Hurricane Kate, or Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech?

Kate Woodbury

2010-01-08: Congratulations to senior Katelyn Woodbury! Ms. Woodbury has been accepted for fall 2010 admission to the Georgia Institute Technology (Go Yellow Jackets!). Hurray!

UPDATE 2010-01-31: Kate just got an acceptance letter from the University of Miami, and they are offering $20,000 a year!!!

Hmm, go study Biology at Georgia Tech, the national headquarters of SECME? Or take what's in the suitcase and earn a BS Bio as a Coral Gables 'Cane? All I know is after two years in Seminole SECME, we will miss her here.

See the SDO Rocket & Shuttle Launch

Witness an Atlas V Rocket Lift Off on a Mission to the Sun!
Mission: Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)
Launch Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Launch Window: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ET
Launch schedule subject to change.
The Atlas V rocket will launch NASA's SDO spacecraft on an unprecedented mission to study the sun and its dynamic behavior. Onboard telescopes will scrutinize sunspots and solar flares.

Mission: STS-130
Launch Date: Sunday, February 7, 2010
Launch Window: 4:39 a.m. EST.
Liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is scheduled for
Commander George Zamka will lead the STS-130 mission to the International Space Station. Terry Virts will serve as the pilot, making his first trip to space. Mission Specialists are Nicholas Patrick, Robert Behnken, Stephen Robinson and Kathryn Hire. Shuttle Endeavour and its crew will deliver to the space station a third connecting module, the Italian-built Tranquility node, and the seven-windowed cupola, which will be used as a control room for robotics. The mission will feature three spacewalks.

Scripps "CELLebrate" Science! Sat., Feb. 6, 10 AM - 3 PM

You’re invited to this fun, interactive community event at The Gardens Mall to mark the one-year anniversary of Scripps Florida’s permanent research facility in Jupiter!

Scripps "CELLebrate" Science! Saturday, February 6th, 2010 10:00AM - 3:00PM at The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens

The interactive science activities, conducted by Scripps scientists at the Cellebration, range from the colorful to the loud, including glowing zebra fish, flaming gummy bears, a robot that hand delivers candy and even an experiment where aspirin changes into wintergreen oil.

Engineering the Future: 2010 Summer Academy

Dear Superintendent:

We are writing to inform you about a very exciting and unique opportunity for twenty high ability Florida High School students. Florida State University and the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion (FCAAP) are offering a 1-week summer academy July 11-16 "From da Vinci to the Space Shuttle: Understanding the Dynamics of Flight"

The 2010 Summer Academy will focus on engineering, aero-science and mathematics, on the campus of FSU. The academy includes instruction and lab experiences led by world-class faculty. In addition to the rigorous academic components of the program, the academy includes an array of enjoyable social and recreational activities.

Supported by FCAAP, the summer academy will be offered at no cost to the twenty fortunate students!

The program is modeled after the highly acclaimed summer gifted programs offered on the campus of Duke University, the FL Governor’s School for Science and Space Technology, and the FSU Science Camp and Youth Scholars Program.

Information on how to apply and the actual application will be forthcoming very shortly. We wanted to alert you ASAP about this very exciting opportunity for FL students! We hope that one or more high ability high school students from your school district will apply.

PLEASE SHARE THIS FLYER WITH YOUR GIFTED COORDINATORS, PRINCIPALS, AND INTERESTED PARENTS!

Dr Steven Pfeiffer
Program Co-Director

BubbleWrap Competition for Young Inventors

BUBBLE WRAP COMPETITION FOR YOUNG INVENTORS

Sealed Air Corporation and the National Museum of Education (NMOE) are sponsoring the fourth annual BubbleWrap Competition for Young Inventors to encourage students in grades 5-8 to demonstrate their creativity and ingenuity with an invention that incorporates BubbleWrap cushioning in its design.

Three finalists will win a trip to New York City, where the Grand Prize Winner will be announced at the BubbleWrap Awards Ceremony on May 22. The Grand Prize Winner will also receive a $10,000 savings bond, while the 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive $5,000 and $3,000 bonds. Each finalist’s teacher/mentor will receive a $500 gift card. In addition, the school of the Grand Prize Winner will receive a $5,000 donation.

