December 1, 2023 - STEM School Info
12/01
Parents/Guardians,
The
semester is quickly winding down and we are getting close to the end of the
fall semester. Here are several items of note as we finish strong this
semester!
End
of semester and beginning of next semester:
Dec
14-20: ER Week
--Grade
9 and 10 students participate in ER (extended remediation time) or Dividend
Days (enrichment activities)
--Grade
11 and 12 students report to school that only need ER (extended remediation
time)
Dec
20: Last Day Prior to Winter Break (Full Day)
Jan
8: First Day of Spring Semester (Full Day)
--Grade
9 and 10 students start spring semester schedule and classes
--Grade
11 and 12 students report back for full day. These students will participate in
UP Day activities from Jan 8 through Jan 13 each day (930am-430pm). These
activities range from college readying lessons, enrichment activities, and STEM
academic coursework.
Jan
16: First Day of Upperclassmen Academic Schedule
--Grade
11 and 12 students begin their academic hybrid STEM and college course
calendar. This is the first day of college classes for Chattanooga State.
Inventanooga
– Dec 8 and Dec 13
On
December 8, seniors will be pitching their innovative entrepreneurship
businesses on the Chattanooga State campus. The students have been using design
thinking to identify and network with a target audience, analyze their
expressed needs, invent a solution, and pitch their invention. After
identifying their real-world problem, they sought out expert knowledge to help
ideate, invent, and test a solution with their prospective customers. Students
then built a business plan to produce their product. We are excited to watch as
all teams present their final pitches on this Friday!
On
December 13, selected teams will participate in the Inventanooga Showcase event
at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. STEM School Chattanooga and UTC
have partnered together to engage schools throughout the area in this
competition.
General
information about Inventanooga, including previous competitions, are included
on our school’s website under the Framework > Programs > Inventanooga
tab. Here is also a link straight to the Inventanooga website.
PBL
Culminating Events in Grades 9 and 10
Grade
9 students are completing their cross-curricular PBL project on robotics on Dec
13. The teams will be competing in a culminating robotics tournament, and we
are excited to see each team in action as all grade 9 students participate in
this robotics event!
Grade
10 teams are finalizing their Creative Discovery Museum math or science lessons
for elementary students. Dec 14, 15, 18, 19, we have 11 different elementary
schools coming to the STEM School to participate in the lessons created by
students in grade 10. We are excited to see our students implement and lead
these awesome experiences with the elementary students!
ER
Week – Dec 14 through Dec 20
At
the end of each quarter this year, students have an opportunity to improve all
learning target grades during ER (Extended Remediation) Week. ER Week is a time
that students can re-submit graded projects for higher levels of proficiency.
Students can also re-take assessments to earn a higher level of proficiency.
Higher levels of proficiency include grades of proficient (80) or advanced
(100). For students who are struggling with reaching proficient (80), students
will have an opportunity to work with teachers in focus groups to earn basic
(60).
During
ER Week, three items take place: student independent work time, workshops run
by teachers where students choose to attend to get assistance or re-assess, and
focus groups where students are assigned and required to work with a teacher.
New work and assignments are not posted during this week. This week is set up
as an opportunity for students to improve any learning target grade for the
quarter. For students in grades 9-10 (underclassmen) who have no missing and/or
below basic learning targets, these students may continue to work in ER to
improve their grades to advanced (100). Students will also have an enrichment
opportunity through Thursday called Fabrication Days. These students will be
working in the Global Center for Digital Innovation (GCDI) on design
challenges. These design challenges provide students with opportunities to
complete STEM III type projects in an abbreviated format and build upon their
STEM digital fabrication and microcredentialing portfolio.
For
students in grades 11-12 (upperclassmen), ER Week also has an additional
difference. When an upperclassman no longer has any ER work left to remediate,
the upperclassman is not required to attend school for the remainder of ER. An
email will be sent to each grade 11 and 12 student (and parent copied) that is
assigned mandatory ER. Please note that even if the student is not assigned
mandatory ER, the student is still welcome to come in and participate to
improve their learning target grade to advanced (100).
PLT
Lunch-
We
want to say thank you to all the parents who help provide food for our monthly
PTL lunch. The staff truly appreciates your generosity.
