egency Park staff and students continue to prepare to take
their place in any STEM career path they select. Thanks
to the generosity of the Pittsburgh Spectroscopy Society of
America, Remake Learning Network, and outside donations,
Regency Park hosted their first Elementary Science Olympiad.
Teams composed of students in grades 4-6 participated in this
interscholastic competition where they competed in handson, fast paced science and technology activities. They utilized
various science concepts, processes, and inquiry skills, as well
as science and technological applications. Throughout the
day, students were engaged in activities that required them
to apply critical thinking skills
to accomplish various tasks.
While some students could be
found trying to manipulate a
laser to reflect off of mirrors
to hit a target, others were
making music using water
and jars, some were creating
straw rockets propelled by
students in order to strike a
target, and others dissecting
owl pellets to determine
what the owl’s prey might
have been. As many as 20
different science skills had the
students coming together to
excel in science,technology, engineering, arts, and math. As
Plum Borough School District is part of the Remake Learning
Network, Regency Park submitted and was awarded a grant
through the Remake Network which enabled their Science
Olympiad to be featured as part of Pittsburgh’s Remake
Learning Days from May 9-15. Additionally, students and
visitors were able to watch Regency’s drone fly around the
school playground. The endless possibilities of this grant
will not only provide students with the experience of flying
a drone, but they will use the drone as a tool to enhance
their curriculum. Regency’s drone has the capabilities of
enhancing lessons that teach mapping, distance, angles and
measurement, powers of 10, flight control, and photography.
The possibilities are left to the imaginations of the users.
Students will be taking the lead with their questions and
teachers will guide instruction. Active learning continues
to play a part, but education becomes a lot “louder” from
students talking about learning!
Regency Park and the Plum Borough School District are
also a “Carnegie STEM Pathway to Excellence School.”
The many lessons and learning opportunities available to
Regency’s students help them to be prepared for their future
roles. Recently, during an extended visit from the Carnegie
Science Center’s FAB LAB, the students learned how to
draw with software that would enable them to create three
dimensional objects. Then
they used software to create
gliders. Upon completion
of the drawings, students
were able to watch as a
laser engraver cut out
the glider pieces on foam
board. Students needed
to apply knowledge from
science and math classes
to create an aerodynamic
vehicle that would fly
when tested outside or
in the gymnasium. Our
students thoroughly enjoyed themselves and never realized
the amount of learning that was taking place! Ben Franklin
said, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve
me and I learn.” The faculty and staff at Regency prepare
instruction with this in mind as is evident by the many
learning opportunities the children are experiencing.
Did you know that according to the U.S. Department of
Commerce:
•
In 2010, there were 7.6 million STEM workers in the United
States, representing about 1 in 18 workers.
•
STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17.0 percent
from 2008 to 2018, compared to 9.8 percent growth for
non-STEM occupations.
•
STEM workers command higher wages, earning
26 percent more than their nonSTEM counterparts.
As one of 25 national recipients awarded by the National
Association of Elementary School Principals for implementing
Creatively Alive Children, Regency Park Elementary School
has earned the accolades for which it has been recognized
over the past two years. We look forward to creating more
lessons that will have the students utilizing their S.T.E.A.M.
skills as we prepare them to take their place in our advancing
technological world!
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REGENCY PARK ACCOLADES