STEM Updates
October 2021
A Message from the Superintendent
STEM Family,
We are moving full steam ahead this month at STEM with many opportunities for students and families to get involved with school. Partnerships between families and school are a key ingredient to a student's academic success. Participating in clubs, activities, and project presentations is a great way for families to view all the great things happening here at school each day. Please take a few minutes and look over all of the upcoming events and mark your calendars for a great month here at STEM!
Shannon Davidson
Superintendent
UT Permian Basin STEM Academy
COVID FAQ
BINAZNOW RAPID TESTING CONSENT FORM
UTPB STEM Academy is offering COVID-19 testing at no cost for students and staff who develop symptoms of COVID-19 while at school. This testing uses Abbott Laboratories BinaxNOW tests provided by the state and federal government. Students under 18 years of age must have written parent consent for testing to be completed. If you wish to give your consent for COVID-19 testing using the BinaxNOW test, please read and complete this form.
Upcoming Events
Click the link to view our STEM Academy Calendar online.
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month
02 Cross Country Track Meet Sherwood Park 5pm
02 SAT Boot Camp (Green’s FB 011)
04-08 STOMP Out Bullying Week
06 Elementary Icee Pop sale
07 No One Eats Alone
07 6th-12th grade Science Club (see flyer below)
08 Fall Picture Day
08 Fall Admissions Application Workshop 12:30pm
08 Mr. Vann the Science Mann 7:30am Blacktop
09 Car Show (Founder’s Parking Lot)
11 Student/Staff Holiday
13 PSAT/SAT/NMSQT
14 Cross Country (XC) MOPS Championship
15 Mr. Vann the Science Mann 7:30am Blacktop
18-22 Homecoming Week (see flyer for dress up days)
21 6th-12th grade Science Club (see flyer below)
22 Mr. Vann the Science Mann 7:30am Blacktop
23 UTPB Homecoming Game Grande Stadium
25-29 Red Ribbon Week (see flyer for dress up days)
29 Mr. Vann the Science Mann 7:30am Blacktop
29 Rockhounds STOMP Out Drugs
29 Storybook Parade
November
05 Campus Clean Up
February 2022
04 Peace, Love, & STEM—Coliseum
March 2022
13-17 Washington DC Trip (6th-12th grade)
*All events are subject to cancellation or change
Homecoming Week Activities
Red Ribbon Week Activities
Pie-in-the-Face Fundraiser
Spooky Sunset- Trunk or Treat Event
Founders
7pm
Halloween Boo Grams!
From Ms. Villarreal
NEW ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCE PROCEDURES
STOMP OUT BULLYING
If you would like to donate items for this event, please contact Ms. Enriquez or Ms. Gunn.
Save the Date!
1st Annual eSports Tournament
Destination Imagination!
4th-12th grade students:
Destination Imagination or DI is coming back to STEM! This extracurricular is highly competitive and only open to 4th through 12th graders at this time. If your student is interested in being a part of a STEM DI team, you will need to fill out the Google Form to express your interest AND READ THE INFORMATIONAL DOCUMENT ATTACHED. Please review all the eligibility requirements listed in the document and fill out the Google form if interested. Only those that have filled out the google form will be invited to tryouts!
Can't wait to see the creativity, teamwork, and performances this year!
INFORMATIONAL FLYER CLICK HERE (review before filling out the form)
Google Form LINK HERE
Candice Sikes
UTPB STEM Academy
Instructional Coach/ Mathematics Specialist
District Testing Coordinator
NHS & Destination Imagination Sponsor
P: 432.552.2584
Catered Lunch Options
MCM Eleganté
Chick-fil-A
Join VIPS today!
Fill out this Google Form to be contacted for volunteer opportunites!
Fall Picture Day
These pictures will go in the yearbook.
This day is free (appropriate) dress day for all students.
Stock the Teacher's Lounge
It’s such a special treat for our Teachers and Staff to have access to snacks and drinks during their work day! Let’s start their school year off right! PTO is reaching out for help stocking both lounges before school starts. Anything donated is greatly appreciated!
Don't have time to shop? We've got you covered. Click this Donation Link. Any amount is greatly appreciated!
Picture Day Volunteers Needed
Remember that all volunteers must have cleared a background check prior to picture day. Contact the office for more information.
