Dear Community Partners,
President Obama said last January in a speech, “The nation that out-educates us today is going to out-compete us tomorrow.” On Saturday, April 10th, students from 13 middle schools and 11 high schools will rise to the challenge and compete in the Palm Beach County SECME District Olympiads to showcase their education. Students square off in engineering competitions: design and build model cars; bridges; VEX robots; and water bottle rockets. In addition, students compete in general knowledge games at the Brain Bowl; and in literary and artistic competitions with essays, mission patches, banners, and posters.
We are requesting a small donation for the 2010 Palm Beach County SECME Regional Competition. Your personal, business or organization’s assistance will help provide awards and incentives for students who are competing at this year’s Olympiad. All of the students in the contests attend schools in our community. Your assistance will help encourage these “gladiators of grey matter” to continue to strive for excellence in education.
Please consider donating $25, $50, $100 or more. It is an investment in our schools with immediate benefits for our SECME students. Any donation is very much appreciated.
SECME (Science, Engineering, Communication, and Mathematics Enrichment) is a nationwide organization established to increase the pool of women and minorities prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math. But it is open to any and all students who want to participate in hands-on activities and project based learning.
If you are not the individual in your organization handling decisions regarding our request, we kindly ask that you forward this letter to the appropriate person. If you have any questions about donations (such as picking up gifts), please feel free to contact Bruce Wear, SECME district coordinator at (561) 357-1152.
The Secondary SECME District Olympiad will be held Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 8:00 am – 3:30 pm at Santaluces High School. Santaluces HS is located at the intersection of Hypoluxo and Lawrence Road, 6880 Lawrence Road, Lantana, FL 33462.
The winning entries in the mousetrap car, water bottle rocket, VEX robotics, essay and poster competitions will advance to the SECME National Student Competition which will be held on June 26, 2010 at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina.
You may contact Bruce if additional information on SECME is needed. On behalf of the School District, I wish to thank you for your continued interest and support of science and math education in Palm Beach County.
Sincerely,
BW
Businesses who would like to contribute towards offsetting the costs of this program and receive their name and website listed in both the website on the Partners in Home Education page for 2009 AND next year's yearbook, please see the suggested donation amounts below. We'll also display our sponsors information at the competitions where possible. In kind donations are also gladly accepted.
•Team Entry fees - $300 general ($200 elementary + $100 middle school)
•Essay - $25 general
•Poster - $50 general (posterboard, art supplies, frames)
•Banner Competition - $50 general (fabric, poles, art supplies, )
•Bridge Competition - $100 general, Curriculum $185, Basic start up materials set $345
•Mouse Trap Cars - $100 general, Curriculum $185, Basic start up materials set $380
•Water Bottle Rockets -$100 general, Curriculum $185, Basic start up materials set $330
•Glider Competition - $100 general, Curriculum $200, Basic start up materials set $350
•Team Shirts
