2021-22 High School Science

Welcome to February. We wrap up Science Showcase and now begin the journey to Spring Break and fitting in all of our benchmarks before we hit testing season. Join us in congratulating our winners and encouraging our State and ISEF delegates as they prepare for the next round of competition. Please take a moment to read through the updates below and please complete the feedback survey on the Secondary Learning Network Resources and Student Facing Content. Thank you for all you do to support science education in our schools.

Over the weekend, we hosted the 2022 Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase. Even though we went virtual, we still had over 400 participants with some pretty amazing projects. A huge shout of thanks to the schools and staff that participated in supporting their students in Science Fair, as well as all of the amazing judges that volunteered time to judge the projects! We couldn't do this without you. The Awards Gala is by invite only for students that placed or are receiving and award and will be held on Wednesday Feb 2 at the Wesley Chapel Performing Arts Center. We look forward to sharing this amazing experience with the winners and will share out results this week.

We still have 1/2 a year left but we have already started discussions and work on the 22-23 curriculum resources on the Secondary Learning Network. We have learned so much from this year already (both good and bad) and want to provide you with the opportunity to provide feedback on what pieces we might want to see in our science curricular resources (or never see again) for next year. Please take a moment to complete this brief survey so that we can make sure we have what you want and need on the SLN.

21-22 Curriculum Feedback Survey

Thank you again for participating in the 5th Science Early Release Day Session. We finished the EXPLORE Phase of the 5E model and incorporated grade appropriateness and strong instructional practices. We also showcased the Discovery Education Spotlight on Strategies tools as a way to leverage strong instruction and asked you to select one to use in an upcoming lesson.

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. Apply your knowledge of the impact of strong instruction.
2. Select and use at least one DE SOS strategy in a lesson that will elicit student explanations.
   • DE Spotlight on Strategies Channel
   • DE SOS Strategies Crosswalk ​
3. Make note of the instructional moves you use in the lesson to exemplify Strong Instruction.​
4. Upload to the ERD MyLearning Course before Session #6 on February 2nd.

• 2 or 3 student response examples ​
• A brief (1 paragraph) summary of which DE SOS Strategy you chose, why you selected it, and how it worked.

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 February 2nd. Please take notice of the new wave schools and times.

Wave 1 Schools 12:15-1:15

AHS, CCHS, HHS, LOLHS, PHS, RRHS, SLHS, WCHS, ZHS

Wave 2 Schools 1:50-2:50

FHS, GHS, JWMHS, WKTHS WRHS, Pasco eSchool

• Zoom Session Link
• Wave 1 @ 12:15pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83149201178
• Wave 2 @ 1:50pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84550412838

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

“You may not always be the best, but you know you [can] always strive to be the best.”​​- DR. YAMICIA CONNOR

• Growing up in Florida, Yamicia was a serious kid who stressed about the little things.
  
• Even though she was very focused and independent as a child, she didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up.​
  
• She now works on research that directly impacts cancer treatments for women.​
  




Download her poster here!

All Environmental Program visits are a go for this year. The Pasco Environmental Programs Team has available dates for HS program visits. More info can be found at EcoResearchers Program Site. They will still be providing support and offer experiences and programs at your school sites or via live remote experience too. Please reach out to Josh McCart for program information.

As listed below, we have one in-person workshop and one webinar scheduled for the end of January at the USF Stavros Center. We still have some space in the sessions. Educators can sign up for these sessions on our Website Programs Page.

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN CHANGE-MAKERS AND FINANCIAL WELLNESS

· Date: Thursday, January 27, 2022

· Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:30p.m.

· WEBINAR via Microsoft TEAMS

Click here for program details

Register Now

MONSTERS AND MONEY: USING DISNEY TO INSPIRE DECISION-MAKING, DESIGN THINKING, AND SOCRATIC SEMINARS

· Date: Monday, January 31, 2022

· Time: 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (a light dinner will be provided)

· Location: USF Stavros Center, 4111 USF Willow Drive Tampa 33620

Click here for program details

Register Now

#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