The entry deadline is March 3, 2010. Entry forms, and more details on the competition, may be found at www.nmoe.org/bubblewrap.

Now Is The Time

The Crystal Method - Now Is The Time (Vote '08 remix) 320 MP3


Wednesday, February 10th by 4:30 PM
deadline for SECME Olympiad entries:
Olympiad Registration, Technical reports and drawings, Rocket Mission Patch and student essay. You must have all paperwork in to me by the end of the meeting!

Thursday, February 18 from 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science in celebrating Engineers Week 2010
Seniors only
Activities will include:
A presentation by NASA Astronaut and FAU Alumnus, Dr. Steve R. Swanson about his recent space mission STS-119
&
Engineers Week Celebration
• High School Banner competition
• Robotics demonstrations (by high school teams)
• “Green” industry displays
• Tours of the Solar Panels & Labs
• A showcase of FAU engineering student organizations
• Sponsored competitions and games
• Giveaways
• Free lunch

Saturday, February 20
Brain Bowl team only: US Dept of Energy National Science Bowl
VEX team only: Battle of the Bots by the Bay
all others: Engineering Family Fun Day

Saturday, February 27 from 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
SECME Elementary Olympiad at Freedom Shores Elementary, 3400 Hypoluxo Rd, Boynton Beach, FL 33436

Wear your t-shirt!

2010 Yearbook photo for Seminole SECME
Time: 3:00PM Wednesday, January 27th
Location: Seminole Ridge Community High School
Seminole Ridge Yearbook will take our picture on the staircase. Be sure to wear your t-shirt.

Also

The DuPont Challenge Science Essay competition encourages students in grades 7-12 to get to the edge of scientific discovery by writing about a technological or scientific development that captures their imagination. Essay deadline is Sunday, 1/31/10 with winners announced 4/16/10. Grand prize winners receive cash awards plus expenses-paid trips to Walt Disney World in Orlando and the Kennedy Space Center! See the DuPont Challenge website for more information today

The Competition: The Suncoast Chargers

Suncoast Community High School 2008-2009

Carol Marshall-Smith 2009 SECME High School Coordinator of the Year

2008-09 SECME Team
District SECME Olympid: Mousetrap Car – 1st place Team, James Hoher, Sergio Vera, Dalton Hughes; 2nd place Team, Samir Tobar, Dilshan Ranadewa, Merancia Noelsaint; Balsa Wood Bridge-1st place Team, Sergio Vera, Dalton Hughes, James Hoher; 2nd place Team, Dilshan Ranadewa, Merancia Noelsaint, Samir Tobar; Water Bottle Rocket – 1st place Team, Dalton

EF2D - Engineering Family Fun Day

Good Morning-

Kindly pass along this flyer to your science and mathematics teachers. This is a fun filled event geared toward 3rd -12th graders and it focuses on capturing the interest of your students to learn more about engineering. This also is a great opportunity for students looking for volunteer hours.

Best Regards,
Tinu Pena, LEED AP
Green Design Consultant
Motre, Co. LLC
280 Ponce De Leon Street
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
P: 561.315.3598
F: 888.878.8595

Pierce Hammock Panther proteges of Seminole SECME

Seminole SECME mentored their Panther proteges from Pierce Hammock Elementary School for the Olympiad on Wednesday, January 17th. Benson and Ryan worked with the boys Blue team, and Nicole and Shelby worked with the girls Gold team. Mr, Landstrom, Mrs. Meroney and Mrs. Carlson are all very proud of their SECME students.

2010 Engineers Week Celebration at FAU

Astronaut Steven R. Swanson, STS-119 mission specialist, gives a "thumb-up" signal while participating in a training session in one of the full-scale trainers in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Attired in a training version of his shuttle launch and entry suit, Swanson is seated on the flight deck for a post insertion/de-orbit training session. Photo Credit: NASA

A special invitation to Palm Beach County High Schools!

