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Please remember to vote for Dt Wells on May 3rd at the Boston teachers union! He's the best choice for Secretary Treasurer!

Looking at the new standards

This will be a busy month for the group

The following are some interesting opportunities that have come up recently, check them out!

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🌠Happy New Year!

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Boston Public Schools Science Department

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Happy New Year!View this email in your browserBPS Science Department

Happy New Year!

January always feel like a fresh start and an opportune time to try something new in the classroom. That is exactly why we asked the 21 teachers who attended Monday's Contractual professional development session for K-8 Science to try something new with Science Practices.

The professional development session began with an update about the MA Science and Technology/Engineering Framework. We then explored the new science and engineering practices through an article that Kate McNeill and Pam recently published in NSTA's Science Scope. We believe this work will help us better teach and assess the science and engineering practices. Teachers used this framework as they participated in exemplar lessons by Kris Grymonpré (McCormack Middle), Nick Kapura (Winship Elementary), and Holly Rosa (BPS Science) focused on the three practice clusters -- Investigating, Sensemaking, and Critiquing. We spent the afternoon applying our developing ideas through an examination of video.


Pam challenged teachers to “try one thing” – to apply their new knowledge about science and engineering practices in their classrooms during the month of January. Why not take this time to write down a goal for the new year and try something new in your classroom!

PamTwitterHolly

The Arboretum for Educators Monthly Exploration!

Saturday January 9th
9-11 am
Hunnewell Building
126 Arborway, Boston


Help! My Leaves Are Gone: Winter Tree ID
Join Arborist Kyle Stephens as we walk the grounds of the Arboretum to examine a variety of trees. We will learn basic information necessary to identify deciduous trees during their dormant season. Looking at bark and twigs, participants will determine several types of trees in the Boston area. Following the walk, we will practice observational skills and engage in scientific drawings as a way to increase our understanding of how trees cope during the winter months and prepare for a new season.
Check out what happened last month.
Pre-register here

Professional Development Opportunities
K-12 Science PLCs meet the last Wednesday of every month!
Winter/Spring Dates: 1/27, 2/24, 3/23, 4/27, 5/25
4:30 - 7:00pm



All K-12 teachers of science who would like to further explore any BPS science unit or lesson, needs support around specific strategies to implement the science curriculum, or would like to discuss particular challenges in teaching our science units, register here! We would love to see you at the PLCs!

Genzyme Teacher Sabbatical at the Museum of Science
March 14th, 15th, 16th, & 18th

This is a unique professional development opportunity for nine BPS teachers from grades K-8 to spend five days at the Museum of Science. Teachers will explore and use the museum resources, see the teaching staff in action, engage in an inquiry project in an interest area of their choice, and make connections between these learning experiences and BPS science instructional materials. We are hoping to select three teachers from each grade band – k-2, 3-5 and 6-8. This opportunity will also connect science educators from around the district to discuss and exchange ideas with other teachers and Museum staff about science and science education.
Applications Due Monday February 8th! Apply here!



New Science Fair Updates

5 Most Important Things to Know About Science Fair!

1. All school based Science Fairs should be completed by January 31st, 2016.

Fill out this short google form to tell us when you are holding your school Science Fair.Do you need judges? Fill out the google form above and let us know. We will try to help connect you with Science Fair judges.


2. Forms are due February 5th for all students attending the Citywide/Region VI Science Fair. We will also send out a registration form for schools to register their students. Once we receive information on your school fair.

3. All the information you need is on the weebly! Check out the editable versions of the high school forms! Middle school forms are available on the MSSEF site.

4. Science Fair SciCasts Playlist!
How To Fill out Middle School Science Fair Forms



5. Boston Citywide Science Fair March 4th & 5th, 2016
In order to submit school winners to the citywide fair, you should complete your school fair by the end of January.

BPS Energy Conservation Challenge

SAVE ENERGY. EARN MONEY!
Registration is open for the 2nd Annual BPS Energy Conservation Challenge!

All schools are encouraged to sign up to compete to save energy and earn money! Each school that reduces their electricity usage by at least 5% over their own baseline will receive 50% of their savings back to use for building or energy improvements. In 2014, schools earned $42,000 in just 3 months! There is no risk in signing up and a 5% savings goal is simple and achievable!
Register online or learn more at www.bostongreenschools.org/energy
Contact Phoebe Beierle
Facilities Management
pbeierlebostonpublicschools.org or
617-635-9138 for more information



FREE Eversource Energy Education Resources

Eversource, Boston's electric utility company, is committed to working with Boston students to teach them how to conserve energy in their daily lives. Below are the four FREE energy education programs currently offered by Eversource.

