March 15, 2013 � News from the Southeastern MA Region STEM Network http://www.connectsemass.org/stem
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Spring STEM Education Meetings--One More Opportunity in April

Educators from Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Foxborough, West Bridgewater, Mansfield, Easton, Sharon, and Canton schools and from Bristol and Massasoit Community Colleges joined business leaders from HarborOne, Sensata, Covidien, and the Tri-Town Chamber and early childhood educators from Busy Bees and Markman Children's Program on February 28, 2013, at the Wamsutta Middle School in Attleboro. The meeting demonstrated the importance of fostering partnerships with businesses and community organizations and integrating STEM, the arts and humanities.

 

 

One more opportunity to attend a Spring STEM Education Regional Meeting is coming up THURSDAY APRIL 11, 3-5:30 PM, at WESTPORT High School, 19 Westport Road. Find out what others are doing to support the Massachusetts STEM goals.  RSVP to Katherine Honey at [email protected] or 508.316.1480.

wind at expo 
Save the Date!
STEM RESOURCE FAIR for EDUCATORS
May 23, 2013, 3-5:30PM
Bridgewater State University

Like the 2013 SE MA STEM Expo, but for grown-ups! PK-12 teachers, administrators, and community STEM supporters will walk away with inspiring, hands-on STEM lessons to use in their classrooms the very next day. Learn about dozens of STEM resources such as summer science camps for kids, professional development, curriculum, field trips, in-classroom resources and STEM professionals willing to share their love of STEM with your students! Registration will open in early April and will be announced in the next issue of the Petri Dish.

Don't Forget the Network's Resources. . . .
Including our searchable SE MA STEM Directory (new listings--PBS's NOVA Education and HarborOne U); our Corporate Partner program (with member companies Accurounds, HarborOne Credit Union, Lockheed Martin, MathWorks, MEDITECH, Sensata Technologies, U.S. Air Force, and Verizon), and our Career Exploration website for middle and high school students. All resources are available through our website.
 News from the State
 
 
Speaker DeLeo Calls for STEM Starter Academy 
In a speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce on MRobert A. DeLeoarch 7th, House Speaker Robert DeLeo unveiled a proposal to enhance the ability of community colleges to provide the science, technology, engineering and math skills increasingly demanded by employers. Education and business leaders applauded the proposed STEM Starter Academy at Bay State community colleges to help put students on the path to job readiness. The Academies would be an intensive program to bring students up to speed so they can go on to more advanced training in STEM subjects. Read more about the proposal at the Boston Herald.
  
Preschool Science Technology and Engineering Standards Webinar
March 19, 2013, 6pm-7:30pm 
  
This webinar  from Wheelock College is part of a statewide effort to create the highest quality learning and development standards for young children in early education from birth through kindergarten. The webinar will offer a usable framework for creating science-based learning and growth opportunities for children across all communities and families, and in both informal and formal environments.
Register here. To view a draft of the Preschool Science, Technology, and Engineering Standards, Click here, Questions regarding the webinar? Please contact Stephanie Mireku.
  
Commonwealth Corporation Releases Teen Employment Study 

Over 200 employers were interviewed to create "Signaling Success: Boosting Teen Employment Prospects," a new study from Commonwealth Corporation and Paul Harrington of Drexel University's Center on Labor Markets and Policy. The report will be released at a meeting April 2, 2013, at Worcester High School. The goal: to identify practical steps that we can take collectively to improve teen employment prospects.  Register here.

News and Events from the Region
  
Connecting with Nature

The Heritage Museums and Gardens, Sandwich

March 16 & April 18, 2013, 9AM-12PM and 1-4PM  

Educators can attend one or a pair of workshops: Nature-Inspired Indoor Environments and Choosing Effective Indoor and Outdoor Materials will take place on  March 16th; Using Your Outdoor Classroom and Documenting Children's Learning with Nature are scheduled for April 18th. $40 for each workshop or $70 for the pair. For additional information, contact Tobey Eugenio at [email protected], or at (508) 888-3300 X159. See the full schedule here.
The 6th Annual MA Green Schools Summit
Southeast Regional Vocational Technical High School, Easton

April 11, 2013, 8AM-3PM

This environmental education conference, for educators and students (Grades 5-12),  will feature presentations on topics such as STEM, green ribbon schools awards programs, environmental literacy and policy, food waste and waste management, wellness, hydroponics, farm to school/table, renewable energy, and more. For more informatiion, visit: http://www.projectgreenschools.org/.

