In the fall 2008 issue of Seminole SECME "Hawk Talk"
- RU VEXed by Robots?
- Florida Engineering Society Speaker on October 29th
- SECME fundraising film on November 19th "WALL-E"
- SECME Spotlight: Kaitlin Kilpatrick
Click here to download a PDF issue of the
Seminole SECME "Hawk Talk" newsletter Fall 2008 issue.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
2008-2009 SECME IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: Brief history of the school’s SECME program.
Seminole SECME began in August 2007 under the coordination of Erich Landstrom (previously coordinator at Boynton Beach Community High School).
Erich Landstrom received a Citibank Success Fund Grant of $841 to launch his Rocket POWER (Positive Outcomes While Enjoying Reading) program. During Rocket POWER, SECME students at Seminole Ridge read and discussed the special talents and training necessary to become a rocket scientist. They were then be challenged to design, construct, fly and recover handmade, high-powered model rockets with two “egg-stronauts” onboard.
The Citibank Success Fund awards cash grants to support innovative classroom learning projects that encourage at-risk students to succeed in academics and stay in school. These funds, awarded by the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and Citibank, allow educators to develop innovative, easily replicable, grassroots programs, providing students with an opportunity to succeed and to associate that success with continued school attendance. Landstrom received the grant check during a dinner reception on Tuesday, September 25, 2007. The money was spent on books and rocket construction supplies.
During weekly meetings of an after-school SECME Club (Science, Engineering, Communication and Mathematics Enhancement), students read from non-fiction, how-to books on model rocketry, including The Handbook of Model Rocketry and Rocket Boys: A Memoir, the autobiographical reminiscences of Homer Hickam, Jr. whose life was influenced by rocketry.
SECME students then designed, constructed, and flew their own high-powered model rocket. This rocket, with a payload of two raw Grade-A large eggs, must reach a specific altitude of 750 feet and return undamaged to the ground within 45 seconds.
Seminole SECME competed in its first district Olympiad along with approximately 250 secondary students from Palm Beach County middle and high schools on Saturday, March 29 at John I. Leonard High School from 9:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Lighting the Torch to Empower Future Leaders was the theme of this year’s SECME competition for students interested in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. The club returned with several honors in their inaugural outing:
Erich Landstrom received a Citibank Success Fund Grant of $841 to launch his Rocket POWER (Positive Outcomes While Enjoying Reading) program. During Rocket POWER, SECME students at Seminole Ridge read and discussed the special talents and training necessary to become a rocket scientist. They were then be challenged to design, construct, fly and recover handmade, high-powered model rockets with two “egg-stronauts” onboard.
The Citibank Success Fund awards cash grants to support innovative classroom learning projects that encourage at-risk students to succeed in academics and stay in school. These funds, awarded by the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and Citibank, allow educators to develop innovative, easily replicable, grassroots programs, providing students with an opportunity to succeed and to associate that success with continued school attendance. Landstrom received the grant check during a dinner reception on Tuesday, September 25, 2007. The money was spent on books and rocket construction supplies.
During weekly meetings of an after-school SECME Club (Science, Engineering, Communication and Mathematics Enhancement), students read from non-fiction, how-to books on model rocketry, including The Handbook of Model Rocketry and Rocket Boys: A Memoir, the autobiographical reminiscences of Homer Hickam, Jr. whose life was influenced by rocketry.
SECME students then designed, constructed, and flew their own high-powered model rocket. This rocket, with a payload of two raw Grade-A large eggs, must reach a specific altitude of 750 feet and return undamaged to the ground within 45 seconds.
Seminole SECME competed in its first district Olympiad along with approximately 250 secondary students from Palm Beach County middle and high schools on Saturday, March 29 at John I. Leonard High School from 9:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Lighting the Torch to Empower Future Leaders was the theme of this year’s SECME competition for students interested in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. The club returned with several honors in their inaugural outing:
• In the category of Balsawood Bridge Building, Liz Camp (l) and Vicki Glass’s (r) structure held 68 pounds before breaking.
• In the category of Water Bottle Rocket, Nick Moore’s and T.J. Gipe’s rocket was airborne for 7.8 seconds.
• In the category of Brain Bowl, the Hawks fell to second-place winners Forest Hill High School.
• Kelsey Chase (essay) and Kaitlin Kilpatrick (poster) earned honors for submissions on the theme “Lighting the Torch to Empower Future Leaders.”
