Science Fair Coordinators Meeting Wed. Sep. 16, 2015 WMS Library 4:00 – 5:30 pm Modified – Thurs. Sep. 17, 2016

Who’s Who in the Fauquier County Regional Science & Engineering Fair

Attendance – 9/16/15 2016 FC Regional Science & Engineering Fair Coordinators

School Coordinator 9/16/2015 10/14/2015 11/18/2015

Fauquier High School Debbie Fisher

Kettle Run High School Nikki Jenkins

Liberty High School Chandra Wilkemeyer

Liberty High School Allen Atkins, Ph.D.

Mountain Vista Governor's School Dee Thompson

Providence Christian Academy Dr. Young Shin

Fresta Valley Christian School Gina Bolton

Homeschooling Representative Kelly Zieg

Wakefield School Noah Egge

Auburn Middle School Chris Lembo

Cedar Lee Middle School Anne Bryant

Highland School Erica Deane

Marshall Middle School Ashley Bringenberg

Taylor Middle School Sarah Cheatwood

Warrenton Middle School Kay White

Mountainside Montessori Amanda Hess / Janelle Stewart

Regional Fair Vineeta Ribeiro

Supervisor, FCPS Pam Pulver

Scientific Review Committee / IRB Bob Fryman, Ph.D.

Sue Brittle, R.N.

Chris Johnston

Joseph David, M.D.

Pam Pulver

Linda Suter

FCPS 6th Grade Science Teachers

What’s New? • New Schools Participating:

• Mountainside Montessori --- Amanda Hess & Janelle Sutton • Providence Christian Academy --- Dr. Young Shin (did in 2013)

• New Coordinators: • Ashley Bringenberg – Marshall MS • Chris Lembo – Auburn MS

• Possible New Sponsor:

• Corning Manassas

• Illuminating Software is being tested for use at Regionals:

• Registration – including forms and PDFs • Judging and ranking of projects • Certificates

What’s Different?

• Every school is to have its own SRC/IRB Review Board.

• FCPS: 6th grade science/engineering projects are required as third-quarter performance tasks.

• (Marshall MS is requiring projects at every grade level 6-8.)

• Assistant Fair Director:

• Dee Thompson, Mountain Vista Governor’s School

What’s Changed?

Cash prizes will total $2,000 rather than $ 4,400. (Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair’s grand prize award is $1,500.)

• Our 2015 Head Judge: Dr. Allen Atkins has joined FCPS full time to teach physics at LHS.

First Second Third Hon. Mention

Senior Div.

$ 500 $ 1500

$ 350 $ 750

$ 200 $ 500

$ 150 $ 250

Junior Div.

$ 350 $ 600

$ 200 $ 400

$ 150 $ 300

$ 100 $ 100

What’s the Same? New Date: Saturday, March 12, 2016 Same Venue: Fauquier High School Cafeteria Set up on previous day (a half day for FCPS) Same Photographer/Sponsor: Fauquier Fotos 12-game Exhibition Chess Match: Jonathan Maxwell www.maxwellchess.com Same Major Sponsors: FCPS, Learning Tree International, Inc. Linda and John Suter, Sharp Science Students Foundation, The Patricia and David Vos Foundation

The Chess Connection Fauquier County Scholastic Chess Tournament (Grades 1-6)

Sat. Oct. 10, 8:30 – 2:00 pm / Highland School

Communications

Marshall Middle School Hosts Parent Info Night

- Huge turnout of teachers, students and parents

- All grade levels

- Question & Answer time

- Support material

Communication from a Parent Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2015 5:43 PM To: Bland, Duke; Sheryl Wolfe Cc: Jeck, David; Persiani, Cathy; Graham, David Subject: 6th Grade Science Fair

