Cobb Science

It's been a year of change- from implementing new science standards, to adopting new learning resources, to facilitating district-wide PLCs that met four times throughout the year. We want to say a big thank you to our teacher leaders who were integral to providing professional learning to teachers throughout the district in their grade level or course PLC:

Kindergarten- Sean Splawksi (Mableton ES) and Cyndi Freeman (Title I Science Coach)

1st Grade- Gretchen Ayres (Norton Park ES) and Sherry Martin (Title I Science Coach)

2nd Grade- Ginny Buttram (Hayes ES) and Vicky Doll (Milford ES)

3rd Grade- Janice Belcher (Dowell ES) and Abby Sandlin (Pitner ES)

4th Grade- Chinita Allen (Chalker ES) and Stacy Pitts (Vaughan ES)

5th Grade- Alana Davis (Mableton ES) and Terri Stone (Tritt ES)

6th Grade- Shannon Ventresca (East Cobb MS)

7th Grade- Varda Kulkarni (Mabry MS)

8th Grade- Ann Marie Dubick (Campbell MS)

Physical Science- Diane Robinson (Lindley MS)

Biology- Christy Mullen (Sprayberry HS)

AP Biology- Ann Dau (Allatoona HS)

Chemistry- Bonnie Wright (Kennesaw Mountain HS)

AP Chemistry- Allison Tarvin (Harrison HS)

Physics- Ashley Kirby (Lassiter HS)

AP Physics- Philip Matthews (Kennesaw Mountain HS)

Environmental Science- Patsy Kraj (Wheeler HS)

AP Environmental Science- Jennifer Mercure (Lassiter HS)

Forensics- Angela Caylor (McEachern HS)

Anatomy and Physiology- Jan Nourollahi (Pope HS)

Congratulations to the following Cobb students who won awards at the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF) March 23rd-24th.

Senior Division

Manav Shah (Wheeler High School)

Place: 3rd Honors

Project: The Effect of Neem on Nosocomial Infection Causing Microorganisms

Special Award: Tellus' Future Science Stars Award- Alternate

Daniel Chu (Kennesaw Mountain High School)

Project: Pattern Recognition of Electronic Noses in Detecting Funguses

Special Award: Tellus' Future Science Stars Award- Alternate

Carrington Parks (Kennesaw Mountain HS)

Project: Can You Tweet Me Now? Using Household Materials to Block Wi-Fi

Special Award: The SJS Management "Busy Bee" Award- Senior Division

Junior Division

Stephen Litt (Lovinggood Middle School)

Project: Can EGCG Identify and Eliminate Cancerous Tumors in Planarians?

Place: 2nd Honors

Special Awards: Georgia Microscopical Society Lucy B. McCrone Student Science Award,

Georgia Science & Engineering Fair Student Choice- Best Overall Junior Project

Laetika Kokil and Alice Belden (McClure Middle School)

Project: The Effect of Music and Gum on Memory Games

Place: 2nd Honors

Special Awards: American Psychological Association Award, NABT Biology and Life Science Project Award- Junior Division

Hannah Huff (Lovinggood Middle School)

Project: Do Fluids with Higher Viscosity Reduce Noise More Efficiently?

Place: 3rd Honors

MacKenzie Bryant (Mabry Middle School)

Project: Rotten Teeth

Place: 4th Honors

Olivia Reed (Mabry Middle School)

Project: Color Effect on Memory

Place: 4th Honors

Middle School Science Olympiad

Congratulations to Dodgen Middle School for winning the State Middle School Science Olympiad Tournament, held at South Cobb High School on March 10th. The team will advance to the national tournament at Colorado State University.

Elementary School Science Olympiad

The Cobb ESO Regional Tournament was held on March 23rd at Walton High School. Congrats to the 35 teams who participated. The following six teams will advance to the state tournament at KSU: East Side ES, East Valley, ES, Ford ES, Kemp ES, Marietta Center for Advanced Academics, Shallowford Falls ES.

The Science and Engineering Practices Webinar covering Engaging in Argument from Evidence has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 18th at 4:30 pm. Join us for 30 minutes that afternoon by clicking the following link: tinyurl.com/ArgumentationWebinar1

To view other archived webinars from the series, use the links below:

• Webinar 1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems- http://bit.ly/AskingQuestionsWebinar
• Webinar 2: Developing and Using Models- http://bit.ly/ModelingWebinar
• Webinar 3: Planning and Conducting Investigations- http://bit.ly/InvestigationsWebinar
• Webinar 4: Analyzing Data AND Mathematical and Computational Thinking- http://bit.ly/DataCompThinkingWebinar
• Webinar 5: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions- http://bit.ly/ConstructingExplanations
• Webinar 6: scheduled for April 18th
• Webinar 7: Obtaining, Evaluation, and Communicating Information- http://bit.ly/OECInformation

Dorothy Stout Professional Development Grant ($750)

Open to K-12 teachers who wish to

• participate in Earth science classes or workshops
• attend a professional scientific or science education meeting
• participate in Earth science field trips; or
• purchase Earth science materials for classroom use

Apply by April 15th at https://goo.gl/fmXkhD

ACS-Hach High School Chemistry Classroom Grant (up to $1,500)

Funded by the American Chemical Society for high school chemistry teachers who want to enhance learning in their classrooms, foster student development, and reveal the wonders of chemistry. Funds can be used for lab equipment, supplies, instructional materials, professional development, or field studies. Apply by April 16 at http://goo.gl/aFZV8l

McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation's Teacher Development Grants

These grants aid small teams of teachers to develop and implement groundbreaking K-12 instruction. Funds should help teachers integrate fresh strategies that encourage critical inquiry and observe their effects on students. Receive up to $10,000 per year for up to three years. Apply by April 15 at http://goo.gl/WOsLIR

Summer Modeling Workshops

The American Modeling Teachers Association is offering several 1-3 week workshops in Alabama for middle and high school teachers of physics, chemistry, biology, and physical science. At most workshop sites, teachers receive stipends or tuition waivers and reduced-rate housing. For more information see http://goo.gl/6pgNT5