Homecoming Mums for Sale
STEM Uniform Store
Elementary Updates
Dear Parents,
October is a fun filled month with a lot of activities and celebrations for our scholars. Every Friday Mr. Vann, our STEM robotics teacher and science enthusiast, performs science demonstrations for our Elementary students on the blacktop beginning at 7:35 am. Come early to school so you won't miss the fun and excitement.
On Wednesday, October 6, we will be selling icee pops to elementary students during lunch. If your child would like to purchase one, please send them to school with $1 on the 6th. Additionally, we will have our annual Storybook Character Parade on Friday, Oct. 29. Please have your child dress up as their favorite book character and bring their book to school. Scholars will share their book with their classmates and present a "teaser" for the book by reading a favorite passage to their classmates. This event is internal only meaning we will not be having guests watch the parade. Homecoming, Stomp Out Bullying, and Red Ribbon Week are also part of this month's festivities. Please see the flyers for specific information on all these events.
Tutorials in Kinder through 5th are in full swing. I wanted to remind all Elementary parents to park and walk to the gate when you pick up your child from tutorials. Elementary children will not be allowed to walk to the parking lot unaccompanied by an adult. This is to ensure the safety of our young scholars. We are also very aware that HB 4545 requirements may be confusing at times. If you have any questions regarding HB 4545, please do not hesitate to give me a call and I can answer any of your questions.
We are also beginning to have many elementary students arrive past 7:50 am. Remember that instruction begins at 7:50 am and students should be in their seat at 7:50 am so they do not miss out on critical instruction. We look forward to another great month of partnering with you in ensuring the best education for our young scholars!
Best Regards,
Monica Elizondo, M.Ed.
Elementary Principal
The University of Texas Permian Basin STEM Academy
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
-William Butler Yeats
Office 432.552.2588
Fax 432.552.2581
@STEMLeader
@UTPBSTEMAcademy
Elementary Programs Cheat Sheet
Secondary Updates
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The focus for this month’s newsletter is our high school students. This month ALL of our students will be taking a college readiness exam in some form. Our 9th grade will be taking TSIA. This exam will qualify our students to take different dual credit courses with the university. Our 10th graders will be taking the PSAT exam which is a practice to prepare them their actual SAT. Our 11th grade students will be taking the PSAT/NMSQT. This exam has the potential to qualify our students for the prestigious honor of being a national merit scholarship recipient. National merit scholar qualifiers allow students to be registered for several different university/college scholarships. Lastly our 12th grade students will be taking the actual SAT. This exam can qualify students for exemptions at the college/university level. Some colleges also use SAT scores as a cut mark for entry.
We believe our students are more than capable of doing their best. We ask that you encourage your learner to get to bed early and eat a healthy breakfast on October 13 so they are prepared to do their best. If you have any questions about college readiness exams named above please reach out to Mrs. Miller – Enriquez or Ms. Gunn.
In Service to others,
Mr. Cody Griffin
Principal STEM Academy Middle/High School
432-552-3580
@UTPBSTEMAcademy
@PrincipalStem
High School NHS News
The newly elected officers are already in full swing planning a productive and service-filled school year! I would like to highlight some NHS-sponsored activities that are occurring over the next couple of months on our STEM campus so that you can be on the lookout to participate.
- October NHS Chapter Meeting - Thursday, October 14th, 7:00 am in Mr. McMillan's - Chapter meetings will occur on the second Thursday of each month. All members are required to attend monthly meetings. Membership fees will be collected this month ($10 for the year)
- Campus Cleanup Event - November 5th (see flyer attached) NHS will participate in the City of Odessa Fall Sweep Event to clean up and beautify the STEM campus. One hour after school on November 5th - Help us give back to our school and city!
- Reminder: Communications come through the STEM NHS canvas page and a Remind will be sent when new items are added and/or updated.
- 15 community service hours are due each semester (forms and information can be found on the STEM NHS Canvas page)
Questions or concerns? Feel free to contact Mrs. Sikes through the Canvas inbox or at sikes_c@utpb.edu
Candice Sikes
UTPB STEM Academy
Instructional Coach/ Mathematics Specialist
District Testing Coordinator
NHS & Destination Imagination Sponsor
P: 432.552.2584
Secondary Programs Cheat Sheet
Cross Country Schedule
School Hours
2021-2022 Grant Applications
UT Permian Basin STEM Academy
Email: stemacad@utpb.edu
Website: www.utpbstemacademy.org
Location: 4901 E University Blvd, Odessa, TX, USA
Phone: (432) 552-2580
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/utpbstemacademy/
Twitter: @utpbstemacademy