PLT
Meeting-
Our
next Parent Leadership Team meeting will be Dec 4, at 6:30pm at the STEM
School.
Upcoming
Dates
Dec
8: STEM IV Inventanooga Presentations
Dec
13: Culminating Grade 9 PBL Event
Dec
13: Inventanooga Finalist Competition at UTC
Dec
13, 14: Benchmark Testing
Dec
14, 15, 18, 19: Grade 10 CDM Lessons with Elementary Schools
Dec
14, 15, 18, 19, 20: ER Week
Dec
20: Last Day of Fall Semester (Full Day)
Dec
21-Jan 7: Winter Break (No STEM School Classes)
Jan
8: First Day of Spring Semester
Thank
you for being so supportive!
Jim
David
Principal
November 17, 2023 - STEM School Info
11/17
Parents/Guardians,
As
we approach Thanksgiving week, thank you for your support throughout this year.
We
are incredibly thankful to our parents… you all are awesome! Here are some
items of note for you at this time. Please also note that next Friday is part
of the Thanksgiving holiday, so the next email update will take place on
Friday, December 1.
Thanksgiving
Week
STEM
students (all grades 9-12) should attend all STEM School classes on Monday, Nov
20, and Tuesday, Nov 21. The STEM School will be closed on Wednesday, Nov 22,
through Friday, Nov 24, for the Thanksgiving holiday break. Chattanooga State
will be closed the entire week (no college classes) from Monday, Nov 20,
through Friday, Nov 24.
Move2Stand-
Nov 27
When
we return from Thanksgiving break, students in grade 9 will participate in an
important culture building opportunity called Move2Stand. Move2Stand is an
interactive training program of STARS that challenges students to examine their
attitudes toward bullying. This one-day youth summit creates empathy and helps
young leaders understand how bullying impacts school climate and communities.
Since we have students that come from all over the county, this also provides a
unique opportunity for freshmen to learn about each other and delve more into
the grade 9 diversity focus for collaboration. If you have any questions and/or
concerns about this opportunity, please reach out to our school counselor, Anna
Millard, [email protected].
Food
Drive Competition by the National Honor Society in partnership with the House
Committee
Last
Monday started our Food/Snack Drive for the “AUSTIN HATCHER FOUNDATION FOR
PEDIATRIC CANCER.” This is a month-long drive where the students earn house
points for items brought. At the entry to the STEM School, there are four
boxes labeled by House (Staupers, Tesla, Einstein, Mirzakhani). Whichever House
donates the most goods will earn the most HOUSE POINTS. Below is the list of
items that are accepted for donation. The competition is happening now and will
continue until Friday, December 1st!
Snack
Items needed: Water, Juice Boxes, Capri Suns, Gatorade Zero, Diet Coke,
Coke, Coke Zero, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Assorted Chips, Apple Sauce, Trail Mix,
Dried Fruit, Fruit Cups, Cheez-Its, Goldfish, Popcorn, Crackers.
Thank
you for your continued support,
Jim
David
Principal
November 10, 2023 - STEM
School Info 11/10
Parents/Guardians,
Happy early Veterans’ Day! Here are some items of note for you
upcoming.
Quarter 2 PBLs
As we hit the halfway mark of quarter two, here are grade-level
PBLs (project-based learning units) that are taking place across the school.
· Grade 9 students are working collaboratively to design, build, and
code VEX robots in order to introduce and expand students’ knowledge of the
essential concepts of robotics. For students with previous robotics experience,
these students are working in teams building and coding VEX EDR robots. For
students with no robotics experience, these students are working in teams
building and coding VEX IQ robots. Teams in both groups will ultimately
participate in a cumulative robotics competition in EDR or IQ, respectively, on
Wednesday, Dec 13.
· Grade 10 students have been meeting with personnel from the
Creative Discovery Museum (CDM) to develop ideas for elementary STEM lesson
plans. Groups are choosing elementary math or science standard(s) and creating
a lesson plan that details a STEM lesson for the standard(s) used. CDM
personnel are assessing the lessons for quality. Student teams meeting the
standard set by CDM will have the opportunity to implement the lessons with
grade 4 or 5 students at the end of the fall semester.
