Magnet Schools of America

Mark your calendar for MSA's next webinar on Sunday, February 12, 2012 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. (EST) Broadcasting live from MSA's annual National Legislative Training Conference, February 12-15, 2012, Washington, DC, sponsored by Magnet Schools of America and the National Institute for Magnet School Leadership.

Maree Sneed, Senior Partner, Hogan Lovells, LLP will discuss the legal ramifications of the DOE/DOJ guidance on promoting school diversity and reducing minority group isolation in local school districts.

Click here to register for the full conference and here to see the program agenda.

To register for the webinar visit:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/417918322 

During this webinar you will learn how magnet schools can reach out to the business community and the public sector to form sustainable partnerships for your school's theme-based programs.  The presenters will discuss strategies that your school can develop to build these partnerships and how to overcome challenges along the way.

Presenters:

Sandra Cooper, Lead Teacher
Rampello Downtown Partnership School
Tampa, Florida

Medria Blue-Ellis, Principal
Engineering & Science University Interdistrict Magnet School
New Haven, Connecticut

Andréa M. Murrell, Diversity and Community Relations, Senior Specialist
The Williams Companies
Tulsa, Oklahoma

CLICK HERE for Webinar Presentation

Applications for the ED's fifth cohort of Teaching Ambassador Fellows opened on January 21st and are scheduled to close on February 22nd, 2012. Click here to apply for a Washington, Classroom or Regional Fellowship.

Salk Middle School Celebrates "National Magnet Schools Month" with the 5th Annual Science Fair

January is "National Magnet Schools Month." Salk Middle School is one of many magnet schools across the United States that is celebrating learning by highlighting the success of students engaged in STEM curriculum. This year, Salk is celebrating the students and teachers who worked together to develop 253 science fair projects that were presented to judges during the week of January 9.

The Science Fair unit began in September, with students analyzing questions and identifying those that can be answered using the scientific method. Later, students evaluated the steps of the scientific method and applied them to real-world science projects. With teacher guidance and parent support, every seventh grade student and eighth grade magnet student created a scientific question, hypothesis, and procedure to safely perform an experiment. An emphasis was placed on controls, variables, and accurately measuring results. Students conducted the experiments at home, gathering data from multiple trials. Graphs, created in Excel, were used analyze data, identify patterns, and confirm or reject the original hypothesis. STEM students presented their findings through a formal paper and a display board to three different judges.

An award ceremony was hosted at Salk on January 12 for science fair participants and their families. Over 300 people were in attendance to celebrate the accomplishments of our students.

The results of the Science Fair are overwhelmingly positive. When asked to describe the most important idea learned in this unit, student feedback ranged from, "I learned that I need to write due dates in my planner" to "I learned that I need to conduct experiments in a location where I can control all of the variables". Michaela Martin, the first place trophy recipient, believes that the Science Fair experience taught her the importance of organization, attention to details, and patience. She says, "I couldn't count some of my results, because I knew I made mistakes. It took me a long time to measure everything perfectly, and I learned that you have to be really patient with yourself."

January is National Magnet Schools Month and is the perfect time to celebrate diversity in our nation's classrooms and to highlight the success of your magnet schools, staff, and students.

MSA has created a magnet school month proclamation which recognizes the role magnet schools play in promoting diversity and school choice, teacher professional development, parental and community involvement, and serving as model turnaround schools.

As your district and magnet schools host special events and activities this month, please keep us informed by sending your pictures, press releases, news items and videos. That way can include them in our upcoming newsletters and website postings.