Please join the FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science in celebrating Engineers Week 2010

Thursday, February 18th, 2010
9:30 am - 2:00 pm

Activities will include:

A presentation by NASA Astronaut and FAU Alumnus, Dr. Steve R. Swanson about his recent space mission STS-119
&
Engineers Week Celebration
• High School Banner competition
• Robotics demonstrations (by high school teams)
• “Green” industry displays
• Tours of the Solar Panels & Labs
• A showcase of FAU engineering student organizations
• Sponsored competitions and games
• Giveaways
• Free lunch
• And much, much more

Space is limited so sign-up early! Each high school group may bring up to 20 students and chaperones. Please note: only seniors may attend. As per Dr. Janis Andrews, West Area Superintendent for Palm Beach County Schools, "Currently your seniors can attend, it looks like you have 30 seniors and 20 spots so you will be able to fill your quota with your seniors." Get your permission slip and TLE from Mr. Landstrom in 5-107

Pierce Hammock Panthers proteges seek Seminole SECME mentors!

The Pierce Hammock SECME club needs your help. Seminole SECME students will mentor their Panther proteges for the Olympiad on Wednesday, February 20th. Meet Mr. Landstrom at Pierce Hammock Elementary after Seminole Ridge High School (or earlier, if you have OJT). Ask at the Front Desk for Mrs. Meriann Meroney or Mrs. Kelli Carlson. And wear your shirt if you have it!

2009-2010 VEX Clean Sweep

2009-2010 VEX Robotics Competition:
Clean Sweep

Challenge Description
VEX Clean Sweep is played on a 12'x12' square field configured as seen above. Two alliances – one "red" and one "blue" – composed of two teams each, compete in matches consisting of a twenty-second autonomous period followed by two minutes of driver-controlled play.

The object of the game is to attain a higher score than your opponent's alliance by moving as many balls as possible onto their side of the field and by "locking up" small balls in the triangular goals.

A bonus is awarded to the alliance that has the most total points at the end of the Autonomous Period.



Game Details
There are a total of fifty (50) small balls, twenty-one (21) medium balls and two (2) large balls available as scoring objects in the game.

The field is divided down the center by an 11.5" tall lexan wall. This wall separates the two alliances of two robots onto opposite sides of the field. Each robot (no larger than 18"x18"x18" to start) begins a match on their side of the field touching the wall furthest from the center wall. There are four 18" high triangular goals attached to the wall which robots can place small balls into. There are two slots in the wall which robots can pass small balls through.

At the start of the match small & medium balls are positioned on the center wall, and around the field. Each alliance will have one large ball which must be introduced to the match with less than thirty seconds remaining.

Scoring
VEX Clean Sweep Action / VEX Clean Sweep Points

Each Small Ball Scored..............1 point
Each Small Ball Locked Up...........3 points
Each Medium Ball Scored.............5 points
Each Large Ball Scored.............10 points
Autonomous Period Bonus.............5 points

2010 VEX Robotics Competition - Clean Sweep

This year’s VEX robotics competition is Clean Sweep. The game is played on a 12 ft x 12 ft foam-mat, surrounded by a sheet-metal and lexan perimeter. The field is divided down the center by an 11.5” tall lexan wall. This wall separates the two alliances of 2 robots onto opposite sides of the field.

There are 4 triangular goals 18” high attached to the wall which robots can place small balls into. There are 2 slots in the wall which robots can roll balls through. The game is won by moving the most balls onto your opponent’s side of the field or into the goals.

February 20, 2010: inaugural Battle by the Bay VEX Qualifying Tournament
We're proud to announce the Berkeley RoboBucs, team #429, are hosting the inaugural Battle by the Bay VEX Qualifying Tournament. The competition will be held February 20, 2009 at Gills Hall of Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida.
http://robotevents.com/robot-competitions/vex-robotics-competition/berkeley-prep-vex-robotics-competition.html

March 13, 2010: inaugural Gainesville Florida VEX Robotics Competition.
We will be holding a full tournament playing the new VEX Clean Sweep game for the 2009/2010 season. In addition, teams will also be able to enter either or both of the Programming Skills and Robot Skills Challenges. The top teams from this tournament will also qualify for the 2010 VEX Robotics Competition World Championship
http://robotevents.com/robot-competitions/vex-robotics-competition/florida-vex-qualifier.html

