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❄️ Happy New Year!
Hello, {{Constituent First Name}}, Please see January's updates from the Columbia Gorge STEM Hub.
✨In this edition: Microgrant winners, "Mastering the Art of Reasoning with Numbers" professional development (open to K-8 educators of all subjects), various educator opportunities, CTE Month resources (available in February), and Eagle Watch 2025!
STEM Hub News and Updates
👏2024-2025 STEM Hub Microgrants Announced!
STEM Hub Microgrants support equity-focused STEM projects with lasting impact, offering $400-$1,000 grants to educators in Oregon's Gilliam, Hood River, Wasco, Wheeler, and Sherman counties, as well as Klickitat and Skamania counties in Washington. Applications are reviewed based on a scoring matrix, and recipients must submit an after-action report. Congrats to our 2024-2025 Microgrant recipients!
⭐Educator Spotlight: Jamie Sowell from South Wasco County School District⭐
Jamie Sowell was chosen as this year’s Gorge Technology Alliance STEM Educator of the Year! Jamie was recognized at the GTA’s Winter Party and received a $1,000 donation to support STEM programming at South Wasco County School District. Congrats, Jamie!
Have an educator you would like to nominate for our monthly spotlight?
Let us know! Email Nicole at ntolmie@cgesd.k12.or.us
➗K-8 Educators: Join us in Mastering the Art of Reasoning with Numbers
K-8 educators from ANY SUBJECT are invited to join colleagues from across the region for an in-person workshop in Hillsboro, followed by four virtual sessions, to explore practical applications of data reasoning.
Saturday, April 12, 2025: In-person session in Hillsboro, OR (full-day)
Virtual Sessions: April 16, April 30, May 14, May 28
🔢K-12 Educators: New Opportunities with the OMP: Mathways Grants!
Visit the launch of the updated Oregon Math Project: Mathways Grants Website—a hub filled with opportunities for meaningful professional growth: Paid PD Opportunities, District HS Math Pathways Support, Professional Learning Communities & Book Studies, Student Tools & Tutoring
🌳K-12 Educators: Join the Diack Ecology Education Program's Free Training
Two field-based science inquiry workshops are being sponsored by the Diack Ecology Education Program of the Oregon Science Teachers Association and the Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School (JGEMS), a public charter school in Salem, Oregon, focusing on field-based environmental science.
Two dates & locations:
April 11-12th at Verier Science Education and Tyron Creek State Natural Area in Beaverton and SW Portland
August 4-6th in at Molalla Retreat Center in Molala, OR
👉For more information or to register, contact Mike Weddle: mkweddle@comcast.net
🛰7th-8th Grade Educators: Space Sustainability Competition for students
The Space Sustainability Competition invites 7th and 8th grade students to envision innovative solutions to one of space exploration’s greatest challenges: managing space debris. 7-8th grade students are invited to submit their projects by Friday, March 21, 2025, with winners announced on National Space Day Friday, May 2, 2025.
🏆Nominate an Outstanding 7-12 Science Educator - Apply by February 6th! Nominations and applications for the 2024–2025 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the U.S. government's highest honors for K–12 STEM educators, are now open. Anyone can nominate exceptional 7-12 grade STEM teachers, and teachers can apply directly at www.paemst.org by the February 6, 2025 deadline.
👨🏫HS Math Pathways (+1 Courses) - Register by January 31st
Lane and Multnomah ESD math specialists, in collaboration with ODE, will continue offering virtual follow-up sessions on Oregon's HS Math Pathways Model (2+1) during the school year. February sessions will focus on stages of +1 course implementation and include a specialized breakout for small and rural districts. District teams consisting of an administrator, teacher, and counselor, as well as districts/schools new to or already engaged in +1 design, are welcome to attend either of the two session dates.
More Educator PD Opportunities from the STEM Hub! Be sure to see all of our professional development opportunites on our Websiteand Facebookpage!
Educator Resources
🔍Lending Library: A New Reservation Window is Open (January-February)
The STEM Hub offers STEM educational items to any educator in our 5 Oregon counties (Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler) as well as educators in Klicktat & Skamania counties in Washington. Items are available for use at no-charge to educators and include delivery to/from your school.
🌳Oregon Agriculture In the Classroom: Agriculture in the Classroom is a nationwide educational program designed to help students develop an awareness and understanding that agriculture is the source of our food, clothing, shelter and other essentials. Explore just some of their great resources!
Enter the Oregon Ag Fest essay contest by March 7th to be entered to win a free field trip or fun inquiry box for your classroom!
Professional Learning Community sessions are geared toward 4th-12th grade educators who are passionate about deepening their understanding of manufacturing skills and technologies. Participants will engage in hands-on exploration of key manufacturing concepts, learn about the latest industry advancements, and collaborate with college faculty and fellow educators. The focus will be on integrating these skills into the classroom through collaborative lesson planning. Stipends are available to participants.
January 31 & April 25, 2025: 4:00-6:00 pm at CGCC Skills Center
👷♀️MS/HS Educators: Get Ready for National CTE Month in February! National CTE Month in February celebrates Career and Technical Education, highlighting its impact on high-skill, high-wage careers. The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) offers resources like promotional materials and event ideas, while the ODE CTE Communications Toolkit provides tools to advocate for continued support and funding for CTE programs.#ThisIsCTE 👉Access the ODE Toolkit HERE
👷♀️2025 College & Career Expo on April 18, 2025 - Early Registration is Open!
Early registration is now open for the College & Career Expo 2025! The event will be held at the Columbia Gorge Readiness Center, Building 10, CGCC’s The Dalles Campus, 400 East Scenic Drive on April 18, 2025. The event will be held in two sessions: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM for K-12 educators and students, and 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM for job seekers. The student session includes a keynote speaker, a vendor floor with representatives from businesses, industries, and college programs, and breakout workshops.
For questions, contact Jessica Griffin Conner at jconner@cgcc.edu
🌟ODE Resource Highlight: Secondary Implementation Toolkit The Career Connected Learning (CCL) Secondary Implementation Toolkit provides resources to help High School educators and administrators create and implement Career Education plans aligned with the Oregon Career Connected Learning Framework. High school educators and counselors can use it to guide career conversations that shape students' future success.
🦅Eagle Watch 2025 - Stop on by on Saturday, January 25th!
The STEM Hub will be sponsoring Eagle Watch, by providing hands-on STEM learning activities for families during Eagle Watch 2025 on Saturday, January 25th!
🤖Help support your local FIRST Robotics Club at HRVHS!
The A-05 Annex FIRST Robotics club at Hood River Valley High School offers students opportunities to design, build, and program sophisticated robots which compete in regional and national competitions. Help support them!
Inspire your imagination and develop your STEM skills with these FREE events. Build and explore using LEGO® bricks, blocks, boxes, or other fun materials.
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