December Newsletter
December 13, 2018
Highlights from Computer Science Week!
At Morton Middle School students in Computer Science for Innovators and Makers were highlighted in their local paper for creating an electric cat collar to help owners keep track of wandering pets. Read more here .
Last week was CS Week and PLTW students had an opportunity to celebrate all of the amazing things happening in PLTW computer science classrooms everyday. For example, at Durfee High School, students were working on developing survey apps.
Student Opportunities:
Online Industry Challenges are open!

Automation & Robotics:
Students can submit their classwork for the Simulated Assembly Line project (project 3.5) and will receive feedback from industry experts at AccuRounds! Prizes will be given to selected groups. Submit projects by Wednesday, January 16th to be considered. Learn more here .
Teacher Resources:
Join a Learning Team!
Our Community Lead's Learning Teams are up and running and it's not too late to join! Teams work together throughout the year to provide peer to peer support. Connect PLTW teachers around the state as they share best practices and tips, swap resources, and celebrate successes. To learn more, click here .
If you are interested in joining a learning team and joining their next meeting, sign up below!
Open Classroom Visits
 
PLTW Gateway: DM & AR Tuesday, December 11th 8:30am-11:30am
Sandwich STEM Academy, 365 Quaker Meeting House Road, Sandwich, MA
Hosted by Ginger Lavelle

PLTW Launch Wednesday, December 12th 8:45am-11:30am
West Brookfield Elementary School, 89 North Main Street, West Brookfield, MA
Hosted by Nick Frank


PLTW Biomedical Science: PBS and BI Wednesday, December 12th 11:00am-2:00pm
Plymouth South High School, 490 Long Pond Rd, Plymouth, MA
Hosted by Jess Meade


PLTW Gateway: AR Thursday, December 13th 8:30am-11:30am
Stoneham Central Middle School, 101 Central Street, Stoneham, MA
Hosted by Ashley Puopolo

PLTW Launch Friday, December 14th 9:30am-1:45pm
Woodland Elementary School, 10 N. Vine Street, Milford, MA
Hosted by Wendy Marino

 
PLTW Gateway: CSIM Monday, December 17th 2:00pm-4:30pm
Kuss Middle School, 52 Globe Mills Ave, Fall River, MA
Hosted by Keith Michon


PLTW Gateway: DM Tuesday, December 18th 8:00am-1:00pm
Randolph Community Middle School, 225 High St, Randolph, MA
Hosted by Chakara Cardillo
Classroom Spotlight
Students in Ms. Castelini's class at Brooke Charter School had an opportunity to learn about energy conversion by building a vehicle that will protect an egg from cracking under force. Students were working on improving their prototypes and their sketches with appropriate labeling.
Save the Date:
We are preparing for upcoming spring events! Teachers, mark your calendar. We will send registration information in early January. Email Faith with any questions.
April 26, 2019
@ Peabody Essex Museum
For PLTW Automation and Robotics
May 2, 2019
@ WPI
For ALL PLTW High School Students
June 4, 2019
@ Merck Research Laboratories
For PLTW Design and Modeling
May 2019 @ Franklin
Park Zoo
For PLTW Launch Animal Adaptations and Stability & Motion: Forces & Interactions
Reminders:
74% of schools are roster! Are you?

Roster your PLTW Students Today!
Why rostering is important
  • Ensures students can access PLTW curriculum and assessments
  • Enables PLTW to provide End-of-Course data to colleges and universities in support of preferential admissions and opportunities for interested students
  • Provides students & teachers access to Mass STEM Hub programming, including:
  • Student events (e.g., STEM Fair, MS Design Challenge, HS Showcase)
  • Teacher professional development & networking
  • Participation in the Massachusetts PLTW survey

To roster students, log into your mypltw.org account and click on "My Sites" to find detailed instructions.

Join the Massachusetts PLTW Educator Facebook Community!
Why join?
  •  Connect with other PLTW teachers in MA
  • Access tips & best practices from fellow MA PLTW teachers
  • Learn about upcoming events for students & educators
  • Share ideas & ask questions of fellow MA teachers

How to join:
  • Follow the Mass STEM Hub Facebook page
  • Request to join the “Project Lead The Way Teachers in MA”
  • Invite other MA PLTW Teachers to join!
Are you a Launch Lead Teacher? If you are training other teachers at your school and you need access to the PLTW Launch training kit, Mass STEM Hub has two kits available to loan out to MA Launch Lead Teachers. Email Faith McDuffie today to learn more.
PLTW Teacher Grad Credit Opportunity
PLTW Teachers: You may be able to earn graduate school for your PLTW training depending on what courses you've been trained in. To learn more about this opportunity, click here .
Student Gallery
Mass STEM Hub is seeking photos of exemplar PLTW student work to showcase on our website. The Student Work Gallery will be a place where we can showcase student work from PLTW classes for other educators, as well as industry professionals.

If you have photos or videos of student work that you would like to share, please email them to [email protected] with a brief description of what the photo shows. Please include: PLTW Course, Unit, Lesson, and Grade.

We look forward to seeing the wonderful work your students are doing every day!
Transportation Grants
Need funding for field trip transportation?

Below are various grant opportunities for bus funding that can be used to attend Mass STEM Hub events.
Big Yellow School Bus $250 grant to be used during the 2018-2019 school year.
Walmart Foundation Community Grants Grant between $250 and $5,000.
Additional Funding Opportunities
Looking for additional funding opportunities for your STEM programs? Click the names below to learn more about each individual grant opportunity.
T oshiba America Foundation
T oyota TAPESTRY Program
Chevron Fuel Your School
Do you have an idea for a student or teacher event? Are you an industry professional looking to get involved? Do you have a question about PLTW implementation? Are exciting things happening in your classrooms that should be shared in our newsletter?

Please get in touch by emailing Faith at   [email protected] .
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Have a question for Mass STEM Hub?
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