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379 Edge

Parent Climate Survey Your Feedback Matters!

Please go to the Okaloosa County School District website and log into the Parent Portal to take the School Climate Survey.

STEMM is an A+ School

Okaloosa County School District Assistant Superintendent Marcus Chamber (2nd from left) presented STEMM Academy's principal Wanda Avery with a plaque recognizing our school's A+ School Grade. Also attending were Jeff Palmer (far left), Elementary Education Director, and Shelia Lightbourne (far right), Director of Secondary Education. Mr. Chambers lauded the school's placement as top scoring school in the state for three FSA subject areas: Reading, Math, and Science. He also congratulated the staff and students for earning an A+ for each of the school's six years of service.

379 Edge Avenue Valparaiso, FL 32580 850-833-4120 February 8, 2019

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Get to Know - SRO Whitney Ploof

It is an honor to serve as STEMM Academy’s new School Resource Officer. I am a local, born and raised in Panama City, Florida. I relocated to the area in the summer of 2016. I joined the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in August of 2018 as a sworn Deputy Sheriff. As I began my Law Enforcement career there was no question in my mind where I wanted to be. Around 11 years of age I watched as Columbine unfolded across my television. I knew then what my calling was. If ever the day comes I can think of no one better to lay my life down for than our kids. I am blessed to work for a Sheriff whose heart is for our children. Please feel free to reach out to me. I would enjoy the opportunity to meet each and every one of you.

“If we can’t protect our children, what else really matters?”-Sheriff Larry Ashley.

MathCounts Competition Mrs. Matheson took 5 students to the MathCounts competition Saturday Feb. 2 at STEMM. Other teams competing were from Ruckel, Shoal River and Rocky Bayou. The top 10 individual scorers were recognized. Our team placed with 3 students – 3rd place Will Blowes, 5th place Jackson Brazill and 8th place Gabe Lerner-Sperow.

Left to Right: Cherie Matheson-Coach, Gabe Lerner-Sperow, Morgan Cooper, Jackson Brazill, and Will Blowes

Congratulations Connor Connor Roberts competed in the 2018 NASKA World Circuit. He placed top 5 in the world for sparring (third) and Extreme Forms (fifth). He also had two more Top Ten World divisions placing #9 in musical weapons and #10 in musical forms. He was awarded a NASKA TOP TEN WORLD Blackbelt along with other awards in Chicago.

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“What Makes You Proud of America”

Congratulations to KD (Kaitlyn) Duffy for placing in the top three for the Elk's "What Makes You Proud of America" essay contest! She will be honored at an awards banquet on Feb. 18. The top three essays are now being judged at the district level, and the top three from there will move on to the state level competition. Way to go, KD!!

FLL Robotics

Congratulations to the STEMM Swarm FLL robotics team on their stellar performance this past Saturday! They won the award for Robot Design, and will be advancing to the Regional Championship to be held at UWF on March 9th.

P.E. News BergerB@OkaloosaSchools.com

The PE department is taking donations for an outdoor volleyball system. All contribution amounts are welcome! Please send donations to the front office or to Ms. Berger. This year, the PE department has purchased two soccer goals and six basketballs with funds raised from candle sales, and we have $250 reserved for our volleyball system. We still need another $500 to meet our goal, which will allow us to purchase and install two outdoor nets. Any additional money will be used for tennis racquets, basketball nets, volleyballs and tennis balls. Thank you to all those who have made contributions!

P.S. We are always accepting donations of gently used sports balls (basketball, tennis, football, soccer, volleyball), tennis racquets, and basketball nets. Please donate at the front office or to one of the PE teachers.

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Regional Science Fair News Congratulations to the following students for the following awards at the East Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair Competition held on January, 30. State Finalists and Broadcom MASTERS Nominees–

Alex Fagan – MICR – Honey, are you cured? Gabe Lerner-Sperow – CHEM – Fueling the Future: The Effect of Oxidation Prone Metal Variance on the Rate of Hydrogen Gas Production Nolan Eaton – EAEV – How does foundation material affect the oyster population of an artificial bed? Marisol Enguidanos – EAEV – Is it possible to reduce the environmental effects causing coral bleaching? Sam Knight – IMRS – AI Obstacle Course Jackson Odom – PHYS - Detecting Shapes with Light Instead of Radar

Other Awards 8th Grade

Will Emiro – ENMS – Ultrasonic Levitation • 3rd Place

Alex Fagan – MICR – Honey, are you cured? • 1st Place

Gabe Lerner-Sperow – CHEM – Fueling the Future: The Effect of Oxidation Prone Metal Variance on the Rate of Hydrogen Gas Production

• 1st Place • Okaloosa County Recycling • AFA Award - $100

7th Grade Aiden Black – IMRS – Of the five wheel diameters, which diameter is the most battery efficient? Jackson Brazill – ENEV – With what design of erosion control works best, synthetic or environmental?

