Northwest Iowa STEM Newsletter

January 2022

Mary Trent

NW Regional STEM Manager

Contact me at mtrent@iowalakes.edu

Northwest Regional Advisory Board Members

Tina Benton,

Sioux City

Ben Bouza,

Hawarden

Derek Brower, Orange City

Beth Bunkers, Primghar

Tyler Hahn,

Cherokee

Kiana Johnson, Primghar

Nancy McDowell, Sheldon

Jordan Menning, Rock Rapids

Faith Miller,

Carroll

Teresa Putnam, Hartley

Andrew Roelfs,

Sioux Center

Mary Skopec,

Spirit Lake

Brenda Welch, Meriden

Mark Zabawa, Spencer

Check out NW STEM Web Site!

https://www.iowalakes.edu/stem/

Northwest STEM Calendar

Stay up-to-date on all Northwest STEM regional opportunities and even a few statewide. Use this calendar to share your STEM events with others.

NW STEM Lending Resources

Check out the STEM lending library for educators and place your order online.

Don't forget to connect with NW STEM on social media as well!

Check us out on Facebook:

@NWSTEM Region

https://www.facebook.com/NWStemRegion/

@NWIowaSTEM

Invite a friend or colleague to sign up for this newsletter:

http://goo.gl/oPZmPP

Computer Science Week

Was A Big Hit in Iowa!

Computer Science Week was celebrated the week of December 6-10. In the NW Region, outstanding events took place and here are some information and pictures to show how NW Iowa is leading the charge! Governor Kim Reynolds also signed the Computer Science Week Proclamation for the state of Iowa on December 8, 2021.

Denison Elementary - Week long events and even a song! Link to Song.
Trinity CHS - First Tech Challenge Meet
Storm Lake Elementary - Coding Night
Spirit Lake - High school computer science class teamed up with third graders to help them code the dance party at Code.org
ISU Extension & Outreach - Buena Vista County- Robot Ready Retreat - Free, 4-H, robotics, info session
MVAO High School- Hour of Code activities
Newell-Fonda High School- Cellular Process Animations
Sergeant Bluff-Luton Elementary School - K-2 Students and used Scratch Jr to create Knock Knock Jokes.
Sioux Central Elementary- Coding, robotics, 3D design throughout the week during computer science class
Emmetsburg - West Elementary- Students are being introduced to computer science, the future of work and innovation and coding through Code.org videos and activities
West Monona Elementary- Coding with Bee Bots and Botley
Sioux Center Public Library- Micro:bit Coding Class
Kingsley-Pierson Elementary- Family Computer Science Night and week full of integrated activities
Pocahontas Elementary- "The Greatest Showman" CS Festival
MOC-Floyd Valley Elementary - week full of integrated activities for all grade levels

Mark Your Calendars!

2022-23 STEM Scale Up Program Menu Opens January 10!

We have an exciting menu of 13 programs to offer educators in the state of Iowa beginning January 10, 2022. The Application window closes on Febrary 28, so make sure you apply for the amazing programs! It is a Sweet Mixed Bag of Programs! If you'd like to schedule a professional development presentation of the programs, please fill out this short form below and Mary Trent, NW STEM Regional Manager will be sure to provide and exciting showcase!

Request a Presentation

STEM BEST HD (High Demand)

Due January 3, 2022

Visit our website

NW STEM Advisory Board Tours

STEM Best - Siouxland CAPS

The NW STEM Advisory Council held their December board meeting at MOC-Floyd Valley High School in Orange City. The advisory board was able to join students as they shared their projects they are working on with members of the community and area businesses. Siouxland CAPS group is also working on a STEM BEST marketing project for NW STEM.

Department of Education Director, Ann Lebo Tours Perry Elementary, Computer Science is Elementary School

Department of Education Director, Ann Lebo toured Perry Elementary on December 7, 2022. Perry Elementary is one of the 12 Computer Science is Elementary Schools in Iowa. Students and teachers showcased how computer science is integrated into their curriculum. Ryan Marzen, Principal, leads his teachers in the pursuit of creating a blueprint for their program. It was a wonderful visit and Perry is quickly becoming a flagship school for Computer Science in the Elementary!

NW STEM Virtual Year Long Literature Festival & STEM Challenges

650 students are participating all ready! You can still register and participate in this year long festival! We have met our quota for kits that we can hand out, but you can still participate without the kits. You will have access to the recordings and activities that go along with it as well as a list of supplies you can collect. Most of the items are recyclables or household items. To register to receive access to the festival materials, click below.

Click Here to Register

NW STEM and the Governor's STEM Advisory Council have many FREE resources and amazing programs to offer our K-12 schools as well as our informal partners. Want to hear more about these? Sign up for a in person or virtual professional development session! Presentations can be flexible for the time allowed.

Let's get everyone on board with STEM in NW Iowa!

Click below to request a session.

Request a Session

Share your Scale-Up Story with Us!

Were you awarded a Scale-Up Program this year? If so, please share your story and pictures with us! We will share your story in our newsletters and social media. Invite me out to see the Scale-up Program in action!

Email: mtrent@iowalakes.edu

NW STEM Checkout System is Now OPEN!

NW STEM Checkout system has many great STEM Scale-Up Kits as well as other materials perfect for classrooms, homeschools, libraries, and after school groups! And the best part, everything is FREE!!

We utilize the AEA van system to make deliveries of all our kits. You can keep the kits as long as you need them and simply set them out for the AEA van to pick them up. It's as simple as that!

You can find a complete list of our items and check out form here:

https://www.iowalakes.edu/stem/stem-resources/.