What is BLS STEM?

“Our economic future depends on how well we integrate quality STEM Education experiences into every classroom. Bishop Leibold School is leading the way and has quickly become a model for our region and beyond.”

Margy Stevens
Executive Director
The Dayton Regional STEM Center

September 2011

Dear Bishop Leibold School Families,

I would like to take this beginning-of-the-year opportunity to provide an overview of The STEM education program at our school, describe assessments and communications, and introduce some of the STEM topics for this year. I hope this communication both informs and excites you about your child’s education at Bishop Leibold School.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is the integration of the Engineering Design Process in all curricular areas. This focus is taking place across the country in an effort to prepare students for jobs in the local economy in a competitive market. Students will be introduced to many types of engineering through hands-on units that simulate a problem similar to one an engineer would encounter, and will be using The Engineering Design Process. The main focus of the process is the Redesign Step. Students will be asked to test their solution and re-design until an acceptable outcome is achieved.

This method of instruction aims to increase scientific knowledge and vocabulary, develop problem solving and critical thinking skills, and encourage productive team-working behaviors in our students. The emphasis is always on the process rather than the product. Your student will experience frustrations and challenges as they test and re-design their solutions and this is to be expected. It has been said that failure is the beginning of the next step. STEM creates in students an attitude of problem-solving.

Bishop Leibold teachers have logged in over 500 hours of STEM training since the award of a $14,000 Regional STEM Grant to our school, and have created a well-developed curriculum for the upcoming school year. A few examples of what your child(ren) will experience are:

Kindergarten- Building STEM skills
Grade 1- Our Senses
Grades 2 and 3- Geological Engineering: Kayleen and David Go Digging!
Grade 4- Materials Engineering: A Sticky Situation: Designing Walls
Grade 5- Mechanical Engineering: Catching the Wind: Designing Windmills
Grade 6- Environmental Engineering: Pollution Effects on Plant Growth
Grade 7- Color Design for Aerospace Applications: Spelling Bee Bumble
Grade 8 – The Nature of Flight
Waterbotics

These units will take place in a designated STEM session held once a week as well as in many other content areas. Reading and writing are a strong component of this curriculum.

At the West Campus, students will receive a STEM grade on their report card as an O, S, or U. There may be components of the curriculum graded in the regular classroom and these will show up in the Progress Book record designated as STEM. At the East Campus, grades for STEM units will be incorporated into regular subjects and designated as STEM on Progress Book. There will not be a separate STEM grade. For example, a specific unit may have math, language arts, science, and music components. These components will be recorded on Progress Book in those areas.

One of the components of effective STEM instruction is partnering with local industry. Partnering includes presentations for students, funding of projects, and sharing resources and equipment. If your company would be interested in partnering with our school, please contact me.

If you have general questions regarding STEM programming at Bishop Leibold, feel free to contact me at sballaire@att.net or 384-0982. If you have specific questions pertaining to your child’s instruction, please direct those to his or her STEM teacher. You will receive ongoing communications regarding the development of STEM at our school, and communications from STEM teachers (unit objectives, summary, content standards, and the engineering design challenge). Please visit the school website for updates beginning in September.

I am looking forward to this school year and am energized by the level of enthusiasm among the staff and students. As STEM Coordinator, I will be coordinating curriculum, managing school resources, seeking additional funding, and teaching several grade levels of STEM. Through the strong partnership of school, businesses, and parents we will create an excellent learning opportunity for our students.

Many thanks for your continued support and the best to all of you on the upcoming school year,

Beth Allaire,
BLS STEM Coordinator