I am writing to you about something that I feel very strongly about. I know that some parents are complaining, writing their school board members, and contacting their principals about the recent decision to make the 6th grade Science Fair a mandatory graded project. I am writing to counter those complaints. I think this kind of hands-on learning is exactly the kind of life experience that our children need, and I support our county moving toward more project based learning. The irony is that these same parents also complain that our teachers spend too much time teaching to the test (SOL), and many wish their kids has more hands-on learning. Now our students are given this fantastic opportunity to research, experiment, journal, hypothesize and conclude, and these same parents are grumbling that kids won’t have time to work on this project because of sports, after school activities, other homework, etc. My husband and I fully support this Science Fair project being a part of the curriculum and would like to see more projects like this. I am also very impressed with the way this assignment is being presented. Our school (Marshall Middle) has sent home a very detailed packet of information, a timeline, suggestions, recommendations, information, and processes to help the students succeed. In addition, Marshall Middle is hosting a Science Fair forum this Wednesday night to offer parents and student an opportunity to learn more about expectations, available resources, a question/answer session, and more. Mrs. Persiani, 6th grade science teacher at MMS, has also mentioned that she will offer in-class learning opportunities, after school opportunities, and will offer students supplies for those in need. I was in her classroom when she told students and parents that this science project is about the journey and process and not so much about the outcome. Even if your project fails in your hypothesis, it is about the processes that you use, the research, the effort and presentation that matter most. Projects and critical thinking are required in college, in the workplace, and everyday life, and I support this for our Fauquier County students.

Sincerely,

A Marshall MS parent

Used by permission

Communication from Coordinator: Cedar Lee’s Science and Engineering Fair will be Wednesday, February 10th, 2:45 – 6:00 pm. (Setup, opening remarks, parent review, and judging. Sponsor: Vinny Vitale of Grioli’s: providing pizza for students at setup and $100 – first place, $50 – second place, and $25 third place. SRC • David Lee Principal • Barbara Jacobs Physical Science Teacher • Christa McDaniel, RN Clinic Nurse

IRB Additions • Deb Panagos, LCSW Human Participation (Psychological) • JR Royston Human Participation (Physical)

Things have kicked off here at Cedar Lee! In fact, I heard sixth graders talking about whether or not a potato could power a light bulb in the hallway as they went to their bus in the afternoon!

Anne Bryant – Cedar Lee Middle School

Communication to Parent: Science Fair participation is a new FCPS initiative that is in effect for all 6th graders countywide as we find ways to assess student performances in ways other than standardized tests. With national emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math),Fauquier County does not want our students to fall behind. Please do not panic about this assignment. It is not due until February 5th so there is plenty of time.

We have been learning about Scientific Method and how to conduct experiments in class since school started this year. We have done experiments in class that model sound methods of conducting experiments. Right now we are working on group projects in class that will take the students from making their observations and hypothesis, writing their procedure, conducting the experiment, analyzing the data, and finally constructing their findings on a trifold board.

(continued…)

Communication to Parent: The paper that is due on Friday (Is My Project Feasible?) is in the packet that was given to the students earlier and is also posted on Blackboard. The reasoning behind the paper is so we can look at student ideas for their project and make sure it is something they can realistically do. We want to set them up for a successfully run experiment. It does not have to be complicated at all! A great website to check out is on www.fauquiersciencefair.com Go to the left tab that says Ideas and Support, click on Science Wizard and complete the questionnaire. It will generate lots of ideas for projects based on the student’s interests. I talked with him today in fact and let him know that I am here to support him in any way I can - he just needs to let me know how!

Thank you for letting me know your concerns. This does not need to be a complicated project at all! The simpler, the better! Please do not hesitate to contact me anytime if you have questions and please let me know how I can help your child.

Sincerely, Sarah Cheatwood

Science 6/LA 6, Taylor Middle School

Communications

Email from Kay White, Warrenton Middle School:

WMS Science Fair Date Wed Feb.10

6:30 in the Library, Cafeteria, or gym Depends on the number of projects.

Weather date Wed Feb 17

Coordinator’s Duties: • Communicate

• With your school’s administration • With parents and the community • With students and other teachers / librarians / ITRT’s

• Promote • Announcements • Programs / newsletters / bulletins • School paper or school website

• Educate • Regulate

• Form a building-wide SRC/IRB • Projects with risk/danger/humans/vertebrates need preapproval

• Host • The school level Fair • Parents / teachers / Judges • Find local community sponsors

Promotional Items

• Videos

• Postcards

• 10 Guidelines to Success

• Brochures

• Folders

• Posters

• ISEF Booklets

For Discussion:

• Local School Fairs:

• Exhibition of 6th grade projects

• versus

• Science Fair of projects to be judged

Upcoming

• Meetings, Wednesdays @ WMS Library:

• Oct. 14, 4:00-5:30 pm

• Nov. 18, 4:00-5:30 pm

• Button Design Contest – November/December timeframe:

• Use in ISEF in Phoenix in May 2016

• Elementary / Middle / High School Categories

• $ 100 top place prize

• Questions or concerns? Email:

vribeiro@fcps1.org

dthompson@mvgshome.org