Program requests are currently being accepted for the current academic school year for all programs. The four programs available to BPS schools are:

The Eversource Challenge (K-12): The Eversource Challenge teaches students about energy efficiency and sustainable living by inviting them to showcase their energy knowledge through various challenges that are specific to different grade levels. Great prizes and award ceremony for winners. Deadline to register is February 19, 2016. Change a Light Change the World Fundraiser (K-12): The Change a Light, Change the World Fundraiser is a fundraiser where schools sell energy-efficient products to members of their community, neighbors, etc., and keep 100% of the proceeds.Watts-Ville (K-3): Watts-Ville™ is an interactive life-size board game for grades K-3 that teaches students about energy efficiency and the importance of saving energy.Energy Quest (6-8): Students become home energy investigators as they move through an inflatable building environment and use visual cues to locate areas where electricity, water, or gas is being use

Energy | BPS – Boston Green Schools The Boston Public School (BPS) district spends approximately $20 million dollars each year on utilities. This is a lot of money! Reducing energy and water consumption in our buildings and cutting down our greenhouse gas emissions are important goals for improving the environment and fostering a stro…

I would like to thanks W. R. Grace corporation for sponsoring my Keystonescienceschool.org experience this summer. DTWells

Renee, Darren, Emily and Marlon are 9000ft above see level. Continental Divide: Colorado I would like to thank my sponsor W.R. Grace for this remarkable opportunity.

Congratulations... Darren with 41 other teachers around the country including Jamaica, just completed the Key Issues: Bringing Environmental Issues to Classroom workshop in Keystone, Colorado. AMAZING

2013 WB Mason Consumer Show, being held at Historic Fenway Park (Home of the Boston Red Sox) on Thursday August 15, 2013! You’ll see new products & receive samples from over 100 of our largest manufacturers; including 3M, Avery, Pentel, & Bic. A first class breakfast & lunch will be provided, along with private tours of Fenway Park. You MUST register (use YOUR registration code at CC8K) at www.creativegroupinc.com/2013ConsumerShowBoston

Registration Page NOTE: If You Are Using Browser Pop-Up Controls: If you are using browser pop-up controls or blockers you might experience problems filling out your registration information. To avoid problems, we recommend that you temporarily disable pop-up controls before you begin your registration process.

The 6th year of the Science Socials comes to a close. Come celebrate the end of the year... and the kickoff of summer vacation... where we originally started the Socials 6 years ago!

Friday, 14 June (3-7pm)
Ashmont Grill
555 Talbot Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02124
617.825.4300
www.ashmontgrill.com

Ashmont Grill | 555 Talbot Ave | Dorchester, MA 02122 | 617.825.4300 Ashmont Grill | 555 Talbot Ave | Dorchester, MA 02122 | 617.825.4300

Ashmont Grill opens for lunch on Fridays - wifi, parking, patio... and complimentary snacks between 3-5 for teachers, nurses, neighbors & friends. Start each weekend right!

Come celebrate our return to work... and the beginning of the home stretch! Appetizers will be generously provided by the UMass Boston COSMIC (Center for Math and Science in Context) office. Friday, 26 April from 3-7pm

Kelley's Square Pub
84 Bennington Street
East Boston, MA

Kelley’s Square Pub - Boston's Best Barbeque Look no further! You've found the best spot in Boston for great atmosphere, mouth-watering entrees and a welcoming staff!

OIIT’s TechBoston unit and Machine Science are hosting a two-day technology workshop for students during the April Vacation week. Students will design and build water rockets made of soda bottles, and launch them hundreds of feet into the air! Tech Bootcamp will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, April 17 and 18, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Location: Madison Park High School - Green Tile Area. This workshop is FREE and open to any BPS students in GRADES 6-12.

Lunch will be provided. There are a limited number of seats, so sign up early!

For more info, please see attached flyer: http://boston.k12.ma.us/bulletins/Bootcamp2013.pdf. Online registration required: http://tinyurl.com/april2013camp

Contact: Haruna Hosokawa, 617-908-6045, [email protected]

http://boston.k12.ma.us/bulletins/Bootcamp2013.pdf