On Saturday, April 26, 2008 SECME students Marlon Alfonso, Ed Bachelor, Kyle Cuthbert and Rob Ponga were entrants in the “Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It” competition at the South Florida Science Museum. More than 150 students from Palm Beach County competed in four competitions:
• Drop It: design a package to protect a raw egg from cracking after a three-story freefall;
• Build It: design an “unbreakable” bridge out of balsa wood;
• Fly It: design the ultimate paper airplane;
• Launch It: blast off a two-liter bottle rocket lofted by compressed air.
• In the category of Water Bottle Rocket, Nick Moore’s and T.J. Gipe’s rocket was airborne for 7.8 seconds.
• In the category of Brain Bowl, the Hawks fell to second-place winners Forest Hill High School.
• Kelsey Chase (essay) and Kaitlin Kilpatrick (poster) earned honors for submissions on the theme “Lighting the Torch to Empower Future Leaders.”
On Saturday, April 26, 2008 SECME students Marlon Alfonso, Ed Bachelor, Kyle Cuthbert and Rob Ponga were entrants in the “Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It” competition at the South Florida Science Museum. More than 150 students from Palm Beach County competed in four competitions:
• Drop It: design a package to protect a raw egg from cracking after a three-story freefall;
• Build It: design an “unbreakable” bridge out of balsa wood;
• Fly It: design the ultimate paper airplane;
• Launch It: blast off a two-liter bottle rocket lofted by compressed air.
From June 21 to June 29, 2008, Erich Landstrom attended the 32nd annual SECME summer institute teacher academy at Tuskegee University.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
SECME members on a mission to build robots
SECME members on a mission to build robots
By JASON PARSLEY | Forum Publishing Group
November 26, 2008
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/royal_palm/sfl-flrpfrobot1126rpfnov26,0,4093472.story
Seminole Ridge High School seniors Madelyn Gapko and Nadia Beni both like hands-on projects, and that is why they decided to join the newly formed Science, Engineering, Communications and Mathematics club at the school, 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, in Loxahatchee.
The SECME Club allows students to apply what they learn in classes like physics to the real world. So far it has attracted about 60 members.
"It's a good way for me to learn," Gapko said.
While Beni added, "[The hands-on] is mostly what we do, but it's the best part."
The club recently had a movie afternoon to raise funds to purchase at least one Vex Robotics Design System kit so students will have the opportunity to build actual robots.
"This isn't here's a Lego kit, lets see if we can build something," said Erich Landstrom, SECME school coordinator and physics teacher. Over the summer he was introduced to the starter kit and said, "We literally went from a box of parts to two hours later we had built a radio-controlled robot."
Landstrom said he is excited to add the robotics component to the club.
"This is definitely something I want the Seminole Hawks to do," he said.
But first the club needs to raise the money to purchase the $700 kit. The club's next fundraiser will be another movie afternoon in January.
With the kit Landstom said he hopes that his students will be able to enter a robotics competition next year. This year's competition will ask students to build a robot that is able to travel up a ramp and be able to operate independently and by user control.
"My hope, my goal would be to go to the national competition," he said.
So far the club has designed and launched a film-canister model rocket, and constructed a spaghetti bridge from pasta and mini marshmallows.
Call 561-422-2600 for more information.
By JASON PARSLEY | Forum Publishing Group
November 26, 2008
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/royal_palm/sfl-flrpfrobot1126rpfnov26,0,4093472.story
Seminole Ridge High School seniors Madelyn Gapko and Nadia Beni both like hands-on projects, and that is why they decided to join the newly formed Science, Engineering, Communications and Mathematics club at the school, 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, in Loxahatchee.
The SECME Club allows students to apply what they learn in classes like physics to the real world. So far it has attracted about 60 members.
"It's a good way for me to learn," Gapko said.
While Beni added, "[The hands-on] is mostly what we do, but it's the best part."
The club recently had a movie afternoon to raise funds to purchase at least one Vex Robotics Design System kit so students will have the opportunity to build actual robots.
"This isn't here's a Lego kit, lets see if we can build something," said Erich Landstrom, SECME school coordinator and physics teacher. Over the summer he was introduced to the starter kit and said, "We literally went from a box of parts to two hours later we had built a radio-controlled robot."
Landstrom said he is excited to add the robotics component to the club.
"This is definitely something I want the Seminole Hawks to do," he said.
But first the club needs to raise the money to purchase the $700 kit. The club's next fundraiser will be another movie afternoon in January.
