"Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" at Smith College

"Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" at Smith College allows middle-school-aged girls to get a fun introduction to engineering and computer science! This year the event will be held on March 3rd in Ford Hall at Smith College.

This event is held annually at Smith College and is completely student run. It consists of a number of activities that are focused on engineering and computer science that girls can participate in to get a feel for what these fields are like to encourage them to pursue STEM fields as they grow older and help close the gender gap and increase diversity in science!

The link to the registration form can be found here: https://goo.gl/forms/TFh0xUD2D9YCbU0m2

There are only 120 spots available, so register early!

Questions?

Megan McGahren

Smith College

mmcgahren@smith.edu

(908)432-1409

ARMS Science Club in the News

The ARMS Science Club, under the direction of Team Y Science Teacher Jennifer Welborn, was featured in the Amherst Bulletin and Daily Hampshire Gazette last week. The club is modeled on UMass Amherst’s Integrated Concentration in Science program and is co-facilitated by a Fort River parent. UMass students serve as mentors. To read the article, click here: http://www.amherstbulletin.com/Amherst-middle-schoolers-asking-complex-questions-at-science-club-10268014

Technology Classroom Requests - Please Help!

Our new Technology teacher, Mr. Takayama, requests donations of equipment for a new Yearbook club and Makerspace!

Donations can be either new or used in good condition.

• Digital cameras (at least 3 - used are fine, but new enough to be practical - for yearbook club)
• A kinect (1 or 2 - Xbox for a makerspace- 3D scanning)
• LEGO's (any kind/type for a makerspace)

Please contact Mr. Takayama with questions at takayamat@arps.org. Thank you for your support of these exciting new programs!

Fort River Alumni part of ARHS’s JETS Engineering Club Teams that win BEST IN STATE!

Alumni News! Reposted from ARHS PGO:

Congratulations to the JETS Teams!

This has been an outstanding year for Amherst Regional High School’s JETS Engineering Club. The club entered five teams (40 students, grades 9-12) into the national Test of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAM+S) and won Best in State at both the 9^th/10^th grade and 11^th/12^th grade level. All six teams finished in the top 10% nationally.

Our top finishing 11^th/12^th grade team consisted of seniors: Brody Lynch, Liam Brandt, Michael Kamlarz, Jonathan Hosea, Solomon Rueschemeyer-Bailey, Dennis Shen, Nathaniel Corp, and Jacob Kaplan.

Our top finishing 9^th/10^th grade team consisted of: 10^thgraders John Dinsmore, Alvaro Borrell, Doug Eveleigh, Aleksa Kosanovic, Alexandra Patton, Eric Thompson-Martin, Nathan Ji, and 9^th grader Tim Demling.

ARHS has competed in the TEAM+S competition since 1989. TEAM+S is a national high school academic competition formally sponsored by the Junior Engineering Technical Society and recently taken over by the Technology Student Association. More than 1,000 teams of students compete every year in a fun and fast-paced competition that inspires creativity, teamwork, critical thinking and valuable insight into the world of engineering.  The theme of this year’s competition was “Engineering the Tools of Innovation.” It challenged students to use their engineering and design skills to address pressing issues currently faced by computing and information technology industries.

Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Fort River Elementary School students benefit from collaboration between UMass scientists and Amherst art teacher"

Did you see this wonderful feature in the Daily Hampshire Gazette about the incredible collaboration between the UMass Amherst Center for Evolutionary Materials and our own Art teacher Nicole Singer? Thanks to Fort River parent Jenn Green for coordinating this amazing experience for our students! Please read the article … this is 21st century education in action … "STEAM"!

Fort River Elementary School students benefit from collaboration between UMass scientists and Amherst art teacher

GAZETTENET.COM

Nominate Math/Science Teachers for National Award!

Do you know a K-6 grade teacher who provides excellent mathematics or science instruction to his or her students? Then please consider nominating him or her for one of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Anyone—researchers, parents or members of the general public—may nominate a K-6 grade teacher by completing the nomination form available on the PAEMST website (www.paemst.org). To submit a nomination, you only need the teacher’s contact information.

PAEMST is the highest honor the United States government bestows for K-12 mathematics and science teaching. Since 1983, more than 4,400 teachers have been recognized for their contributions to mathematics and science education. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education. Up to 108 teachers may be recognized each year.

Presidential Awardees receive a certificate signed by the President of the United States; a trip for two to Washington, D.C. to attend a series of recognition events, professional development opportunities, and policy-maker meetings; and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.

The Nomination Deadline is April 1, 2016. The Application Deadline is May 1, 2016 for teachers (K-grade 6). If you know more than one teacher deserving of this award, you may submit more than one nomination. Teachers may also initiate the application process themselves at http://www.paemst.org.

Please consider nominating outstanding mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers today!

Sincerely,

Nafeesa Owens, Ph.D.

Program Lead, PAEMST*

*The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.