GCISD Secondary STEM
News and Notes for Parents January 2020
Welcome Back!!!
STEM Opportunities
The GEMS Camp - Middle School and High School Opportunities
The ITS Academy at UT Dallas - Middle School and High School Opportunities
UTA Engineering Saturday - Middle School Students
UTA Summer Engineering Programs - Middle School and High School Students
SMU Summer Engineering Programs - Middle School and High School Students
Planning for the 2020-21 School Year
- GHS Mustang Nation, January 15th, 6-8:30 pm at GHS
- CHHS Panther Night, February 3rd at CHHS
For incoming 5th grade students to GMS, the 5th Grade GMS Showcase will be on February 25th.
STEM Students Shout Out
7th Grade - Payton Johnson
Payton has shown great growth and effort in completing his work. His perseverance and focus have helped him excel this 9 weeks.
9th Grade at GHS - Jade Juline
Jade consistently works hard and puts forth her best effort in all of her classes. She keeps a positive attitude and works to improve in order to meet the high expectations she sets for herself.
10th Grade - Madison Smith
Madison has such an innate desire to do well in every task that she does. She will do extra practice problems, come in for tutorials, and ask excellent questions. She is always a positive impact on her classmates and will keep working until she understands the material. Madison embodies persistence and is a joy to have in class.
STEM Teacher of the Month - Katie Kloboves
Getting to know Ms. Kloboves:
What do you like about teaching STEM?
- I like the different viewpoints that STEM kids have and seeing the development of their ideas.
What is your favorite free time activity?
- Reading
- I love my coworkers; they are all wonderful people who are always willing to help.
- Financial analyst
- I've been to 49 states.
- The best part of teaching is when a student has been struggling with a concept and with a little extra time, they get it. Seeing that moment of understanding is my favorite moment of being a teacher.
The STEM Academy on Social Media
January's Habit of Mind - Taking Responsible Risks
Each month in STEM our teachers will focus on a different skill. These skills are some of the most important skills that students can learn for future success. The resources below are just a few things that you can do at home to help your student learn more about these valuable skills. As always, a simple conversation with your student about how you use the skill in your career can go a long way.
Tips and Tricks for Parents - Taking Responsible Risks
What is it? – Drawing on past knowledge, being thoughtful about consequences, accepting uncertainty and risk of failure as a normal part of the process.
Sounds like – “I wonder what will happen if…” “What would I learn from stretching myself on this?” “I think I will attempt to….”
Looks like – Reaching for the next bar on the jungle gym. Watching to see what to do in a new situation, then trying it if safe. Accepting challenges because of what could be learned.
Feels like – I knew I could make it to the top. Wow!, I did it! I can ride my bike without training wheels!
When people hold back from taking a risk they miss opportunities. Some students seem reluctant to take risks. They hold back from games, new learning, and new friendships because their fear of failure is far greater than their desire for venture or adventure. Some students are more interested in if their answer is correct or not rather than being challenged by the process of finding the answer. They are unable to sustain a process of problem-solving and finding the answer over time, and therefore avoid ambiguous situations. They have a need for certainty rather than an inclination for doubt.
We hope that students will learn how to take intellectual as well as physical risks. Students who are capable of being different, going against the grain of common thinking and thinking of new ideas (testing them with peers and teachers) are more likely to be successful in an age of innovation and uncertainty.
“There has been a calculated risk in every stage of American development – the pioneers who were not afraid of the wilderness, businessmen who were not afraid of failure, dreamers who were not afraid of action.” Brooks Atkinson