Happy New Year Opportunities: January 3rd, 2023

SAVE THE DATES: Are these on your calendar?

February 25th, 2023—EdCamp STEM West returns!! This free Saturday event will be hosted by NCSSM-Morganton. Put in on your calendar and share this with any teachers who may want to check it out!

REGISTRATION Now open!!

April 1st, 2023–STEM Trek 2023, a NC Science Festival event to be hosted by the Catawba Science Center and sponsored by the Greater Hickory International Council. This community event is free, and all families are welcome!

Exhibitor REGISTRATION now open!
Local STEM businesses are invited to participate, providing a hands-on experience for families to introduce them to STEM careers in our region. Please contact Carol Moore at [email protected] with questions.

December 15, 2022 | Volume 7, Issue 49

ARC NEWS
Apply Now for Summer Learning Opportunities!

This week, ARC opened applications for two summer study opportunities for Appalachian students: the Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy (AEA) and the Appalachian STEM Academy at Oak Ridge.

The Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy, hosted in Boone, North Carolina at Appalachian State University, seeks high school students interested in nurturing creative ideas and developing skills for entrepreneurial success.

AEA seeks middle and high school students, and high school teachers, who are ready to work alongside award-winning scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. For the first time ever, we’re also expanding our middle school sessions to allow twice as many students to participate.

Applications for both programs are due February 10, 2023.

Paid Summer Research Programs! NSF, NASA, NIH, etc. — 700+ programs: Most programs offer both a stipend and housing and travel support. Programs range across all STEM disciplines and all areas of the country!

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS – 80+ programs for high school students
UNDERGRADS – 600+ programs for undergraduates
GRADUATE STUDENTS – 70+ programs for graduate students
Use the advanced search page to filter programs by multiple criteria

How to Make the Most of Winter Outdoor Activities

https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/make-the-most-of-winters-outdoors
https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/make-the-most-of-winters-outdoors?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=december_branch_2022&utm_content=button

Southwestern Community College will be a regional hub for this national challenge event, so I thought I’d pass along information because the deadline for teachers to register is January 11th.

Here’s the challenge information link: https://nwessp.org/challenge/artemis-roads/
Here’s the registration link: https://nwessp.org/artemis-roads-registration-form/

Let me know if you or your teachers have questions. There is financial support for teachers who register for the challenge and this event will be hosted again next year so mark your calendars for August 2023 when the next registration window opens.
—
Randi Neff, Project Coordinator
Smoky Mountain STEM Collaborative
224 Balsam, SWCC
447 College Dr., Sylva, NC 28779
phone: 828.339.4357

We heard your feedback. Registration forms can be a drag.

That’s why we’re launching our on-demand Clubs webinars on YouTube, no registration required!

Learn the basics of Clubs in our informational webinar, or meet our team in our Back-to-School Kickoff. Dive deeper with firsthand accounts from other Clubs Facilitators and one of our Regional Retention Specialists.

And do it all seamlessly through our Clubs webinar page!

In addition to our on-demand webinars, check in from time to time for an updated schedule of live virtual events. We’ll still ask for some information to RSVP to live events so that we know you’re coming.

Yours in sisterhood,
The Girls Who Code Team

P. S. Ready to get started with our free Clubs program? Sign up here!

AEOP |

Inspire GEMS Students to Learn Science—And Get a Stipend

Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS), a U.S. Army–sponsored, summer STEM enrichment program for middle and high school students, seeks Resource Teachers for its 2023 summer camps. You’ll work with U.S. Army research scientists to provide students inquiry-based, hands-on lab experiments and activities, and earn a stipend!

Wakelet Classroom Inspiration: Mathematics!

Discover the incredible collections educators worldwide have created on Wakelet.

From lesson plans to discussion boards, resource libraries to class projects. We’ve curated some of our favorite education collections that make learning fun, engaging, and impactful!

Take a look at the collections below and be inspired to deliver memorable learning experiences of your own this semester.

