2021-22 Middle School Science

October - Science Newsletter

Science Teachers,

It's amazing that it is already October. As we continue to meet the ever changing needs of this school year, time just keeps ticking by. You all are doing an amazing job! Thank you for participating in the first of eight Early Release Day Science Sessions. We learned so much and can't wait to see you all for Round 2. Below you will find information on ERD follow up activities and information on Science Showcase. We continue to see a decline in High School participation and our students need your help to provide them with the opportunity to practice science in a very real and meaningful way. Please reach out if you are interested in supporting Science Fair at your school.

Science Support

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Early Release Day 1 Science Follow Up

Thank you again for participating in the 1st Science Early Release Day Session. We shared how the sessions will work and dug into the Engage Phase of the 5E model. The engage activity we modeled came from the student facing canvas courses.

The session resources and a recording are housed on the Secondary Science ERD Canvas Course Page (enroll here: https://pasco.instructure.com/enroll/9HNCLK)

As a reminder, your follow-up activities include uploading a description of an Engage activity you used with your students and sharing a brief summary of your experience using it in your classroom. In addition, as a preview for ERD Session 2, you were asked to complete the TNTP Opportunity Myth Graphic Organizer based on available district science resources. Below is a quick video walk through of the assignment and how to submit it.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out! You can either respond to this email or contact Lesley Kirkley or Jessica Maxwell at lwade@pasco.k12.fl.us or jmaxwell@pasco.k12.fl.us. We look forward to a great learning session together and can’t wait to see you all.

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ERD Session 2 Reminder

We are looking forward to our next Early Release professional learning day coming up on Wednesday October 6th.

Wave 1 Schools 12:30-1:30

CSRMS, PMS, RRMS

Wave 2 Schools 1:30-2:30

BPMS, CCMS, CENMS, CHMS, CLMS, GMS, HAC, HSEC, JLMS, PRSMS, PVMS, RBSMS, SRK8 (MS), SSMS, TEWMS

Zoom Session Link

Wave 1 @ 12:30pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81441603407
Wave 2 @ 1:30pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83097999217

Grade Pass Back

Grade Pass Back is a valuable, time saving tool for syncing your myLearning (Canvas) gradebook with your myStudent gradebook. This eliminates the work of having to enter information into two different systems. It requires some simple, careful setup initially. Here are several things that may cause errors when setting up Grade Pass Back:

Gradebooks cannot be combined in myStudent
Assignment categories must be identical in both myStudent and myLearning (including capitalization and spacing)
Assignments must be in a category in myLearning that matches one in myStudent
Assignments must have due dates in the current term. For Q1 that is between 8/10-10/15. Of note is that you may decide to give students until teacher planning day to turn in work. The due date in myLearning must still be no later than 10/15 because that is the end of the term in the system. Anything with due dates of 10/16, 17, or 18 will be not be recognized since Q2 does not begin until 10/19.

The following video is a walkthrough of setting up the Pass Back and how to sync your grades.

Grade Pass Back Walkthrough Video

If you experience issues, please email Matt Bruno at mbruno@pasco.k12.fl.us and include the following information:

A link to the myLearning course(s) you are having issues with
A brief description of your problem or error message, and the name/student number of any students you may be experiencing specific issues with
Any other pertinent information

Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase 2022

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Thank you to all that attended the Science Showcase Coordinators Meeting in September. Our theme this year is "Science is Our Superpower!" All necessary information and a recording of the meeting can be found on the Showcase webpage (https://pasco.k12.fl.us/PascoScienceShowcase).

We are seeing a decline in the number of middle school students participating in science fair. This decline represents a huge missed opportunity for many of our students. Last year we we awarded over 100 special awards and prizes at the showcase and our State delegates brought home 17 place awards and 7 special awards including one student who received a $14,000 scholarship.

Participation in science fair can be a game changer for many of our students and has positive impacts that manifest in your classroom. Check out the Gr8 FSSA data form last year when we compare schools that support science fair vs those that don't. Who doesn't want to increase their student's proficiency by 14% points?

Science fair can be incorporated into any science subject (and even math, social studies, and ELA) and there are some really amazing projects and research that can be done around the science concepts that are explored in your classes. Please help unleash the science superhero in your students and encourage them to design a project they can submit for competition. If you're not sure where to start, email us. We will be happy to help!

I AM A SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHT

To counteract the stereotypes and ensure a more equitable future for STEM, we need more classrooms and resources that celebrate the incredible range of personalities, interests, backgrounds, and pursuits that drive discovery and progress. Every month, we will be sharing a new "I AM A SCIENTIST" spotlight highlighting an amazing real world scientist.