With the kit Landstom said he hopes that his students will be able to enter a robotics competition next year. This year's competition will ask students to build a robot that is able to travel up a ramp and be able to operate independently and by user control.
"My hope, my goal would be to go to the national competition," he said.
So far the club has designed and launched a film-canister model rocket, and constructed a spaghetti bridge from pasta and mini marshmallows.
Call 561-422-2600 for more information.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Seminole Ridge science teacher Mr. Erich Landstrom will receive a Citibank Success Fund Grant of $841 to launch his Rocket POWER (Positive Outcomes While Enjoying Reading) program. During Rocket POWER, students at Seminole Ridge will read and discuss the special talents and training necessary to become a rocket scientist. They will then be challenged to design, construct, fly and recover handmade, high-powered model rockets with two “egg-stronauts” onboard.
The Citibank Success Fund awards cash grants to support innovative classroom learning projects that encourage at-risk students to succeed in academics and stay in school. These funds, awarded by the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and Citibank, allow educators to develop innovative, easily replicable, grassroots programs, providing students with an opportunity to succeed and to associate that success with continued school attendance. Landstrom will receive the grant check during a dinner reception on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the West Palm Beach Marriott. The money will be spent on books and rocket construction supplies.
During weekly meetings of an after-school SECME Club (Science, Engineering, Communication and Mathematics Enhancement), students will read non-fiction, how-to books on model rocketry, including The Handbook of Model Rocketry and Rocket Boys: A Memoir, the autobiographical reminiscences of children whose lives were influenced by rocketry.
SECME students will then design, construct, and fly their own high-powered model rocket. This rocket, with a payload of two raw Grade-A large eggs, must reach a specific altitude of 750 feet and return undamaged to the ground within 45 seconds.
Rocket POWER hopes to:
• Spark enthusiasm for careers in aerospace among students;
• Curb dropout prevention by demonstrating the practical application of science, technology, engineering and mathematics;
• Provide positive outcomes while enjoying reading;
• Deliver foundational knowledge of aerospace principles in math and geometry, in sciences ranging from physics to meteorology, and engineering.
The Citibank Success Fund awards cash grants to support innovative classroom learning projects that encourage at-risk students to succeed in academics and stay in school. These funds, awarded by the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and Citibank, allow educators to develop innovative, easily replicable, grassroots programs, providing students with an opportunity to succeed and to associate that success with continued school attendance. Landstrom will receive the grant check during a dinner reception on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the West Palm Beach Marriott. The money will be spent on books and rocket construction supplies.
During weekly meetings of an after-school SECME Club (Science, Engineering, Communication and Mathematics Enhancement), students will read non-fiction, how-to books on model rocketry, including The Handbook of Model Rocketry and Rocket Boys: A Memoir, the autobiographical reminiscences of children whose lives were influenced by rocketry.
SECME students will then design, construct, and fly their own high-powered model rocket. This rocket, with a payload of two raw Grade-A large eggs, must reach a specific altitude of 750 feet and return undamaged to the ground within 45 seconds.
Rocket POWER hopes to:
• Spark enthusiasm for careers in aerospace among students;
• Curb dropout prevention by demonstrating the practical application of science, technology, engineering and mathematics;
• Provide positive outcomes while enjoying reading;
• Deliver foundational knowledge of aerospace principles in math and geometry, in sciences ranging from physics to meteorology, and engineering.
Monday, September 22, 2008
R U VEXed by Robots?
Engaging students in math, science, and technology is one of the most important factors in creating tomorrow's workforce. This is of particular importance in America, where math and science education is lagging behind other countries, leaving our nation trailing in the number of engineers produced each year. At Seminole Ridge High School, the SECME club has undertaken several projects to combat this problem, along with other projects to promote excellence in engineering.
At the annual SECME (Science, Engineering, Communication and Math Excellence) Regional Competition, over 200 high school students square off in engineering contests to team design and test vehicles powered by mousetraps, bridges that withstand pressure testing, water bottle rockets that were launched and evaluated for distance, general knowledge games with the "Brain Bowl," and in literary and artistic competitions with essays, mission patches, banners, and posters.
For the 2008-2009, SECME is facilitating a low-cost, high impact robotics program that will encourage more students to continue their education beyond high school and ultimately to choose science-, technology-, engineering-, and mathematics-related careers. In this highly engaging after-school program, students collaborate with their teachers and industry leaders, using their skills and knowledge in science, math, engineering, and technology to configure high-tech robotics to meet a preset series of tasks.