Adding & Subtracting Integers

View collection

Mathematics Fluency Routines

View collection

K-5 Math Resources

View collection

Telling Time Help

View collection

Differential Equations

View collection

3rd Grade Math: Fractions

View collection

Explore Wakelet

2023 NC GreenPower Solar+ Schools grant

Great news! We have launched our promotion of the 2023 NC GreenPower Solar+ Schools grant. The application is open now through January 31, 2023, and we expect to award up to 15 schools. And the best part is that we are providing FULLY FUNDED 20-kilowatt solar installations to awarded schools!
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The NC GreenPower Solar+ Schools grant program offers funding for small solar PV educational installations, giving teachers valuable tools to educate students about renewable energy. The 2023 grant will fund the installation of 20-kW solar PV systems to be designed as roof-mounted or ground-mounted arrays. Both system designs must be installed in prominent, visible locations at the school. Any North Carolina K-12 school in a Tier 1 or Tier 2 county, as defined by the NC Department of Commerce, may apply. NC GreenPower estimates that there will be funding for up to 15 school grants in 2023. The total number of awards will depend on donations made to the program. NC GreenPower’s grant will pay for all of the project’s construction. Schools should raise $3,500 to cover any operations and maintenance (O&M) costs. The school or PTA will need to raise the funds and then retain them for future O&M use. Each grant recipient will also get: a weather station, data monitoring equipment, a STEM curriculum and classroom solar kits for the students, curriculum training for teachers, and ongoing support after the installation has been completed. Donor funding will cover the total cost of construction and educational package, valued at $66,700. Learn more: https://www.ncgreenpower.org/what-we-do/solar-schools

		Katie Lebrato, CDMP + PCM (she/her) Marketing Communications Director 909 Capability Drive, Suite 2100 \| Raleigh, NC 27606 Direct \| 919.857.9026 Fax \| 919.832.2696 [email protected]

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Applications are being accepted for the virtual summer NIEHS STaRS Experience
Middle and high school science teachers and community college instructors are encouraged to apply for the 2023 NIEHS Science, Teachers and Research Summer (STaRS) Experience.

STaRS 2023 is a virtual one-week professional development program, designed and conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).The goals of the program are:
· To enhance participants’ understanding of basic research in the environmental and biomedical sciences; and
· To enable participants to transfer knowledge received from this program into classroom applications and to better support their students, including those from underserved populations.

The 2023 STaRS Experience will be held online by NIEHS and will be a one-week program. The program will run from Monday, July 10, 2023, to Friday, July 14, 2023, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. each day. An optional hands-on one-day session will be provided at NIEHS if pandemic conditions allow for this at that time. STaRS participants are expected to attend the full one-week program. The program will contain many interactive lessons and activities. STaRS participants will receive a $1,000 stipend to cover their time spent during the program.

Requirements:

· Applicants must currently teach science in a middle school, high school or community college (Out-of-state educators are encouraged to apply); and
· Applicants must be available and fully engaged for the full one-week program (July 10-14)

Women and individuals of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Apply Now →
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 3, 2023.

Virginia Crisp | Director of Programs

North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research (NCABR)
P.O. Box 19469
Raleigh, NC 27619-9469
[email protected] | 919.785.1304 x 202
ncabr.org | aboutbioscience.org

Join the Scaling Up for STEM Initiative in 2023

The Scaling Up for STEM Initiative, sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Foundation, provides middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) teachers with a yearlong immersive professional learning experience designed to enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence in science, technology, and engineering; and increase STEM career exposure while boosting teacher understanding about the skills needed for a scientifically literate workforce. The program provides a tailored approach to support teachers’ efforts to create an equitable learning environment that increases student interest, participation, and academic success in STEM education. Kicking off in Atlanta, the program provides:

Complimentary conference registration and tickets to the pre-conference workshops for the program;
Online professional learning via a comprehensive NSTA membership package;
Collaborative professional learning opportunities to develop lessons, units, and/or projects which integrate real-world applications with an emphasis on STEM career awareness and workforce skills based on program experiences; and
The opportunity to assist district administration in building capacity by leading discussions, teacher work groups, and/or professional learning to share their program experiences with colleagues.

Applications for the Scaling Up for STEM Initiative
are due no later than January 15, 2023.

Eligibility requirements:

a minimum of two years of classroom teaching experience
be a current full-time middle school or high school science, engineering, technology, and/or career and technical educator
located in public school districts within 250 miles or Atlanta

Free Conference Registration Opportunity

Need help attending NSTA Atlanta23? We’ve got you covered!

