NOVEMBER 2019
Check out the latest JSS headlines:
Ready, Set, Go!
Register on Cvent by November 29, 2019 for Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) . The Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) requires the Technology Student Association (TSA) to gather information on students participating in JSS in order to provide data through the Cvent registration website that was developed by AEOP.

Please ensure that all teachers and/or advisors, volunteers, and participants are registering on the Cvent site before your state TSA conference. Students can fill out the registration on their own—but they will need a parent/legal guardian’s digital signature on the “Additional Information” page of the registration.
Free Kits
TSA middle school chapter advisors— once you’ve registered for JSS—send your name, school, shipping address, phone number, and email address to [email protected] to receive two, FREE PITSCO Ray Catcher Kits! (Title 1 advisors, you are eligible to receive up to five free kits). Each kit contains a solar panel, electric motor, and a pair of small alligator clips for easy hookup.
Advance Your Teaching Career
TSA partner CompTIA wants to help more teachers become certified in ITF+, an introduction to basic information technology knowledge and skills. Now, the world’s leading technology association is offering a free ITF+ e-book—including a study guide—and a free certification exam voucher to teachers of any subject in grades 6–12. Sign up now to:

  • gain new and expanded knowledge to help you teach STEM in better ways
  • strengthen job security with more knowledge of tech

CompTIA also is offering teachers who complete and pass the exam by February 29, 2020 as part of this promotion, an entry into a drawing for a $100 Amazon e-gift card!
JSS Jumpstart
Vineland Middle School in Pueblo, CO is helping its Title 1 feeder elementary school get a jump start on STEM. “Our middle schoolers have planned and implemented three sessions to help up to 25 elementary students develop STEM skills,” describes Ms. Joni Mandarich, science teacher and TSA chapter advisor. “We introduced the younger students to the design process with an index-card tower challenge, and we are working on cars that safely transport a raw egg through an impact crash.”
Ms. Mandarich hopes students can begin researching and working on JSS and JSS Jumpstart in December so they can compete at the local, regional, and state levels.

JSS Jumpstart provides 5th and 6th grade students who are based in elementary schools with a fun, hands-on opportunity to learn more about solar and renewable energy by building solar-powered cars. Learn more.
Looking for ways to give your entry a boost?
Here are some tips and techniques suggested by
JSS Event Coordinator Bob Walters:
Design a connection device that is easy to connect and disconnect from the guideline. The guideline connection is between zero and 1.5 centimeters above the ground. It is not disconnected from the start and finish gates. Solid wire, even paper clips, can be used.

Positioning the connector outside of chassis, but not below the chassis, facilitates easy connection and disconnection of the vehicle from the guide wire. Screweyes are not a good choice. Even when opened to allow the guideline to be inserted, they are too small and the guideline slips out.

Wire or Paper Clip
Outigger
Flexible Plastic Coil
Avoid Screweyes
Each month, learn more about AEOP and its STEM connections.
As a STEM educator, you know that the need for STEM literacy—the ability to understand and apply STEM concepts to solve our nation’s most complex problems—is growing. There is no shortage of ways for you to become involved — from mentoring to judging to advocacy. Check out the opportunities .

 You can also can reinforce your content knowledge through Research Experiences for STEM Educators with Army and DoD engineers and scientists. Learn more about RESET .
For more than 50 years, the Army Outreach Educational Program (AEOP) has supported a wide range of educational opportunities in STEM for youth, college, and graduate students, as well as valued teachers. From elementary school through graduate school, students of all proficiency levels, interests, and social and economic backgrounds are encouraged to participate in real-world STEM experiences while also engaging with Army-sponsored mentors.
Get up to speed on STEM with some fun facts.
Did you Know?
Solar power is the most abundant energy source on Earth.

There's enough solar energy hitting the Earth every hour to meet all of humanity's power needs for an entire year. Every ounce of oil, every lump of coal, and every cubic foot of natural gas could be left in the ground, if only we could capture one hour's worth of solar energy each year. That's the scale of the opportunity.
JSS for all! This month, we're In Motion with Pleasant Valley Middle School in Pueblo, CO, where JSS team members Kyler and Sevyn are also students in the PVMS Life Skills Program.

“In my Energy and Environment class I get them to interact with each other and with other students from the school,” says teacher and TSA chapter advisor Todd Seip. “Watching them design and build JSS vehicles is the best part of my day. Sevyn is quite the mechanic and able to build the fastest JSS car in the class!”
Mr. Seip adds, “Without the generosity of AEOP and TSA, I would not be able to provide the materials—especially the solar panels—needed to let all of my students build their cars.”
Do you have a story or photos featuring your JSS team?
They could be highlighted in this section.
The JSS e-newsletter, The Mile Marker , offers news and information on JSS — a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) competition administered by the TSA with a grant awarded by AEOP. JSS empowers teachers, mentors, and other community members to engage 5th through 8th grade students in the designing, building, and racing of model solar cars.