• 3rd Place Nolan Eaton – EAEV – How does foundation material affect the oyster population of an artificial bed?

• 1st Place Marisol Enguidanos – EAEV – Is it possible to reduce the environmental effects causing coral bleaching?

• 1st Place • NOAA Pulse of the Planet Award

Jackson Gwinnup – ENEV – How does the material mixed with ice to create a form of pycrete effect the strength of the mixture?

• 3rd Place • Naval Science Award

Sam Knight – IMRS – AI Obstacle Course • 1st Place • Emerald Coast AUVSI Award

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Miller Lindsley – ENMS - Does the design of vortex generators added to a golf club head reduce drag and increase club head speed?

• NWF ASME Award Lily Nguyen – EAEV – Resisting Bioplastic

• 3rd Place Jackson Odom – PHYS - Detecting Shapes with Light Instead of Radar

• 1st Place • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - $100

Brody Plasier – ENMS – What are the efficiencies of 5 different amounts of rotor sails? Foundation

• Emerald Coast AUVSI Award • Reliance Testing - $50

Carly Veach – ENEV – Overflow: Preventing Overwash with Manmade Structures Anastasia Wilson – EAEV – What Effect Does the Wavelengths of Visible Light Color Have on Algae Ball Exput of Oxygen?

• 4th Place 6th Grade

Sophie Broutin & Andrew Kostur – PHYS – The Study of How the Shape of a Parachute Affects How Fast It Will Fall To The Ground

• US Air Force Award • AFA Award - $50

Allie Cadenhead– CMBI – Which is better to extract the DNA from a Strawberry, Ethanol or Isopropyl?

• 2nd Place Lucas Eaton– ENEV – What is the Best Method to Reduce the Amount of Trash Entering Storm Water Drains

• 2nd Place Jayan Janardhan & Elizabeth Vanderkooy – ENMS – Which 3D Printed Wheel Could Operate Most Efficiently on Mars?

• William and Caroline Herschel Astronomy Award - $50 Connor Kilroy & Dominic Witt – IMRS – Smart Burglar Alarm System Utilizing Open Source Hardware and Web Services

• 3rd Place • Emerald Coast AUVSI Award

Boston McGhee & Sharlysse Nelson – EAEV – Growing Plants on Mars • 3rd Place

Jake Ticknor– ENMS – Need for Speed: Optimum Angle of Attacks for a Race Car Rear Airfoil

• 1st Place

Quick Note on Previous STEMM Academy Students and their Science Fair Successes • Matt Baker – 12th Grade – Choctaw

o International Science and Engineering Fair Finalist o State Finalist o 1st Place Mathematics o Mu Alpha Theta Award o AFCEA Award - $250 o Dr. & Mrs. Hannibal and Tyreeca Davis Award in Mathematics - $100

• Liam Ordner – 12th Grade – Niceville

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o 2nd Place Physics • Travis Delrie – 11th Grade – Niceville

o State Finalist o 1st Place Engineering o Embry Riddle Aeronautical - $50 o Naval Science Award o Yale Science and Engineering Association Award o SAME - $275

• Joey Enguidanos – 11th Grade – Niceville o International Science and Engineering Fair Finalist o State Finalist o 1st Place Environmental Engineering o Embry Riddle Aeronautical - $100 o Stockholm Junior Water Prize

• Conrad Kiel – 9th Grade – Collegiate o State Finalist o 1st Place Intelligent Machines and Robotics

• Ethan Lindsay – 9th Grade – Niceville o 2nd Place Chemistry o Drs. Alice and Louis Fay Chemistry Award

• Indira Misha – 11th Grade – Niceville o 3rd Place Physics o AFCEA Award - $200

• Niamh Ordner – 9th Grade – Niceville o State Finalist o 2nd Place Environmental Engineering o Okaloosa County Recycling o SAME - $75

• Michael Panarisi – 9th Grade – Niceville o State Finalist o 1st Place Engineering o US Air Force Award o Emerald Coast AUVSI - $25 o AFA Award - $100 o NWF ASME Award

• Breona Prophet – 9th Grade – Choctaw o 3rd Place Environmental Engineering o Stockholm Junior Water Prize

• Ben Sherwin – 9th Grade – Niceville o 2nd Place Engineering o Emerald Coast AUVSI - $25 o AFA Award - $50 o Dr. & Mrs. Hannbal and Tyreeca Davis Award in Mathematics o Reliance Testing - $50

• Annalise Thompson – 9th grade – Niceville o 2nd Place Mathematics o Emerald Coast AUVSI - $25

• Gwendolyn Thompson – 9th Grade – Niceville o 1st Place Chemistry

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OSA PTO Announcements! stemmpto@gmail.com

OSA PTO Objectives: The primary objective is to foster a cooperative effort between parents, teachers, administration, and staff of the Okaloosa STEMM Academy, to work for improvement of the school in general and the enrichment of our student’s education; and to accumulate and disburse resources to that end.

