Text Box: Science Teachers’ Association
Text Box: Dec. 2011                    Vol. 123
 

Greetings,

   Thanksgiving has come and gone and a record setting Black Friday is over.   I am not a Black Friday person but for those that are, I hope you found some great deals.    Even NSTA had a cyber Monday deal on membership so I hope some of you took advantage of that offer.  I think belonging to NSTA is a must for science teachers.   It is not very expensive but offers many, many benefits. 

   As our joint math/science conference draws nearer, I encourage all of you to make arrangements to attend.   We have a full schedule of presenters and a great list of featured speakers.   Our banquet speaker is Jon Richards from the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) institute near San Francisco and he will speak about what they have found in their search for intelligent life in our universe and beyond. It is shaping up to be a very good conference.  Don’t forget that we are again having a poster section where you can showcase what is happening in your classroom.   Organize your photos etc. on a display board and bring it along.   We will continue our “share the treasures” room so if you have equipment/supplies etc. you no longer use, bring it along and maybe someone else can use it.

   We will be electing new officers in Huron in February.   Brenda Murphey will be our new President but we will need to elect other officers.   Please be thinking about nominating someone for these leadership positions.  For descriptions of the activities of the officers, see the SDSTA website.  An officers handbook

 

with the duties of each officer is available at the website.

  Since this is the 20th year of the joint math/science conference, we are honoring the past presidents of both organizations.  Our presidents since 1991 were Harlan Heitz, Gene Erickson, Linda Baloun, Jon Gonsor, Carolyn Burns, Thomas Barket, Ken Graupmann, Micheline Hickenbotham Nelson, Mark Farrand and Ramona Lundberg.   Thanks to all the past presidents for their commitment to promoting science education in South Dakota.

   The first draft of the common core science standards is out and is being reviewed. SD is one of 20 lead state partners that will guide the standard writing process.  This collaboration will address common issues and challenges that will guide the development of the science standards.  If you are one of the many SD personal doing the review, thanks for your time and commitment to science education.

   In closing, I hope to see you all at the joint conference in February.  Try to get your registration in by Jan. 20th to allow time for your registration to be processed.  Come prepared to take home some great new ideas.

       Molly TenBroek         SDSTA President

                                                       Feb. 2010-Feb. 2012 

A few reminders for the February Conference:    Thursday evening starts with Science & Math sharing of lessons - please bring 30 copies to share or display info on a poster board.   Friday has both Promethean & SmartBoard sharing sessions in both Science & Math - please bring a USB drive to share your white board lesson.   Sharing the Classroom Treasures will be available both days in Salon I.  And don’t forget a few pennies so you can cast your vote in the SD-AAPT  Physics Photo Contest. ---------------------

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