We encourage you to share this information and the scientist's story with your students each month. Because every student deserves a chance to see themselves in science.

You don’t need to fit a box.

"Don’t pay attention to what scientists are like on TV. You can be a scientist no matter what your personality is or what your other interests are. If you want to, and if you have a question about the world, then there’s a path for you." - DR. CASSANDRA EXTAVOUR

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Dr. Extavour is a Professor at Harvard University where she runs a lab filled with white boards, microscopes, petri dishes, and lots of cages and containers.
She studies crickets, spiders, and other bugs to better understand how some of our most important cells behave.
She also looks at animals’ reproductive systems for clues about how single cell organisms led to the evolution of complex organisms with countless different types of cells.

Download her poster here!

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE CFA AND TIER 2 RESOURCES ADDITIONS

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Check out the new grade specific CFA's for science as well as the new crosswalks for the Tier 2 APEX Resources. They can be accessed from any of the scope & sequence pages on the Secondary Learning Network or directly using the link below.

https://pasco.instructure.com/courses/362961/pages/cfa-banks-and-tier-2-resources

Additional Information

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Dont Forget Science Office Hours!

If you ever have any questions about science curriculum, 5E, science academy, showcase whatever, please don't hesitate to contact anyone of us at anytime via text, email, etc. In an effort to provide more structured support, the District Science Team is also offering regular Office Hours the first Tuesday of every month from 3:30-4pm via zoom. Science Teachers, Coaches, AP's can ask questions around science instruction and hear any updates to courses and plans. Stay as long or as little as you like.

Join us on Tuesdays https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84344456676

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MIDDLE SCHOOL WATERSHED AMBASSADORS PROGRAM (@CROSSBAR & STARKEY PARK)

All Watershed Ambassadors Program visits are a go for this year. The Pasco Environmental Programs Team has posted the visit calendar to the WAP's Program Site. Please reach out to Karen Stewart for program information.

Here is the link to the Aspiring Leaders Flyer.

Here is the link for our coaching pool information.

Compassionate Schools

We’re excited to share a series of 5 essential classroom PBIS practices that are immediately applicable for teachers. This month we’re focusing on “Maximizing Structures” in our classrooms through a Trauma Informed-Care Lens. When students understand the structures and how things work, they’re more likely to be successful. Structures help make the classroom feel safe, consistent, and predictable. We’re also excited to share this video that helps give strategies for organizing your classroom space.

If you’d like to dive deeper feel free to explore this PBIS Classroom website that shares a variety of resources on how to strengthen your teaching practices!

Feel free to reach out to us if we can help you!

Susanna Haberle, PBIS Program Coordinator

shaberle@pasco.k12.fl.us

Lesley Wilson, SEL Program Coordinator

lrwilson@pasco.k12.fl.us

St. Leo University

Pasco County Schools
Advanced Degrees in Education Information Session
Thursday, October 7, 7:00 - 08:30 PM ET

The opportunity is here to advance your career, enhance your skills and effectiveness with an advanced education degree from Saint Leo University. Online and face-to-face cohorts are forming now; offering a dynamic, collaborative, and supportive learning environment.

Saint Leo University's graduate education programs prepare educators to become master teachers, instructional coaches, team leaders, principals, administrators, and more!

Virtual Event Registration »

We offer an extensive list of advanced degree options to help you grow both personally and professionally. Your career goal has never been more attainable - fewer courses, lower program costs, more accessible classes and many financial aid options to earn your degree at Saint Leo.

EdD: School Leadership

EdS: Educational Leadership

MEd: Educational Leadership

MEd: Instructional Leadership

MEd: Reading

Med: Exceptional Student Education

MS: Instructional Design

BA: Elementary Education

BA: Middle Grades Education

BA: Educational Studies - Early Childhood Development

The Virtual Information Session will include information about our graduate education degree programs, financial aid, class schedules, and the application process.

Register now to get more information, and learn what Saint Leo has to offer you!

Saint Leo University is a nationally recognized leader in higher education with graduate programs designed to meet the needs of working adults. Our small class sizes, high-quality curriculum, and dedicated faculty provide a superior learning environment.

For more information or special accommodations, please contact Traci Dougherty at traci.dougherty@saintleo.edu.

Saint Leo University
Center for Online Learning
800.707.8846
grad.col@saintleo.edu
www.saintleo.edu