WABS http://www.wabsalliance.org Washington Alliance for Better Schools Information Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:04:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Central Sound Regional Science & Engineering Fair http://www.wabsalliance.org/central-sound-regional-science-engineering-fair/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=central-sound-regional-science-engineering-fair http://www.wabsalliance.org/central-sound-regional-science-engineering-fair/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:38:36 +0000 nmacdonald http://www.wabsalliance.org/?p=398 March 10, 2012
Bellevue College Gymnasium]]> Saturday March 10, 2012
Bellevue College Gymnasium

The Central Sound Regional Science & Engineering Fair (CSRSEF) is the only ISEF-affiliated fair for high school students in King and Snohomish Counties in Washington State. Each year, dozens of high school students participate from public, private, and home schools from around western Washington.

Why do a Science or Engineering Fair Project?

The grand champion of the fair will win an all-expense paid trip to compete in the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this May. Prizes will be awarded to category winners and several local and national organizations will be on hand to present special awards.

Benefits of Science Expos

  • Looks great on resumes and college applications
  • Develops skills in critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and organization
  • Meets many of the Washington State Science Learning Standards
  • Gives students the opportunity to explore their unique interests in science and engineering
  • Connects students to science and engineering professions
  • Makes learning engaging and fun!

Learn more about the Central Sound Regional Science & Engineering Fair

Get Involved

WABS will provide transportation stipends to student teams from WABS member districts that participate in this year’s CSREF. For more information about these stipends, contact info@wabsalliance.org.

In addition to encouraging students to participate, teachers can get involved in other ways:

  • Field Trips: Plan a field trip to the CSRSEF on Saturday, March 10, 2012. Public viewing hours are from 1-3pm.
  • Be a Judge: Volunteering as a judge is a great way to learn more about the science and engineering fair process and how to encourage independent research projects in your classroom!
  • Teacher Information Session: Learn how local teachers have incorporated science and engineering projects into their curriculum during this one hour session from 1-2pm on Saturday, March 10 (during the CSRSEF public viewing hours).
]]> http://www.wabsalliance.org/central-sound-regional-science-engineering-fair/feed/ 0 Boeing Engineer Week http://www.wabsalliance.org/national-engineers-week-boeing-engineers-week/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=national-engineers-week-boeing-engineers-week http://www.wabsalliance.org/national-engineers-week-boeing-engineers-week/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:58:39 +0000 wabadmin http://www.wabsalliance.org/?p=305 February 20-24, 2012 WABS Member Schools Classrooms]]> February 20-24, 2012

As part of National Engineers Week, WABS works with The Boeing Company to promote engineering and technical careers to students in grades 6-12.

Boeing volunteers will visit middle and high school classrooms within the 10 WABS school districts to talk to students about the wide variety of engineering and technical careers available today. They will also engage students in discussions about educational paths and salary ranges related to these positions.

Volunteers lead a classroom activity that lets students take on different job roles to see how engineers and scientists work together to create new engineering products.

]]> http://www.wabsalliance.org/national-engineers-week-boeing-engineers-week/feed/ 0 STEM http://www.wabsalliance.org/column1post/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=column1post http://www.wabsalliance.org/column1post/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:11:12 +0000 wabadmin http://dev.wabsalliance.org/?p=235 STEM

Integrating the teaching of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) increases student participation and achievement.
Learn more

]]> http://www.wabsalliance.org/column1post/feed/ 0 Advancing STEM Education http://www.wabsalliance.org/additional-calendar-info-post/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=additional-calendar-info-post http://www.wabsalliance.org/additional-calendar-info-post/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:08:25 +0000 wabadmin http://dev.wabsalliance.org/?p=193 December 13, 2011, 8AM - 3PM Institute for Systems Biology
401 Terry Ave N.
Seattle, WA 98109

]]> December 13, 2011, 8AM – 3PM

Institute for Systems Biology
401 Terry Ave N.
Seattle, WA 98109

The STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Leadership Launch will be the first in a series of professional development opportunities to be rolled out through 2012 to a core STEM leadership within each of WAB’s school districts. The goal of this event is to empower and increase the STEM Leadership Team’s capacity to lead STEM Education efforts within their school districts impacting over a quarter million students in Washington State.

Registration for this event is now closed.

Parking: Participants should park at the surface lot on 525 9th Avenue N, Seattle, WA. Please use the parking pass emailed to you. The lot is a short walk to the venue at 401 Terry Avenue N.