· Grade 11 students are working on varied STEM projects with
business and community partners throughout Chattanooga. Each grade 11 team
chooses one project from the following for the quarter. The projects this
quarter include: --
1)
Creative Discovery Museum: Transportation Logistics for Kids
activity center.
2)
EPB: Holiday Window Build – Students are working with EPB to build
the EPB Holiday Windows and use STEM School designs.
3)
Fillauer: Heat Sensor – Students are designing and fabricating a
prototype design for a prosthetic hand lock that uses electronics and
mechanical actuators to open and close the prosthetic.
4)
Lincoln-Electric: Weld Shop Design – Students are redesigning the
Lincoln-Electric existing weld shop to make it safer to navigate, weld, and
store materials. STEM students are using 2D and 3D design software to create an
efficient workspace.
5)
Reflection Riding Arboretum: Informational Signage – Students are
creating informational signage for the plant nursery at the Arboretum.
6)
Siskin Kids: Inclusive Environments – Students are creating
areas for children with special needs to help develop children with special
needs.
7)
STEM School: Math Hallway Makeover – Students are designing and
building out an inspiring STEM Math Hallway to motivate and excite students
about the power and possibilities of math.
· Grade 12 students are working to finish their startup business
plans and pitch for the upcoming Inventanooga entrepreneurship annual
competition. Students use design thinking to identify and network with a target
audience, analyze their expressed needs, invent a solution, and pitch their
invention. After identifying their real-world problem, students then seek
expert knowledge to help ideate, invent, and test a solution with their
prospective customers. Students build a business plan to produce their product
and present their inventions and formal business plan at the Inventanooga pitch
competition in December. We are incredibly excited about the inventions and
solutions being designed by our seniors!
Thanksgiving Week
STEM students (all grades 9-12) should attend all STEM School
classes on Monday, Nov 20, and Tuesday, Nov 21. The STEM School will be closed
on Wednesday, Nov 22, through Friday, Nov 24, for the Thanksgiving holiday
break. Chattanooga State will be closed the entire week (no college classes)
from Monday, Nov 20, through Friday, Nov 24.
Food Drive Competition by the National Honor Society in
partnership with the House Committee
Monday, we will be starting our Food Drive for the “AUSTIN HATCHER
FOUNDATION FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER.” This will be a month-long drive where the
students earn house points for items brought. At the entry to the STEM
School, there are four boxes labeled by House (Staupers, Tesla, Einstein,
Mirzakhani). Whichever House donates the most goods will earn the most HOUSE
POINTS. The competition is happening now through Tuesday, Nov 21!
Math and English Tutoring
Reminder: We are hosting Math Lab time and ELA Writing Lab time
each week before school. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to get
assistance on items they have for English classes as well as support for math
homework, practice and summative assessment preparation. The lab days and times
are as follows. All students are welcome to participate. No prior appointment
is necessary.
ELA Writing Labs --Each Wednesday and Thursday morning from 8:15am
to 9:15am in an English classroom (Kubisak and Britt).
Math Labs --Each Tuesday and Wednesday morning from 8:15am to
9:15am in a math classroom (Williamson and Gibbons).
Sibling Preference
The choice lottery application for the 2024-25 school year will be
available from November 13, 2023 – January 31, 2024. If your current STEM
student has an eligible 8th-grade sibling who plans to apply to STEM for next
school year, please complete a preference form by clicking here and
scrolling to page 2. The completed form should be emailed to Amy Robinson at [email protected] no
later than Friday, December 8, 2023. Sibling applicants must also complete the
choice lottery application online for admissions and sibling preference
granted. The application link will be made available beginning November 13.
Sibling Preference Form
Sibling Preference
Form - Spanish version
Yearbook Items
On Nov 16, Lifetouch will be at the STEM School for Picture
Retake Day for 9th-11th graders.
On Dec 7, Prestige will be at the STEM School for another senior
picture opportunity. Make an appointment with Ms. Pearson for senior portraits.
Please see the 10/25 email from Mrs. Bolus for fees and cost.
Thank you for your continued support,
Jim
David
Principal
November 3, 2023 - STEM School Info 11/03
Parents/Guardians,
Welcome
to November!
