The STEP (Science and Technology Entrance Program) spring semester was off to a running start, with a fundraiser for the STEP Parent Leader Scholarship that raised close to $800. A total of 130 students began attending Saturday Academy—a 5-week program to introduce students to STEM careers. Our STEP high school mentors participated in a "STEP into High School" program to help them prepare middle schoolers for the rigors of high school.
The eCYBERMISSION team successfully completed a project on heavy metal residue in school drinking water, and submitted it to the US Army STEM Education Program. Student researchers in partner districts worked on a variety of projects from condensed matter physics to microbiology.
Working remotely has led to increased programming to help students in science and math. Weekly virtual math classes have been filled to capacity, and the science Q&A sessions have steady streams of students. Virtual workshops on how to succeed in online classes and on stress reduction complemented classes. Additionally, students continued to work with their research teachers and STEP staff to practice presenting their research projects for the June STEP virtual research symposium.