VOLUNTEERS still needed to help with events – Please give an hour a day, a few hours each week, or one day a month to help – please contact stemmpto@gmail.com and sign up for REMIND messages (send text to 81010 with message @osapto2018) to find out what is still needed and to volunteer. Please consider that you can make a difference in planning and executing positive things for all stakeholders at OSA.

***Desperate need for a Fundraising Coordinator***

ADOPT-A-CLASSROOM is underway! Forms have been sent home with students, plus you can submit online via www.myschoolbucks.com . Funds will be disbursed to all teachers once ALL classrooms are adopted. SPONSORS both corporate and individual are needed. STEMM has several immediate needs for our campus. If you can assist with sponsorship, or know of someone/business that can, please contact PTO at stemmpto@gmail.com . Someone will contact you to discuss specifics. IN LIEU OF Fundraiser! Save your family time for FUN, not the paperwork of selling various products/foods. Please donate via the form sent home (check or cash), or via credit card online at www.myschoolbucks.com. Extra forms are located in the front office.

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Transportation Florencia.Fader@okaloosaschools.com

Please avoid transportation changes after 1:30pm. This is so that we can relay the information to your student in a timely manner and assure that they get the change BEFORE the end of the school day. Transportation changes must be made in writing. If you did not have time to send a note with your student, you can email Mrs. Fader at Florencia.Fader@okaloosaschools.com

****Please Note – Per District Policy – Students should NOT be checked out within 30 minutes of school dismissal

REMIND Mrs. W. Avery would like you to join:

STEMM Parents! To receive messages via text, Text @79eebk to 81010. You can opt-out of messages at anytime by replying, 'unsubscribe @79eebk'. Trouble using 81010? Try texting @79eebk to (850) 200-0790 instead. Or to receive messages via email, send an email to 79eebk@mail.remind.com To unsubscribe, reply with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

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2018 - 2019 After School Activities

Film Club 1st Tuesday of month 3:30 13/1

4 Sept. 4 Palmer/

Smith

FLL Robotics Tuesday & Thursday 4:00-6:00

Math Lab August Kiel

FTC Robotics Tuesday & Thursday 4:30 5 Aug. 21 Sheehan

MASH (Math After School Help) Tuesday 2:30 16 Sept. 18 Matheson

Academic Team Wednesday 3:30 9 Sept. 5 Flynn 7th grade ELA

tutoring Wednesday 3:00 14 Sept. 4 Smith Math Tutoring Wednesday 3:00 11 Sept. 5 Gee

MathCounts Team Every other Wednesday 2:30 16 Oct. Matheson Speech & Debate Wednesday 3:00 14 Sept. 4 Smith

Chess Club Every other Thursday 3:00 13 Sept. 6 Palmer National History

Day tutoring Thursday by appointment 3:00 9 Appointment Flynn Video Editing-

Programming-Cyber Security Club Thursday 3:30 18 Sept. Jernigan

Writing Tutoring must email or send note by Tuesday of that week Thursday 3:00 13 Sept. 18/19 Palmer

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Mark Your Calendar

February 4th – 14th Candy Grams (Speech and Debate Fundraiser) February 12th PTO Meeting in MPR – 4-5pm March (TBA) Annual Campus Beautification Project March 12th PTO/Teacher Meeting in MPR March 12th PTO Meeting in MPR – 4-5pm March 12th SAC Meeting in CSI - 3pm March 13th PTO Sponsored Teacher/Staff Luncheon March 15th – 25th Spring Break (Teacher Work Day on March 25th) April 9th PTO Meeting and Elections for New Board – 4-5pm April 26th Spring Dance – 6-8pm May 6th – 10th Teacher Appreciation Week May 8th PTO Sponsored Teacher/Staff Luncheon May 14th PTO Meeting in MPR – 4-5pm May 30th Field Day May 31st Awards Ceremony/ Last Day of School

Okaloosa STEMM Academy (OSA) website http://www.okaloosaschools.com/stemm/ Okaloosa STEMM Academy (OSA) Facebook https://www.facebook.com/STEMMAcademy/ Prior newsletters can be found on the STEMM website on the PTO/SAC /Newsletters tab. School store price list with pictures is on the STEMM website on the PTO/SAC /School Store tab. PTO meeting minutes can be found on the STEMM website on the PTO/SAC/Meetings tab. SAC meeting minutes can be found on the STEMM website on the PTO/SAC/SAC tab.