STEM
Jam Tonight – Nov 3
STEM
Jam is STEM’s version of hanging out and getting together for STEM students.
Some schools host a school dance, we host STEM Jam! It is an opportunity for
STEM students to play some games, eat some food, and connect outside of the
school day.
The
STEM Jam is also used to raise funds for our Robotics Team. The cost for
admission is $10 per student. Tickets can still be purchased at the door for
students who have not yet purchased tickets. The STEM Jam will take place from
5:30pm to 8pm. Only STEM students are allowed to attend.
IMPORTANT:
The school day dismisses at 4:30pm for grade 9 and 10 students. Underclassmen
students who decide to stay for the STEM Jam should not be wandering around the
Chattanooga State campus. There will be activities they can participate in
outside with the Heads of House or they may wait in the Commons at STEM until
the STEM Jam begins. They should not be in the college building areas.
Recap
Spirit Week
Spirit
Week was a blast! We hope your students enjoyed participating. We have several
photos posted on our Instagram and Facebook pages.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STEMSchoolChattanooga/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stemschoolchattanooga/
Nov
8- Half Day for Students
Wednesday,
November 8, is a half day for students in Hamilton County Schools. The STEM
School will run classes from 9:30am to 1:00pm. Buses will run at the regular
time in the morning and leave from STEM at 1:00pm for afternoon routes.
IMPORTANT
NOTE: Chattanooga State classes are on a normal schedule. Students with
Chattanooga State classes are to report to their college classes as usual on
Wednesday.
Student
Led Conferences – Nov 6 and 9
At
the STEM School, we do not have traditional Parent Teacher Conferences where
the parent comes in and a teacher talks about all the things your child is
doing. Instead, our conferences are focused on the student leading a conference
with parents and a faculty member. The reason for doing so is because it is
vitally important for the student to take ownership in his/her progress, be
able to communicate what he/she has learned, and be able to communicate at what
level of understanding and mastery he/she is performing. We will have Student
Led Conferences during the evenings of Monday, November 6 and Thursday,
November 9. All parents are expected to participate.
To
accommodate parents and students to make the conference as convenient as
possible for you, all conferences will be held virtually through Zoom. Each
parent and student will be sent an email from their House faculty advisor
inviting the parent to the SLC. Parents will have the opportunity to email with
the House faculty advisor to set up a time between 6pm and 8pm for the
conference. The House faculty advisor will share a Zoom link with the parent
and student for the meeting. Parents and students are expected to participate
in the SLC. The student will be sharing information during the SLC. If you do
not see the email from your student’s house faculty advisor, please let us
know, so we can help connect you.
Yearbook
Items
On Nov 16, Lifetouch will be at the STEM School for Picture Retake Day for
9th-11th graders.
On
Dec 7, Prestige will be at the STEM School for another senior picture
opportunity. Make an appointment with Ms. Pearson for senior portraits. Please
see the 10/25 email from Mrs. Bolus for fees and cost.
Upcoming
Dates
Nov
6 and 9: Student-Led Conferences
Nov
8: Half Day at STEM (9:30am-1:00pm)
Nov
22-24: Thanksgiving Break (Wednesday-Friday)
Thank you,
Jim
David
Principal
FOR PREVIOUS 2021-2023 UPDATES, CLICK THESE LINKS:
STEM Updates - October 2023
STEM Updates - September 2023
STEM Updates - July & August 2023
STEM Updates - May 2023
STEM Updates - April 2023
STEM Updates - March 2023
STEM Updates - February 2023
STEM Updates - January 2023
STEM Updates - December 2022
STEM Updates - November 2022
STEM Updates - October 2022
STEM Updates - September 2022
STEM Updates - August 2022
STEM Updates - July 2022
STEM Updates - May 2022
STEM Updates - April 2022
STEM Updates - March 2022
STEM Updates - February 2022
STEM Updates - January 2022
STEM Updates - December 2021
STEM Updates - November 2021
STEM Updates - October 2021
STEM Updates - September 2021
STEM Updates - August 2021
FOR ALL 2020-2021 UPDATES, CLICK THIS LINK: 2020-2021 STEM Updates