Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8 GEM

05/31/2024

GEM Parents- Do you have a High School or College age child looking for something productive to do with their summer that would look good on their college application or resume? Then check this out!

As you know, this year, Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8 and Butterfield Elementary are each hosting Camp Invention, a STEM summer camp where kids build creative inventions, build problem-solving skills, and discover innovative role models. To make each week of Camp Invention the best week possible, we are seeking high school (entering grades 10+) and college students to serve as Leadership Interns to assist our Camp Invention Instructors with providing a safe environment for all of our campers by acting in a camp counselor role. While this is not a paid position, students' time and effort will be rewarded with a certificate to document their approximate 40 hours of volunteer service.

To help you make a decision, here are the details for the two different camps:

June Camp Location: Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8 (5650 W. Moore Rd, Marana, AZ 85658)
Camp Director: Ms. Sjursen - [email protected]
Dates: June 17th-21st
Times: 8:00 am to 2:30 pm

July Camp Location: Butterfield Elementary School (3400 W. Massingale Rd, Tucson, AZ 85741)
Camp Director: Mrs. Romanoski - [email protected]
Dates: July 8th-12th
Times: 8:00 am to 2:30 pm

We would love to add a few more Leadership Interns to each of our camps to help things run a bit more smoothly. Our Dove Mountain camp is reaching max capacity, so the more hands on deck to help out, the better! If you have an older child who is interested in joining one, or both, camp(s) as a Leadership Intern, please reach out and we will respond with information on how to register as a Leadership Intern!

Thank you for considering our request! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either Mrs. Romanoski or myself! Thank you, Ms. Sjursen

05/31/2024

This is a great video that helps explain what our high school Leadership Interns do during Camp Invention to help support our amazing campers!

04/09/2024

Have you had a chance to view the Spring 2024 Edition of the MUSD Gifted and Talented Newsletter? I highly encourage you to take a moment to checkout the amazing things that are happening in GEM across the district! There is also information about Camp Invention. If you haven't had a chance to sign up yet, don't worry, we still have room!

Develop, Inspire, and Nurture Gifted & Talented Learners Welcome to the Marana Unified School District where there are so many great...

04/05/2024

1st grade GEM is so excited! As part of their unit about Butterflies, they have received 10 caterpillars! We can’t wait to watch them become butterflies!

03/25/2024

Spark your child’s curiosity and creativity with our all-new Camp Invention® program, Illuminate! At Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8 from June 17th to 21st, campers entering grades 1-6 will collaborate with friends to take on fun, hands-on STEM challenges. From designing a light-up ball game to tackling global water challenges to starring in a prototyping game show, each experience adds up to an imagination-stretching, confidence-boosting summer. Visit https://www.invent.org/programs/camp-invention to secure your spot! Use this registration link by 3/27 to save $25 on your registration!

Did you know we will be offering a second Camp Invention at Buttefield Elementary the week of July 8th? This camp will offer an entirely different Camp Invention curriculum! Families who wish to sign their child up for both camps will receive a special discount when registering for the second week of camp! Make sure to check this offer out when registering!

Bringing hands-on, educational fun to children throughout the summer, Camp Invention® is the perfect STEM summer camp for your young innovator.

03/15/2024

Exciting News! Camp Invention is coming back to Marana! Dove Mountain will be hosting Camp Invention the week of June 17th. Butterfield Elementary will be hosting Camp Invention the week of July 8th. More information about Camp Invention, including how to register, will be coming soon!

03/09/2024

Congratulations to Dove Mountain’s 6th Period GEM Elective students who earned their Wright Flight Voyager Fly Day this weekend. Earning this honor required months of hard work and required them to pass a final exam with a score of 85% or higher, ace a Boldface Test like a real pilot, create their own flight plan, and complete a volunteer project. This group of 14 students have now joined the small group of Dove Mountain Middle Schoolers who can successfully say they have piloted a plane!

02/19/2024

Dove Mountain's 5th Grade GEM students are participating in the Plant Mars Challenge! Take a look at their video to learn what they are hoping to accomplish by participating in this exciting challenge!

02/09/2024

Congratulations to Dove Mountain's 5th grade and Middle School GEM Elective students who are participating in the Spring 2024 Plant Mars Challenge. This is a global science experiment and research challenge to examine how vegetable crops can grow in lunar or Martian soil. Our teams received real Martian soil simulant from the University of Central Florida’s CLASS Exolith Lab, and we are designing and conducting a set of experiments using the simulant to grow crops for a future long-duration mission. We can't wait to see what happens to our carrots and broccoli!

02/09/2024

Today, 1st Grade GEM studens practiced thinking like Jordan the Judge! When we think like a judge, we make factual, observable, and measureable decisions. Students had to make considerations regarding what materials they needed for certain tasks in ordre to decide which were the most important and least important, as well as which materials they wouldn't need at all. Next week, we will have a chance to apply our thinking independently!

02/08/2024

I know we have several students fascinated with space! I encourage you to share this unique opportunity with your child to see if they are interested! Please let me know if you need help with the video!

CALLING ALL STUDENTS!!

Reach for the stars and explore the universe with us! The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) wants you to blast off into another student competition! For this competition, you will record a 3-5 minute video short story about where you would go in space to escape an alien invasion on Earth and how you would survive in your new environment. TWELVE prizes will be awarded with THREE winners per grade band— three for K-2nd, three for 3rd-5th, three for 6th-8th, and three for 9th-12th.

Deadline: on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Thursday, February 29th
https://orise.orau.gov/resources/k12/competitions-for-students.html

Prizes
K-2nd grade:
Telescope, 50 Things to See with a Telescope Book, Galaxy Projector, Astronaut Squishmallow

3rd-5th grade:
Telescope, 50 Things to See with a Telescope Book, Galaxy Projector, Solar System Kinects Building Kit

6th-8th grade:
Telescope, Moon Lamp, Beats Studio Earbuds, National Geographic: Backyard Guide to the Night Sky

9th-12th grade:
Telescope, Moon Lamp, Beats Studio Earbuds, National Geographic: Backyard Guide to the Night Sky

Details:
Aliens have invaded and we must evacuate Earth! In a video between 3-5 minutes, explain where you would go in the universe to escape Earth. Explain what you encounter on your journey and how you would tackle the challenges that surviving in space/on another planet would pose. Make sure that everything you encounter has scientific backing.