March 27, 2010: first annual Georgia State SECME Vex Robotics Qualifier. This qualifier will be held on the Georgia Tech Campus in Atlanta GA and is open to all SECME participants.
http://robotevents.com/robot-competitions/vex-robotics-competition/secme-qualifier-ga-tech.html

June 19, 2010: first annual SECME VEX Robotics Championship.
This event will be held on the Clemnson University Campus in Clemson, SC and is open to all SECME participants.
http://robotevents.com/secme-championship-clemson-sc.html

By participating in the Clean Sweep season, students will develop skills in response to the challenges and obstacles which stand before them. Some problems are solved by individuals, while others are handled through interaction with their teammates and adult mentors. They cultivate life skills such as planning, brainstorming, collaboration, teamwork, and leadership as well as research and technical skills. Teams work together to build a VEX robot to compete in tournaments, where they celebrate their accomplishments with other teams, friends and family. After the season, students come away with a “can-do” spirit, and an appreciation of science and technology and how they might use it to positively impact the world around them.

Haiti Earthquake Relief

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Dear Mr. Landstrom and SECME,

Thank you so much for your concern and words of comfort. Haiti has indeed suffered an extremely tragic event. Your support and assistance in the coming days, weeks, months, and years is definitely welcomed and needed, specially in helping to establish as soon as possible teaching facilities to prepare the Haitian youth for the rebuilding of their country. Any suggestions that you may have that can contribute to this will be welcomed.

Best regards,
Max E. Massac, P.E.
Director/Tr.
HAES

Sample Science Bowl Questions

The Department of Energy's National Science Bowl® is a highly publicized academic competition among teams of high school students who answer questions on scientific topics in astronomy, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, earth, computer and general science. The teams are comprised of five students and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach. The competition consists of a round robin followed by a double elimination final. The questions are multiple choice and short answer in the categories of chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, astronomy, and general, earth, and computer science.

Prizes are awarded to the top teams, and the winning team is invited to participate in the National Science Bowl. The NSB web site provides information for students, coaches, and volunteers.


Test Your Science Knowledge
Here are some sample questions in the categories of Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer, Earth Science, General Science, Mathematics and Physics.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3

Haitian Help for Carribean Quake

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The tragic events in Haiti have surprised and saddened all of us. The island nation was the focal point of a magnitude-7 quake on Tuesday, January 12th. The death toll estimates from the earthquake are estimated at 150,000. We offer our condolences to the families affected by the disaster. And as SECME is as an organization dedicated to science, engineering, and math education, we have asked the Haitian-American Association of Engineers and Scientists, as a professional organization, what help we can offer. We anticipate that in the days to come this emergency will need the response equal in scope to the disaster. Our students, faculty and friends can supply need items: Snack food, Granola Bars, Cereal, tarps, ropes, cooking pots, utensils, towels, blankets, bottled water, cleaning products, new clothes, new shoes, canned food/flip open tops, canned pasta meals, garbage liners, shovels, buckets, rice, beans in 10-20 lb bags, cooking oil, peanut butter, batteries, flashlights, matches, Kotex, bar soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, washcloths, Band-aids, first Aid Kits, antibiotics, neosporin, gauze bandages.

Our thoughts will be with the Haitian-American community during the days of mourning ahead.

If you have questions, concerns and other suggestions, please contact:
- Bito David: david[at]palmbeach[dot]k12[dot]fl[dot]us, phone: (561) 963-6320
- Jimmy Peterkin: peterkinj[at]palmbeach[dot]k12[dot]fl[dot]us (561) 434-7323

T-shirts are in.

UPS delievered our tee shirts. Stop by Mr. Batchelor's room 7208 for yours.

Remarks by the President on the "Educate to Innovate" Campaign and Science Teaching and Mentoring Awards

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 06, 2010

Remarks by the President on the "Educate to Innovate" Campaign and Science Teaching and Mentoring Awards

East Room
1:46 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Please have a seat. Thank you.