February 2025 Newsletter
CSinPA
Spring is Just Around the Corner!
Check out this month's newsletter to see all of the resources, opportunities, and news we have to share. And be sure to join our Community of Practice to be a part of the conversation!
Federal Government Recognizes Six STEM Teachers in Presidential Awards for Excellence
This month, the Biden Administration recognized six Pennsylvania teachers as recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). These awards honor the vital role that America's teachers and mentors play in shaping the next generation of technical leaders, including scientists, engineers, explorers, and innovators.
The teachers who were recognized include Melissa Constantino-Poruben (Avonworth School District), Renae Castelluci (West Allegheny School District), Lori Sidelinger (Chestnut Ridge School District), John Smith III (Philadelphia School District), Jeremy Tomaszewski (Haverford Township School District), and Dylan Fedell (Palisades School District). Congratulations to all!
Shout-outs and Celebrations
SCRIPT Statewide Trainings
Congratulations to Bethel Park SD and Galeton Area SD for completing the first time SCRIPT workshop!
Both districts participated virtually with a dedicated team of educators to develop a comprehensive K-12 CS strategic plan for their Local Education Agency (LEA). We greatly appreciate both teams for dedicating two mornings to vision-setting and crafting plans for their school districts.
If you would like to learn more about SCRIPT, check out this SMORE. For additional information regarding SCRIPT for your LEA, please email csforall@pattan.net.
Are you attending PETE&C this month?
We want to send a huge shout out to all the PA educators offering CS-focused sessions at PETE&C this year! If you’re attending the conference, be sure to visit their sessions.
And don’t forget to share what you learn in the Community of Practice!
Professional Learning
CSinPA Professional Learning Book Study
Sign up by February 20th to claim your spot in our professional learning book club! Participants will receive a FREE copy of the book with sign-up.
Thursday, 2/27 from 5:00 - 6:00, we will be hosting the first guided discussion by the author on a section of the book, "Reaching and Teaching Neurodivergent Learner in STEM: Strategies for Embracing Uniquely Talented Problem Solvers” by Jodi Asbell-Clarke.
7-12 Praxis Prep Pathway & Live Workshops
Our new workshop series for 2024-2025 offers expert guidance and support to help you succeed. Whether you're just starting your journey or need a final boost, these sessions will cover essential topics and provide valuable practice. Join us for four full-day workshops on key code-based concepts, earn 6 Act 48 credits per session, and benefit from flexible registration options. Expert instruction and peer collaboration will help you feel confident and prepared.
All workshops take place 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (see details below).
February 19, 2025: Arrays, 1D and 2D, and data structures (Registration closes 2/16)
May 21, 2025: Object-oriented programming, order of magnitude, searching and sorting and Practice Exam review (Registration closes 5/18)
7-12 CS Praxis Peer Tutoring Program
The peer tutoring program for teachers preparing for the PA 7-12 CS certification exam is back for 2024-25! We continue to offer the program to participants in any current or previous PaTTAN 7-12 CS professional learning program (7-12 PAsmart 1.0/2.0, CSinPA 7-12 CS Praxis Prep pathway).
Micro-Credential Program
Registration is now open and ongoing for the following courses in our Micro-credential Program.
AI in the Classroom: Introduction (2-hour)
AI in the Classroom: Integrating AI to Support Student Learning (4- hour)
Cybersecurity in the K-8 classroom: Introduction (2-hour)
Using Music to Engage Students in CS Learning (4-hour)
Empowering all students in CS Learning through a Behavioral approach (4-hour)
Events
2025 CSTA UnConference - Saturday, April 5th
Join us for an interactive event featuring guided discussions with CSTA Chapter Leaders and PaTTAN consultants. All K-12 educators are welcome to attend. Participants will break out into smaller groups to tackle key topics in CS education such as: recruiting underrepresented students to CS, teaching CS with evidence-based practices, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence in computing.
There is no cost to participate and Act 48 hours will be provided. Please click this link to register for the event on the PaTTAN website.
2025 High School Computer Science Camp
Save the date! The CSinPA Code Arcade Camp will be a part of PaTTAN’s 2025 Bridging Knowledge to Know-How Conference. This three-and-a half day camp offers an exciting hands-on computer science experience designed for college-bound high school students with disabilities!
Save the date flyer: 2025 CS Camp Flyer.pdf
Camp Details:
Dates: Monday, July 28 - Thursday, July 31, 2025
Location: A school in close proximity to The Penn Stater Conference Center
Eligibility: College-bound students with disabilities entering grades 9-12 in fall 2025 (at least one parent or guardian must attend the conference).
Fees: Free to attend, with limited scholarships available for parents/caregivers.
Campers will dive into computer science college and career pathways through hands-on activities, an engaging field trip, and an exciting game design project!
Registration: Opens soon! Space is limited, and spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, please contact us at CSCamp@pattan.net.
Resources & Opportunities
Join CSinPA in Shaping Future Drone Pilots!
The CSinPA team partnered with Tech Kids Unlimited to create an accessible FAA curriculum designed to engage and inspire your students as they embark on their journey to becoming skilled drone pilots.
From comprehensive lessons to interactive resources, our curriculum has everything you need to enhance learning and ensure your students are ready for the FAA Part 107 exam. Key features include effective study aids for exam preparation, resources that familiarize students with essential acronyms and terms, and assessment quizzes to track progress after each lesson.
Our curriculum can be found on our website at this link. We welcome your involvement! Please email us at csforall@pattan.net with any questions or complete this interest form.
2025 RLD Across PA May 1-23 Event Host Award Application
Remake Learning Days (RLD) strives to provide inclusive, hands-on learning experiences to all learners. RLD is offering a limited number of $150, $250, and $500* event host awards on a rolling basis for hosts across Pennsylvania. These funds are to help event hosts offset costs in hosting a RLD event between May 1-23, 2025.
Following Remake Learning's Equity Pillars, RLD will prioritize awards to event hosts whose RLD event supports the following learners: 1. Learners in poverty, 2. Learners of color, 3. Learners in rural areas, 4. Girls in STEM and 5. Learners with disabilities.
Please click this google form for more details and to apply for a host award by February 21, 2025.
Coming Soon!
In-Person SCRIPT Workshops
Join us for an in-person SCRIPT workshop at PaTTAN Central. We will be offering both a “First-Time” and an Annual SCRIPT Workshop on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. We will be able to provide travel scholarships for participants. Please fill out this interest form to let us know you would like to receive more information.
CSforAllPA Summit
We are excited to announce that we will be offering another opportunity for the CSforAllPA Summit.
Save the date for April 9-10, 2025. More information to come!
Accessible Programming Summer PD Opportunity!
Join us for a 4-day in-person professional development workshop at our PaTTAN Central office (June 9-12, 2025) focused on inclusive and accessible CS programming!
We are offering a unique PD experience for all educators using the Quorum programming language, specifically designed to be easy to learn and use for students of all abilities.
Travel assistance will be available for eligible participants along with a stipend upon completion of the PD.
Key Benefits of using Quorum:
Accessibility: Designed with inclusivity in mind, Quorum caters to diverse learning styles and abilities.
Ease of Learning: Its user-friendly syntax makes it easier for beginners to grasp core programming concepts.
Versatility: Quorum can be used for a wide range of projects, from simple games to complex simulations.
This workshop will provide hands-on experience, best practices, and valuable resources to integrate Accessible programming into your classroom. If this interests you, please fill out this form.
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