]]> http://www.wabsalliance.org/additional-calendar-info-post/feed/ 0 Washington Alliance for Better Schools receives $25,000 grant from Discuren Foundation http://www.wabsalliance.org/washington-alliance-for-better-schools-receives-25000-grant-from-discuren-foundation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=washington-alliance-for-better-schools-receives-25000-grant-from-discuren-foundation http://www.wabsalliance.org/washington-alliance-for-better-schools-receives-25000-grant-from-discuren-foundation/#comments Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:31:35 +0000 wabadmin http://dev.wabsalliance.org/?p=271 SEATTLE – In support of immigrant and refugee children, the Discuren Foundation has awarded a grant of $25,000 to Washington Alliance for Better Schools to help children in Monroe and Marysville School Districts be successful in school. Best practices research has demonstrated that family involvement in education is a major contributor to school success and high school graduation. Because of cultural and linguistic challenges, many immigrant, refugee, and multi-cultural families lack the understanding of the public education system or the confidence to participate in their children’s schools and academic lives. Many schools have difficulty building relationships with families that are people of color, English language learners, immigrants, and/or refugees. Best practices research also demonstrates that the most effective strategy for encouraging and supporting multi-cultural families’ participation in their children’s academic lives is leadership from within their own ethnic communities—from peers (Parent Natural Leaders) who are able to speak their language, understand their culture and past experiences, welcome them to their school communities, and help them navigate the public education system. The grant will allow expansion of the Parent Natural Leader project to 2 more districts — Monroe School District (Frank Wagner Elementary and Fryelands Elementary) and Marysville School District (Liberty Elementary and Cascade Elementary). These 4 schools have 1,238 children whom are eligible for free and reduced lunch, 496 are English Language learners, and 34-61% are not meeting math and/or reading standards. There are many impacts that the project has: families will become connected with each other, and they will become more engaged in their children’s education in the following ways: feel connected to school, understand what their children need to be successful in school and help their children be ready for school. By increasing parent engagement, drop-outs can be prevented. Parents are essential to keep kids in school and graduating from high school. For more information on this project, contact WABS at info@wabsalliance.org or 206-393-4918.

]]> http://www.wabsalliance.org/washington-alliance-for-better-schools-receives-25000-grant-from-discuren-foundation/feed/ 0 WABS receives $60,000 from the Boeing Company to support kids and teachers in STEM. http://www.wabsalliance.org/another-news-test/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=another-news-test http://www.wabsalliance.org/another-news-test/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:55:14 +0000 wabadmin http://dev.wabsalliance.org/?p=228 SEATTLE – A recent report stated that “STEM Education will determine whether the US will remain a leader among nations… It will help produce the capable and flexible workforce needed to compete in a global marketplace… It will generate the scientist, technologist, engineers, and mathematicians who will create the new ideas, new products and entirely new discoveries of the 21st century.” To this end, the Boeing Company is supporting Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS) once again to provide two programs that are focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

The Boeing After School Math & Science Program is an ongoing component of WABS’ efforts to increase student achievement in math and science and encourage student interest in STEM-related careers. This program provides hands-on learning experiences, with activities designed to spark student interest and reinforce math and science concepts, while also providing real-world examples for the students as they interact with Boeing Engineers. In the 2010-2011 school year, more than 3,500 students in over 50 schools in the Puget Sound area have participated in this program.

The Boeing Educator Enrichment Day program has been a vital component in connecting educators in WABS school districts to professionals who work in The Boeing Company, one of the largest and most diverse STEM industry leaders in the Puget Sound region.
This project will support local area objectives—specifically, to improve state achievement in math and science—by providing learning enrichment activities for students and by improving teachers’ skills in integrating math concepts and scientific methodology in “real world” problem-solving curriculum. Enriched learning and improved instruction will improve student learning and help prepare more students for higher education, consistent with The Boeing Company’s goal to have a large, educated, and math and science trained work force.

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For more information, please contact info@wabsalliance.org or 206-393-4918.

]]> http://www.wabsalliance.org/another-news-test/feed/ 0 Washington Alliance for Better Schools receives $189,952 Readiness to Learn grant from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction http://www.wabsalliance.org/news-test-post/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=news-test-post http://www.wabsalliance.org/news-test-post/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:41:38 +0000 wabadmin http://dev.wabsalliance.org/?p=223 SEATTLE – The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has awarded a Readiness to Learn (RTL) grant of $189,952 to Washington Alliance for Better Schools to help children in Everett, Mukilteo, Edmonds, Shoreline and Northshore School Districts be successful in school. Family involvement in education is a major contributor to school success and high school graduation and closing the opportunity gap. Research shows that the most effective strategy for encouraging and supporting multi-cultural families’ participation in their children’s academic lives is leadership from within their own ethnic communities—from peers (Parent Natural Leaders) who are able to speak their language, understand their culture and past experiences, welcome them to their school communities, and help them navigate the public education system. This grant will continue to support Family Advocates in 12 schools, and the Parent Natural Leader Project in 20 schools. This grant helps 300 families that need assistance with housing, food and other basic needs connect with the community resources their families need. An additional 2,000 families participate in Parent Natural Leader events. In our RTL schools, 51% were eligible for free and reduced lunch, 54% are children of color and 24% are enrolled in bilingual education. There are many impacts that the project has: Families are better able to meet the needs of their children so children are better prepared to learn at school. Children’s social emotional skills improve, making it easier for them to learn. Families will become connected with each other, and they will become more engaged in their children’s education in the following ways: feel connected to school, understand what their children need to be successful in school and help their children be ready for school. Parents are essential to keep kids in school and graduating from high school. For more information on this project, contact WABS at info@wabsalliance.org or 206-393-4918.

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