Green Dif 

STEM Professionals on TV at Massasoit Community College  
With a goal of increasing the number of students enrolling in STEM Associate's degrees programs and transferring to four-year institutions for Bachelor's degrees, Massasoit Community College has been inviting STEM professionals  to talk with students about opportunities in science.  Recent talks have focused on mapping whale movement in Boston Harbor and urban bee-keeping. Search "Science Transfer Talks" on Massasoit's YouTube Channel.  New videos will be added as the seminar program continues.
Massasoit You-Tube 
Lost Arts Workshop Series

UMass Dartmouth, Claire T. Carney Library Third Floor

April 1-29, 2013, 12-2PM

These FREE workshops, open to the public, are for those looking to take charge of what they consume, grow their own food, and live a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. Topics include sustainable entrepreneurship on April 1, composting ecological design April 15, and fungus and mycology on April 29. For more information, contact Katrina Semich or Chance Perkins at [email protected]. 

2013 FIRST Regional Robotics Competition

Registration Deadline: March 20, 2013

Boston University, Agganis Arena 

Share the excitement as middle- and high-school students compete in the regionals of this nationwide robotics competition, which runs March 21-23. School faculty are invited to a special event Friday, March 22, to include a continental breakfast and guided VIP tours of the pits.  Meet the competitors and learn more about FIRST and what it can do for your students from regional director for Steve Cremer. Watch a video explaining this year's event, and register using the login password: FRC2013.

Milton High Robots 

Introducing the Vocational Program Equipment Grant 

Deadline: April 10, 2013

 
 
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) proudly announces the establishment of the Vocational Program Equipment Grant, supporting the upgrade and purchase of equipment to expand career readiness programs across the Commonwealth. Vocational schools can get more information and access the application here.

New AMP it up! Website 

  
Continuing in their efforts to provide students and adults an opportunity to take advantage of the well-paying advanced manufacturing jobs available in Massachusetts, MassDevelopment has re-launched a new and improved version of its AMP it up! website.  Improvements include additional features such as company videos and more complete selections on resources, as well as manufacturing events and career matching tools. You can also follow Amp It Up! on Twitter: @AMPitupMA. For more information on the Amp It Up! Program please contact Lou Gaviglia at: [email protected] or at 857-202-7959.

Greenlight for Girls 

Green Light for Girls Day South Coast 2013 

University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth

April 27, 2013, 8AM-3PM

Ticket Deadline April 11, 2013

This event will inform young women ages 10-15 about everything that they can do with science, technology, engineering, and math through hands- on activities including Lego robotics, magnetic nail polish, simulated calculus and more. 125 tickets will remain available until April 11, or until tickets run out.  Workshops are filling up quickly: visit Green Light for Girls Day South Coast 2013 to register.

National Science Teachers Association Conference Proposals

Deadline: April 15, 2013 

 

The conference will be held in Boston in April 2014; however, proposals are due April 15 of this year. Four strands of research have been determined for the 2014 conference: Science and Literacy: A Symbiotic Relationship; Teaching Elementary Science with Confidence; Leading from the Classroom; and Engineering and Science: Technological Partners. Click here for more information and guidelines on how to submit a proposal.

 

Technology Internships for College Students and Companies

  
The MassTech intern partnership portal creates a direct pathway to internship opportunities for careers in big data and analytics, digital interactive gaming, health IT, ed tech, and more.  Students and companies can apply to be matched; MassTech will reimburse eligible companies for up to 50 percent of intern payroll ($4,800 annually).   Students must be enrolled at or a recent graduate of a Massachusetts college or university. Click here for more information or to apply.  For any additional information contact [email protected] or (508) 439-5510.
student at microscope 
Share your news!
We want to include all the cool stuff happening around our region. Plus, we'd love to share your news, as well as suggestions for things you find interesting. So ... Let us know! Email your news, events, and other interesting tidbits to [email protected].
 
Plus, don't forget to register your organization in the SE MA STEM directory so that people seeking your STEM services can find you:
 
And be sure to check out the network website at :


Our mission is to connect southeastern Massachusetts students, educators, employers, and STEM advocates to resources and to each other.
In This Issue
SE MA STEM Regional Meetings
STEM Resource Fair for Educators Coming
SE MA STEM Network Resources
News from the State
News and Events from the Region!
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