STEM Update
September 2019
What Makes STEM Unique?
Kinder At STEM we have fun learning and working with our friends. | 1st Grade At STEM we get to be US!! | 2nd Grade We thrive on the culture of collaboration; even in the primary grades! |
3rd GradeThird 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 Flashlight Friday makes reading fun again! | 5th GradeSTEM 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. |
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!
6th GradeSTEM: Where tables are optional. | 7th GradeSTEM is unique because our students are immersed in the 21st century skills of collaboration and problem-solving. | 8th Grade Students in 8th grade were asked to design a house under budget that satisfied client demands. They created a floor plan, found its area, the volume of the house, and the lateral surface area of the outside wall. |
7th Grade
STEM is unique because our students are immersed in the 21st century skills of collaboration and problem-solving.
9th GradeOne 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 Our students are offered assistance from UTPB tutors in class and after school on Thursdays! | 11th Grade Helping to guide the next generation of STEM students! |
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
Internships Scrubbing in to do works in our community! | Comfort Dogs Special friends came to bring comfort to our community. | STEM Loves our Falcon Friends The UTPB Falcons are always there to support STEM. |
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