The NSTA Preservice and New Teacher Scholarship provides funding to cover the conference registration fees for first-time attendees with 0-5 years of experience. Simply visit the NSTA website, log in to your account (or create a new one) and complete the application. We’ll be reviewing applications on a rolling basis through January 27 so the sooner you apply, the better chance you have at acceptance. Should you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please contact Michelle Phillips, Education Specialist, at [email protected].

Applications are being accepted
for the virtual summer
NIEHS STaRS Experience
with $1,000 stipend

Middle and high school science teachers and community college instructors are encouraged to apply for the 2023 NIEHS Science, Teachers and Research Summer (STaRS) Experience. STaRS 2023 is a virtual one-week professional development program, designed and conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

The goals of the program are:

To enhance participants’ understanding of basic research in the environmental and biomedical sciences; and
To enable participants to transfer knowledge received from this program into classroom applications and to better support their students, including those from underserved populations.

The 2023 STaRS Experience will be held online by NIEHS and will be a one-week program. The program will run from Monday, July 10, 2023, to Friday, July 14, 2023, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. each day. An optional hands-on one-day session will be provided at NIEHS if pandemic conditions allow for this at that time. STaRS participants are expected to attend the full one-week program. The program will contain many interactive lessons and activities. STaRS participants will receive a $1,000 stipend to cover their time spent during the program.

Requirements:

Applicants must currently teach science in a middle school, high school or community college (Out-of-state educators are encouraged to apply); and
Applicants must be available and fully engaged for the full one-week program (July 10-14)

Women and individuals of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Apply Now →

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 3, 2023.

North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research (NCABR)
P.O. Box 19469 | Raleigh, NC 27619-9469 | 919.785.1304 | ncabr.org | aboutbioscience.org

A note from Smokey Mountain STEM Collaborative: Opportunities!

Happy New Year!

As we get back into the swing of things, I wanted to share some Artemis resources and make you aware of a few things coming up quickly in addition to what’s in the newsletter.

We are interested in the FUTURES program and need to know if there are others who would like to participate. This is time sensitive! FUTURES is a STEM outreach program that empowers community college faculty, staff, students, and alumni to connect with their local community through sharing their personal stories.
See this website for more info: https://ncsciencefestival.org/futures

Registration for the Artemis ROADS National Challenge ends Jan. 10th. We are planning to be a hub and will have travel support as needed. See details here: https://nwessp.org/challenge/artemis-roads/

NASA had a stellar year in 2022, with the spectacular Artemis I mission paving the way for future crewed flights to the Moon, dazzling images beamed back to Earth from the new James Webb Space Telescope, and more. As the calendar turns to 2023, NASA is launching into a new era of human spaceflight. Looking for ways to bring the excitement of space exploration into your classroom or to learners at home? Here are some fun and engaging resources to get you started!

Follow us on social media to get information about the latest NASA events and our programs in the community. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, just send me an email. Looking forward to seeing you in 2023!

—
Randi Neff, Project Coordinator
Smoky Mountain STEM Collaborative
224 Balsam, SWCC
447 College Dr., Sylva, NC 28779
phone: 828.339.4357

SIEMEN Hour of Engineering
Resources and links to host an hour of Engineering and lessons for the classroom!

Announcing Summer Accelerator 2023 Course Offerings

NCSSM is pleased to announce course offerings for Summer Accelerator 2023. Applications are now open!

Course offerings in Morganton and Durham:

Early Accelerator Courses

Summer Accelerator 7th – 9th Courses

Summer Accelerator 10th – 12th Courses

Exciting update for Summer 2023:

Day programs are now available for rising 7th-12th graders! NCSSM-Morganton will also offer day camp courses at the North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies (NCCET) in Hickory, NC.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or contact Ms. Gina Barrier, Director of Extended Partnerships & Morganton Summer Programs at [email protected].

Learn more…

NC DPI Mathematics Content Series

NCDPI Mathematics team will be kicking off an Elementary and Middle School Mathematics Content Series in January 2023. This is one of a series of virtual PD sessions open to teachers, teacher leaders, coaches, district staff, and administrators. Participants will earn 2 contact hours per session. Each session meets for 90 minutes with a 30-minute asynchronous reflection time. Sessions will be focused on elementary and middle school mathematics content and will highlight practitioners in the field.

Please share this information with teachers and leaders in your area. We are excited about the number of participants already registered and look forward to seeing you there!