STEM Academy
Deb Ruel-Schaeffer - Assistant Director, Career & Technology Education - NEISD
Jose Rivera-Silva - Director, Tesoro
Jennifer Jensen - Assistant Director, STEM Academy
Dr. Heather Shipley - Associate Professor, Dept of Engineering - UTSA
Lane Smiley - Science Teacher, STEM Academy
Jeff Swoboda - Head of Enterprise Performance Management
Dr. Neal Vail - Chief Technology Officer, Progenerative Medical
Erin Valdes - Technology Teacher, STEM Academy
Congratulations Summer of Service (SOS), a STEM business partner
Summer of Service (SOS), a non-profit organization, is committed to education through service and travel. STEM Academy and SOS have worked together the past two years and created a business partnership to promote community service and travel abroad opportunities for our students through this organization.
Recently, the SOS organization and STEM Academy received the Team Up Challenge Award from the San Antonio Spurs Organization. This award recognizes clubs for outstanding service and outreach efforts that focus upon giving back to their community. A special congratulations to the students involved in SOS and Amir Samandi, SOS Executive Director, for achieving such a special award!
Students of Service Organization at MS STEM
Project Based Learning
By now, all of our students have experienced at least one project-based learning unit. Noted below are some highlights from last semester's PBL assignments,
Grade 6 - PEAK: Students devised methods to safely get climbers down Mt. Everest given climate factors, health issues and other restraints
Grade 7 - System Theory: Students determined how we use System Theory to solve problems
Grade 8 - Geographic Information System: Students participated in GIS Day at UTSA and special activities followed.
Grade 9 - To Infinity & Beyond: What will life look like over time when we colonize a new planet? Students had to determine how to get there from Earth, the political system, natural resources available, potential adaptions, and so on.
Grade 10 - Create a Tool: Students studied a specific region and created a necessary tool within the parameters of available resources within that region. The exhibition consisted of a Market Day framework.
Grade 11 - Innovation and Invention: Students were tasked with identifying which innovation or invention had the biggest impact on US History.
Veterans' Day
The Nimitz/STEM campus organized a special Veteran's Day celebration in November to honor those that served in our military. Guests arrived within our local community to attend this event and faculty/staff within the campus were honored as well.
Many positive comments were shared by patrons as our students stood at attention, with an American flag in hand, alongside Blanco Road. What a beautiful sight!
Seahawks are continually grateful to those that have served or are currently serving in our United States military!
Nate Love, STEM Senior, receives a $120,500 Scholarship
Lee-esta Parade and Pep-Rally
The annual Lee-esta event had standing room only! All the surrounding elementary and middle school campuses joined Lee in a special event to promote pride and spirit within our immediate community.
A special thanks to our STEM students, some are pictured below, that participated in this event and promoted such Volunteer Pride!
Physiology is Phun Week
Our HS Anatomy and Physiology students went to our STEM middle school program to teach our seventh grade students to share what they have learned about anatomy and physiology.
Students participated in hands-on events and experiments through various stations, including dissection. A special thanks to Incarnate Word University for sponsoring Physiology is Phun Week, a national initiative. In particular we are grateful to Dr. Lourdes Fortepiani, Assistant Professor at UIW, for choosing STEM Academy for this special activity! Faculty sponsors for this event were Lane Smiley and Sandra Geisbush.
Engineering Festival
The annual STEM Engineering Festival had a record crowd of over 800 students this year!
The Engineering Festival is a community service event, sponsored by STEM Academy, to promote STEM education and awareness through various hands-on booths and activities for elementary age children. Our STEM students, as well as our faculty, facilitate booths and share the STEM-related concepts within the activity being explored.
Everyone had a great time and patrons left with a greater awareness of what STEM involves, while learning about our special magnet school at the same time!
HS STEM Game Night
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