Laguna Creek High School students have taken on an impressive challenge - to try their hand at investing in the U.S. Stock Market and triumph against other teams from across the country in the Capitol Hill Challenge.

The Capitol Hill Challenge is a special edition of the Stock Market Game.  The Challenge uses curriculum from the Stock Market Game, which helps students develop math, economic and research skills associated with long-term saving and investing.  Through the program, students are given a "hypothetical" $100,000 to invest in any stock.  They are allowed to both buy and sell stock over a 14-week period.  Top teams can earn a trip to Washington D.C. to meet their members of Congress as well as tour financial landmarks and national monuments.  This year's Capitol Hill Challenge ends on May 10, 2012.

"Participating in the Capitol Hill Challenge Stock Market Game is an excellent answer to not only making students more aware of financial matters, but current events as well," said Jim Friedrich, mathematics teacher and coordinator of the Stock Market Game at Laguna Creek.  "For my students, the game really gives me a chance to show them how to apply algebra in a real world setting.  It's one thing to talk about the slope of a line and it's completely different when it's the growth or decay of a stock price."

Schools are invited to reach out to their members of Congress to invite them to visit their classrooms and interact - and possibly compete - with students.  Laguna Creek is the only school in U.S. Representative Dan Lungren's district competing in the contest this year.  A total of 10 teams are competing in the challenge from Laguna Creek - six from the school's International Baccalaureate program, two from the Future Business Leaders of America club and two teams from Friedrich's Algebra II class.

"The students absolutely love participating in the game," Friedrich said.  "Our IB students are doing their term projects about it.  Each IB team had to pick stocks around a theme - similar to a mutual fund - and then show the mathematics they learned from it."

Click here for more information about the Capitol Hill Challenge.

Robotics clubs in the Cosumnes Oaks region   

For students attending schools in the Cosumnes Oaks region, the opportunity to gain exposure to the exciting world of robotics from elementary to middle to high school is now becoming a reality, thanks to a growing partnership between robotics clubs at Elliott Ranch Elementary School, Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School and Cosumnes Oaks High School.

Now in its second year, the COHS Robotics Club has expanded rapidly since its inception.  The club competes in events through the FIRST program against other schools and recently held their first open house for the program.  The program covers a variety of topics, including troubleshooting, design, engineering, programming, website design, leadership and project management.  The program even has full-time graphic artists and is currently looking for full-time bloggers and videographers.  COHS students also work with robotics students at Pinkerton Middle School.

"We have a very involved learning environment," Covert said.  "It can be stressful but it's still very fun at the same time.  We currently have a total of 30 members and we have seen a 100 percent return rate on students who came back to the program this year from last year.  We'd love to see the program continue to grow not just here at COHS, but at other schools in EGUSD as well."

The program at Elliott Ranch has grown by leaps and bounds, due in large part to the enthusiasm of parent program coordinator Ron Soohoo.  To begin the program, Soohoo conducted research on the Legos' Mindstorms Robotics website where he discovered an international robotics program called First Lego League.  The school now utilizes this format and will compete in the Northern California First Lego League Senior Care Challenge.

Robotics clubs are already established at a couple high schools in EGUSD - Laguna Creek and Pleasant Grove.  Robotics clubs are also appearing at other elementary schools across the district, including Edna Batey and Elitha Donner.  But the Cosumnes Oaks region is the only region in the district with robotics programs at the elementary, middle and high school levels.   

"Robotics clubs are a great way to show kids that science, engineering and math can be fun," Soohoo said.  "Through these clubs, students are learning that what they learn in school can be used in everyday situations.  It shows them how to think and overcome challenges.  We wanted to create an environment where students could develop a passion in these areas and provide a pathway towards finding a career in these specialties one day."

Click here for more information about the FIRST program.

Click here for more information about the First Lego League.

Harriet Eddy Middle School parents, students explore"Space: The Final Frontier" at annual science night

Parents, students and community members had the chance to explore "Space: The Final Frontier" at Harriet Eddy Middle School's 4^th Annual Science Night on March 9.

"Science Night at Eddy serves as the capstone event to not only show off all of the student's science fair projects, but also gives them a chance to demonstrate to family and friends what happens in school," said Diana Brooks, science department chair at Eddy.  "Each year, the science team picks a theme and plans activities.  Students can then sign up to facilitate the event.  Student facilitators go through training to ensure they will be prepared to present to visitors about the theme."

This year's theme was "Space: The Final Frontier."  In addition to having student science fair projects on display, students and staff utilized characters from Star Trek, Star Wars and Stargate to present information at 14 student-run activity stations to visitors on the topic of space.

"We always like to include community organizations in our event," Brooks said. "It is important that students make a connection between what they are learning in class with careers and what is happening in the world around them.  This year, the Sacramento Astronomical Society hosted a STAR party in our quad.  Participants were able to view stars and other space-related phenomena through telescopes and get answers to their questions from experts."

In previous years, other community organizations have participated in Science Night at Eddy.  Last year's theme was "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and featured a variety of aquatic-related organizations.  Sport Chalet's aquatics department demonstrated how to use diving equipment.  The UC Davis Monterey Bay Research Laboratory discussed careers, ongoing research and proper diving techniques.

"This event has truly grown over the years," Brooks said.  "Science night has been so well-received by the public, attendance has climbed to over 650 participants each year."