2021-22 Middle School Science

As we, what feels like, march into March, we wanted to take a second to remind you of how amazing you all are in spite of yet another difficult year. You continue to show up and do a great job of not only educating our students but managing a host of ever changing challenges. We hope you're as excited about Spring Break being so close as we are and hope you get the chance to sleep in, go on an amazing adventure, finally binge that show (in your PJ's) you've been just waiting to get to but just haven't had the time, or a little bit of all that. It is certainly well deserved. Please take a moment to read through the science updates we have to share with you and as always, thank you for all you do.

Thank you again for participating in the 6th Science Early Release Day Session. We did a deep dive into the Discovery Education Spotlight on Strategies tools as a way to leverage strong instruction.

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

1. Please complete the Secondary Science Curriculum Feedback Survey linked below.
• • https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=aaJT4khSVE6bZ7duOoYiIC7CvVPR295NkQb0UeONnltUNzZOOEVHVFI4UElHTUFJRjhIQ1lLRFRNQi4u

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out! You can either respond to this email or contact Mark Butler or Lauren Whitaker at mwbutler@pasco.k12.fl.us or lwhitake@pasco.k12.fl.us. We look forward to a great learning session together and can’t wait to see you all.

We are looking forward to our next Early Release professional learning day coming up on Wednesday March 9th. Please take notice of the wave schools and times.

Wave 1 Schools 12:15-1:15

CSRMS, Hudson Academy, PMS, PRSMS, RRMS

Wave 2 Schools 1:50-2:50

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

Zoom Session Link

• Wave 1 @ 12:15pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81441603407
• Wave 2 @ 1:50pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83097999217

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.

I'm a Scientist Website

"Most of the things you try are going to fail. You just have to try to figure out why, and figure out the next thing that does work.”

​​- RAVEN REDDY, PHD

• He wanted to build bridges into science for diverse students.
  
• He found himself drawn to bioengineering because it was like a combination of how the body works and how we can change that​
  
• He started learning business skills to connect his interest in science with his interest in helping people.​
  




Download his poster here!

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. All 7th graders participate in this amazing experiential problem based program at Starkey Park or CrossBar Ranch. Please reach out to Karen Stewart for program information.

We are excited to share our next technology experience with you!

Please save the date for Monday, February 28th through Friday, March 4th for an opportunity to learn how you can use Microsoft Office 365 applications for student engagement.

Each morning you will get a myPascoConnect announcement and a link to watch a quick screencast. Then scan the QR code to join our myLearning course. There will be an asyncronous course to dive a little bit deeper and learn how to use these applications for your own personal use or to up your game with integrating some fun technology into your lessons. You can earn two professional development points for learning and turning in your final work product for each application featured.

Feeling a little frustrated or eager to learn more about your Windows device? Well join us for "Tech Hours." We will have the following windows (Lol!) of time open for you to ask all of your questions, up your game with your new device, or just troubleshoot some concerns you may have.

Tech Hours:

Monday, February 28th- 3:30-4:00pm

Tuesday, March 1st- 8:30-9:00am and 3:30-4:00pm

Wednesday, March 2nd- 8:30-9:00am and 3:30-4:00pm

Thursday, March 3rd - 8:30-9:00am and 3:30-4:00pm

Friday, March 4th- 8:30-9:00am and 3:30-4:00pm

*Zoom link will be communicated in our myLearning course and announcements. Be on the look out for it!

Looking forward to "Spring into Technology" with all you!

OLL and OTIS

#PascoDoingScience

Email: mwbutler@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: pasco.k12.fl.us/pascoscienceshowcase
Phone: 813-794-2452
Twitter: @SciencePasco

Email: lwade@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: pasco.k12.fl.us/pascoscienceshowcase
Phone: 813-794-2257
Twitter: @SciencePasco

Email: jmaxwell@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: pasco.k12.fl.us/pascoscienceshowcase
Twitter: @SciencePasco

Email: lwhitake@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: pasco.k12.fl.us/pascoscienceshowcase
Twitter: @SciencePasco