This is the type of program that builds interest from the ground up. Students acquire a ‘can do spirit’ and they get an opportunity to learn from their mentors and motivators in ways that build confidence and pride in their accomplishments. The VEX Robotics Design System starter kit contains everything students need to design a robot, with vast creative possibilities. This valuable project requires significant funding—each kit costs $321 – and is entirely supported by student fundraising and your donations.
The SECME school coordinators would greatly appreciate any contribution you and your business can provide. All gifts are recognized. Please consider contributing $321 and help us reach our goal before November 30th by making a donation to: Seminole Ridge High School SECME
I hope very much that you will be able to say “yes” to our appeal, and will truly appreciate whatever you can give.
At the annual SECME (Science, Engineering, Communication and Math Excellence) Regional Competition, over 200 high school students square off in engineering contests to team design and test vehicles powered by mousetraps, bridges that withstand pressure testing, water bottle rockets that were launched and evaluated for distance, general knowledge games with the "Brain Bowl," and in literary and artistic competitions with essays, mission patches, banners, and posters.
For the 2008-2009, SECME is facilitating a low-cost, high impact robotics program that will encourage more students to continue their education beyond high school and ultimately to choose science-, technology-, engineering-, and mathematics-related careers. In this highly engaging after-school program, students collaborate with their teachers and industry leaders, using their skills and knowledge in science, math, engineering, and technology to configure high-tech robotics to meet a preset series of tasks.
This is the type of program that builds interest from the ground up. Students acquire a ‘can do spirit’ and they get an opportunity to learn from their mentors and motivators in ways that build confidence and pride in their accomplishments. The VEX Robotics Design System starter kit contains everything students need to design a robot, with vast creative possibilities. This valuable project requires significant funding—each kit costs $321 – and is entirely supported by student fundraising and your donations.
The SECME school coordinators would greatly appreciate any contribution you and your business can provide. All gifts are recognized. Please consider contributing $321 and help us reach our goal before November 30th by making a donation to: Seminole Ridge High School SECME
I hope very much that you will be able to say “yes” to our appeal, and will truly appreciate whatever you can give.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Engage: Blow Out! Puff Mobile
E-Week's Build an Air Powered Car (requires Adobe Acrobat)
Materials Needed:
- 3 drinking straws
- 4 Lifesavers candy
- 1 piece of copier paper
- 2 paper clips
- 50 centimeters of tape
- Pair of scissors
Instructions:
1. Make a jet-car out using only 3 plastic drinking straws, 4 wintergreen lifesavers, 1 piece of paper, 2 paper clips and 50 centimeters of tape.
2. Here's the catch: you can only use your breath to make them move! To power your jet-car, you blow on it. Can you get your jet-car to move 3 meters (10 feet)?
3. Race them. Have rival teams design and make their own jet-cars, then have a jet-car competition. See who can move their jet-car 3 meters (10 feet) with the fewest number of breaths, or the shortest amount of time.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Seminole Ridge SECME Competes In District Olympiad
Science, Engineering, Communication, Mathematics and Enrichment (SECME) students at Seminole Ridge High School competed in the 2008 District Olympiad on March 29, returning with several honors:
• In the category of Balsawood Bridge Building, Liz Camp and Vicki Glass’s structure held 68 pounds before breaking.
• In the category of Water Bottle Rocket, Nick Moore’s and T.J. Gipe’s rocket was airborne for 7.8 seconds.
• In the category of Brain Bowl, the Hawks fell to second-place winners Forest Hill High School.
• Kelsey Chase (essay) and Kaitlin Kilpatrick (poster) earned honors for submissions on the theme “Lighting the Torch to Empower Future Leaders.”
SECME coaches Erich Landstrom and Alison Baird thank the team for a great job.
• In the category of Balsawood Bridge Building, Liz Camp and Vicki Glass’s structure held 68 pounds before breaking.
• In the category of Water Bottle Rocket, Nick Moore’s and T.J. Gipe’s rocket was airborne for 7.8 seconds.
• In the category of Brain Bowl, the Hawks fell to second-place winners Forest Hill High School.
• Kelsey Chase (essay) and Kaitlin Kilpatrick (poster) earned honors for submissions on the theme “Lighting the Torch to Empower Future Leaders.”
SECME coaches Erich Landstrom and Alison Baird thank the team for a great job.
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