September is National Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is the period from September 15 to October 15
in the United States, when people recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino
Americans to the United States and celebrate the group's heritage and culture.

Hispanic Heritage Week was established by legislation sponsored by Rep. Edward R. Roybal (D- Los Angeles) and first proclaimed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968. The commemorative week was expanded by legislation sponsored by Rep. Esteban E. Torres (D- Pico Rivera) and implemented by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30 - day period.

September was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. All declared independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile, and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 18, and September 2, respectively.

Here are a few Hispanic and Latino Americans who have made contributions in various
STEM fields:

a) Dr. Helen Rodriguez-Trias (First Latina President of the American Health 
   Association)

b) Severo Ochoa (Chemist: Co-awarded Nobel Prize in 1959 for his studies on 
    RNA)

c) Mario Molina (Chemist: Discovered Ozone Hole in Antarctic)

d) Jaime Escalante (Math Educator: Well known for working with struggling 
    math students)

e) Ellen Ochoa (Astronaut)

f) Adriana Ocampo (Planetary Geologist at NASA)

Here are a few additional resources for you and your expanded learning staff to
access:

a) 5 Latina Scientist that Make It Happen (LA Times)

b) Hispanic Heritage Month Resources (Website)

c) Latinos in History (Website)

Ellen Ochoa Astronaut

Jaime Escalante Math Educator

We will not be highlighting any STEM learning activities this month. Some expanded learning programs have been open for for roughly three weeks and some just re-opened right after Labor Day. With that being stated we just wanted to remind the Region 3 Expanded Learning Programs to submit STEM Blog posts that highlight the great STEM learning activities that you are engaging your youth in. Please take a look (please see the pdf below) at the information that we would like you to submit. Once you have gathered the following information, along with images of the STEM activity (any students in the images that you submit should have a signed media release form on file with your agency) please email them to Mark Drewes at mdrewes@scoe.net.

STEM Blog Post Submission Form

 STEM / Expanded Learning Program and Other Pertinent Education Articles:

1) "Destined for great things": Low-income students ask educators to believe 
      they can succeed (EdSource, Jane Meredith Adams, November 2015)

2) Prof. Chris Emdin Busts Classroom Myths, Talks "White Teachers in the Hood"
    (the74million.org, August 2016)

3) STEM Education (NY Times, Op. Ed., August 2016)

4) Why the Arts Are Essential in a STEM Education 
     (Edutopia, Mary Beth Hertz, February 2016)

5) Summer programs help prepare minority students for college STEM
    (LA Times, Nina Agrawal, August 2016)

6) For Teenage Brains, The Importance of Continuing To Learn Deeply
    (KQED, Shankar Vedanta, September 2013)

7) Uncomfortable Conversations: Talking About Race in The Classroom
    (NPR, Elissa Nadworny, April 2015)

8) How to Teach Your Kids to Love Art When You're Not An Artist (Cultivate Blog)

9) Researchers develop preschool STEM education curriculum
      (Eschool News, July 2016)

10) How Teens Benefit From Reading About the Struggles of Scientist
      (KQED, Deborah Farmer Kris, May 2016)

11) What does moderate to vigorous physical activity mean for kids?
      (Philly.com, Rachel Dehaven, August 2016)

12) State board poised to take new direction in school accountability
      (EdSource, September 2016)


STEM (and other interdisciplinary core content) Activities / Videos / Websites:

1) After School Webinars (Afterschool Alliance: Webinars)

2) Lights On After School 2016 Resources (Afterschool Alliance)

3) Top 10 Family Fitness Strategies to strengthen bodies and family bonds
     (Super Healthy Kids Blog)

4) Be enlightened! 25 Things to Know About Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
    (Dr. Patricia Fioriello)

5) These 3 Benefits will Motivate you to Eat Together as a Family
      (Super Healthy Kids Blog)

6)  6 Opening and Closing Routines for New Teachers
      (Edutopia, Rebecca Alber, August 2016)

7) Why Emotional Learning May Be As Important As The ABCs
    (NPR, Maanvi Singh, December 2014, Podcast)

8) 14 Books that Connect Students With Valuable Scientists' Struggles
    (KQED, Deborah Farmer Kris, May 2016)

9) Back to School Barbershop: New Goals, Homework and Parental Supervision
    (NPR Podcast, August 2016)

10) STEAM Design Challenge: Kinetic Wind Sculptures
      (Education Closet, Lauren Hodson, August 2016)

11) Science Activities (Creativity Catapult Website)


STEM / Educational Grants:

1) The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources
    (Updated on September 30, 2016)

2) Target Field Trip Grants ($700)  (August 1 through September 30, 2016)

3) Afterschool Alliance (Grant Resource Page) 

4) Impact Foundry (Grant Resources Page)

5) An Insider's Guide to Funding Afterschool: Connecting Donors to Your Mission
    (Afterschool Alliance)


STEM / Misc. Professional Learning Sessions / Contests / Events:

1) Electricity Fair a Family Event (Free) (Grades Pre K - 12) (SMUD Event)
    (Date: 9/10/16) (Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)

2) Understanding Trauma in the Context of Juvenile Justice Systems
    (Free) (Webinar) (9/16/16) (Time: 12:30 p.m. PT)
    

3) GEMs Electric Circuits (Free) (Grades 3 thru 9) (SMUD Workshop)
    (Date: 9/24/16) (Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)

4) RAFT 101: STEM Learning Activities (Free) (Grades 3-12)
    (SCOE Workshop) (Date: 9/28/16) (Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)

5) CA STEM Symposium ($310 per participant until 9/1/16) (Conference)
    (Date: 10/9 - 10/11) (Anaheim, CA)

6) GEMs Spooky Science of Energy Transformation (Free) (Grades 5-12)
    (SMUD Workshop) (Date: 10/19/16) (Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

7) Engineering Design Challenges (Free) (Grades 5-12)
    (SCOE Workshop) (Date: 10/25/16) (Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) 

8) Making a Solar Powered Emergency Preparedness Kit (Free) (Grades 8-12)
    (SMUD Workshop) (Date: 11/02/16) (Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

9) CASRC Online Profesional Learning Sessions (Free) 
    (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

10) CalSac Online Professional Learning Sessions (Free) 
      (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

11) Expanded Learning Symposium (February 23, 2017)
      (UC Berkeley 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

12)  CASRC Online Profesional Learning Sessions (Free) 
        (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

13) CalSac Online Professional Learning Sessions (Free) 
      (Various Topics / Grade Levels)

Thanks again for all that you do in the field. Please keep us posted about STEM events/activities in your area. Please feel free to contact us at any time.

Monica Gonzalez-Williams (SCOE: Region 3: After School Regional Lead):
mgonzalez@scoe.net

Phil Romig (SCOE: Science Curriculum Specialist): promig@scoe.net

Mark Drewes (SCOE: Project Specialist II: After School) mdrewes@scoe.net