STEM+TEAM=STEAM Conference 2017

Good Saturday Afternoon,

I can not believe how quickly March has gone.

I send this email with a few updates of the events ahead: (grab a coffee,tea or beverage of your choice this is a bit long)

• STEM+TEAM=STEAM Conference 2017

MANY THANKS TO THE PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR ALL OF THE WORK ON THIS CONFERENCE!

Registration is now closed and we will not be offering walk in registration. We have 120 people registered. Members of the education community include: Master Teachers from the NC cohort as well as others from across the state, SUNY Plattsburgh Faculty, Clinton Community College Faculty, Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers, and Administrators. A well rounded group.

• We have assigned the following people a role of "Leadership" during the breakout sessions. If you are not comfortable with this please let me know. Your role will be to introduce the facilitator, assist as needed, share housekeeping (rest rooms etc), and at the conclusion of the session direct participants to the QR code to complete the session evaluation.

Break out session I

Engagement in Climate Literacy - Cristy Smith

Come On Get Appy - Gretchen Zurlo

Starting a STEAM Team - Amy Strack

Foldscopes - Barb Bibbins

Visualizing Molecules - Toni LaPoint

Infusing the Arts - Jaime Gates

Share My Lesson - Jim Allott

Break out session II

More with Bozeman - Cathy Butts

The Ozbot - Art Trombley

Two Big STEAM Projects - Katie Compo

Learning to See - Tonia Phippen

Mapping the Impossible - Laurey Rosser

Measuring Biodiversity - Tim Freed

• The planning committee has created signs to direct participants to the classrooms, Share Zones, Lunch etc... they ask for "all hands on deck" to help those from the education community find the locations, bathrooms, and assist in the completion of the QR codes for breakout sessions.
• The Open Space meeting will occur after lunch. We will have each participant at registration identify the topic they would like to participate in using a sticky note with their name on it. We would like 10-12 Master Teachers to volunteer to co-facilitate the discussion in each room. Please let me know if you are willing to do so. The number of topics will be determined by the number of MT's volunteering. If you have a topic that you would like to use for Open Space - let me know that also. Cookie this might be a great opportunity to engage in conversation about NGSS - Gretchen et all this might also be wonderful for your group to discuss math and the CCLS or how to meet the needs of the elementary teachers. Just thoughts. I am sure there is alot more...
• Each of the session registrations are complete. I will send to each facilitator the list of participants in a separate email. Look for that following this email. Thank you again for sharing your expertise.
• May Cohort meeting - The meeting originally scheduled for May will now be April 28-29, 2017 in Watertown at the Hilton Garden. I have heard from several of you offering to work on a planning committee for that event. I will be contacting you shortly after the conference to begin the planning. Thank you for your offer.
• I spoke with Margaret Morrow from the SUNY Plattsburgh Mathematics department and she has invited Jim Matthews from Siena College on Saturday, May 6, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. If there is interest we will continue to pursue this opportunity. He would like to know, #1 if you are interested, #2 What would you like him to discuss? This could be a wonderful opportunity to bring a colleague. Let me know your thoughts.
• SAVE the DATE... Master Teacher Interviews June 10, 2017. Anyone willing to assist? It would be greatly appreciated - more information soon.
• June Annual Retreat - We will be at the SUNY ESF Outdoor Education center in Newcomb, NY. June 27 - 28, 2017. I have been working with the Staff and we will be offering a series of programs in the afternoon and evening. With our annual planning in the a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday Complete agenda to follow soon.
• I did hear from Jeff Flagg from the Great Camp Sagamore and he is interested in running a program on Trout in the Classroom on Monday, June 26th. Please let me know if you are interested in this program. He could offer an introductory session for new folks and a follow up for those who participated last year. Housing will be available on Sunday if needed.
• If you requested a room for March 17th ( Happy St. Patrick's Day) I have forwarded your name to the Comfort Inn and Suites on Route #3 in Plattsburgh for Friday evening. Please make sure you sign in on the sheet provided. If you need to cancel please remember to contact the hotel directly. Thank you.
• An afternoon with Paul Andersen and students at Plattsburgh City school . If you have not yet registered with Corey or Jennifer and are planning on attending please let them know asap. Thank you Team Plattsburgh, Corey, Jennifer and Sonal for putting this together.
• Chris Fey and Matt Fay have planned an eventful evening showcasing Apps that you can use with your students the following week. Join them for a fun evening at the Comfort Inn ( AKA Plattsburgh Brewing Co.) beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Thank you Team Ausable Valley.

-- Finally, I look forward to seeing all of you next week. Have a good weekend - stay warm.

Call me should you have any questions - 518-534-2040

Kathy

Greetings all,

This is all so exciting! Wow!

Kathy, I am happy to facilitate an Open Space.

I was also looking back at some notes I took last August combined with some other PD and came across "K-12 Habits of Mind". Some key terms came up that might spur some Open Space discussion...Maybe we could ask our fellow educators what they think are important Habits of Mind to instill in our students? Terms like curious, optimistic, having perseverance, being empathetic, ethical, collaborative, creative, innovative...of course there are many more...

Lastly, I was wondering how everyone (anyone who can participate) would like to meet at Latitude 44 right after the conference for a debrief. I volunteer to buy the first pitcher of sangria. Perhaps we could meet there @ 4:00, and then our spouses, significant others, etc. could join us @ 4:30ish if people wanted to stay a bit longer? I know it is not possible for everyone, especially those who have a four hour drive, but just wanted to throw that out there. I haven't made any reservations yet, but will if people think this is something they would like to do. Let me know.

Thank you all,

Alison