STEM Update
September 2019
What Makes STEM Unique?
Kinder
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
Third Graders were presented the challenge of moving a ping pong ball from one side of the blacktop to the other using only one sheet of construction paper. They were not allowed to touch the ball with their hands. 3rd grade can overcome any challenge!
4th Grade
5th Grade
STEM is a place where students not only become friends, they become a family. Everyday is filled with a sense of wonder and excitement as they hone new skills together that will aid them In their journey as lifelong learners.
6th Grade
STEM: Where tables are optional.
7th Grade
STEM is unique because our students are immersed in the 21st century skills of collaboration and problem-solving.
8th Grade
9th Grade
One thing that makes STEM unique is we offer many Dual Credit course options utilizing our 1:1 technology so students may complete their course work during the school day.
10th Grade
11th Grade
Internships
Comfort Dogs
STEM Loves our Falcon Friends
Upcoming Events
September
02 Labor Day (Student/Staff Holiday)
04 Meet the Falcons
12 Parent Workshop #1 Technology grades 6-8 at 6pm
09-13 Freedom Week
09-20 Water Bottle Sales
21 Super Science Saturday (5th grade)
23-27 Campus Based Assessments
24 Fall Pictures
26 Secondary Game Night
27 Student Holiday
30 UTPB Volleyball Game1pm
30-Oct 4 STOMP Out Bullying Week
30-Oct 4 Pencil Fundraiser
October
01 Family Garden/Library Night
04 Elementary StuCo Elections
04 Homecoming Door Decorating Contest
05 UIL Pancake Breakfast
07-11 STEM Book Fair
10 Book Swap 6pm (concessions)
07-11 UTPB Football Homecoming Week
12 UTPB Homecoming Game (vs West Texas A&M)
14 Student Holiday
16 PSAT/NMSQT
24 Fall Festival
28-Nov 1 Red Ribbon Week
28-Nov 1 Health Screening Week
30 Beetlejuice Musical
31 Elementary Storybook Parade
STEM is a Project Based Learning (PBL) school. What is PBL?
Project based learning, or PBL, is an instructional method that challenges students to “learn to learn”. Our STEM students work cooperatively and collaborate in groups to seek solutions to authentic real world problems and situations. STEM’s PBL model prepares students to think critically and analytically to find and use appropriate learning resources – All while learning and meeting the depth of the state standards for their grade level.
The teacher serves as a facilitator while students take ownership over their solutions by managing, planning and executing tasks to master TEKS and standards. A PBL will integrate content across multiple subjects to focus on a relevant scenario, allowing students to demonstrate 21st century skills to develop and communicate a solution. One benefit of PBL is that there is no single answer; students are challenged to consider multiple points-of-view, and find evidence to support their solutions. Students go beyond writing an answer to a question and create multiple products to showcase in a final presentation, which is called the culminating event. Culminating events include everything from a formal presentation to peers and/or experts to a school wide event!
Below are some of our current PBL's at STEM:
Science Fair
Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year! A new school year means new beginnings and also a new science fair season!
It is our mission at UTPB STEM Academy to prepare our students to be STEM College and Career Ready by focusing on creativity, communication, and critical thinking. I cannot think of a better way to practice those skills than an authentic learning experience like the science fair! The science fair is an independent investigation of the student’s choosing to be done mainly at home by the student with support and guidance from parents and teachers.
Students in Kinder through 11th grade will participate in the science fair this year with 3th-11th grade competing in a school-wide science fair in January. Not only will students compete, but will also be assessed on the very important science process TEKS that encompass not only critical thinking skills, but also life-long skills such as drawing conclusions, making inferences, and communicating data.
The parent’s role in the science fair will be to help your child find the perfect question/problem to investigate as well as to help with deadlines, getting materials, and safety during procedures. The student’s role is to complete work on time and to follow the rubrics given for the project.
UTPB STEM Academy promises to send communications in a timely manner regarding deadlines. In addition, we took valuable feedback from students, parents, and community members, and promise to do all that we can to run a very smooth school-wide science fair. Last year UTPB STEM Academy represented very well at the district and state level and we hope to see even more awesome projects this year! Go STEM!
Please begin watching for directions and deadlines from your grade level teachers. We cannot wait to see what questions our super sleuths of UTPB STEM Academy can answer!
Sincerely,
Karey Grametbaur
UTPB STEM Academy Science Fair Coordinator
PTO News
Fall Pictures!
Retakes are on November 21st.
Little Twirlers!
10 Questions to ask your student about his/her day at school
Get a sense of your child’s life at school by asking questions that elicit more than a one-word response.
Tell me about the best part of your day.
What was the hardest thing you had to do today?
Did any of your classmates do anything funny?
Tell me about what you read in class.
Who did you play with today? What did you play?
Do you think math (or any subject) is too easy or too hard?
What’s the biggest difference between this year and last
year?
What rules are different at school than our rules at home? Do
you think they’re fair?
Who did you sit with at lunch?
Can you show me something you learned (or did) today?
How to report a student absence!
- When reporting an absence use an e-mail address on file for a parent/guardian.
- In order for us to properly record the reason for your child's absence, we ask that you supply a note each time your student is not in session, this includes partial day absences as well.
- Section 25.085 of the Texas Education Code states that a child who is required to attend school under this section shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided, unless exempted by law. Students must be in attendance 90% of the school's instructional days to receive course credit.
Great Additional Information about the STEM Academy
Helpful Links
UTPB STEM Academy
Email: stemacademy@utpb.edu
Website: https://www.utpb.edu/academics/utpb-stem-academy/index
Location: 4901 East University Boulevard, Odessa, TX, USA
Phone: 432-552-2580
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/utpbstemacademy/
Twitter: @UTPBSTEMAcademy