Delta High School Announced as Science Champion

March 28

Pacific Science Center’s 2011-2012 Science

Champions Announced;

Washington State LASER – a program of Pacific Science Center – 

Announces Recipients of the 2011-2012 Science Champions:

 Science Education Advocate Awards

SEATTLE – MARCH 27, 2012 – Washington State Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER), a program co-led by Pacific Science Center and Battelle, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2011-2012 Science Champions: Science Education Advocate Awards. From a U.S. Senator to a high school in the Tri-Cities area, this year’s recipients are passionate supporters of advancing science education in Washington state and beyond.

According to President Obama, when students excel in math and science, they help America compete for the jobs and industries of the future. This year’s Science Champions are making it their mission to help more young people succeed in these critical subjects.

Each year, with support from The Boeing Company, Washington State LASER recognizes five individuals, organizations and/or project teams who have gone above and beyond by promoting the importance of science education among the general public and/or the education system.  This year we are proud to recognize Battelle as a sponsor. 

Among the recipients of the prestigious  Science Champions Awards, is U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell who has always been an advocate for legislation that focuses on providing resources to students, schools, and programs that need the most help training students for the careers of the future.

Cantwell stresses that science education is critically important to our economic future and global competitiveness, and the key to creating high-wage jobs.

That’s why Cantwell’s fellow award recipients Kelly Edwards andMike Townare committed to helping students find their niche in science whether that means pursuing a career in the STEM fields or simply understanding the fundamentals of science and its implications.

Edwards,Associate Professor, University of Washington, wants to reach new generations of people via social media.

“The idea of the ‘ivory tower’ days of the academy is dead – we have a responsibility to engage more broadly, and indeed will do better work if we do,” said Edwards.

As a high school science instructor, Mike Town’s vision for the future of science education in Washington state is specific: To promote STEM literacy and inspire students to seek advanced opportunities in STEM fields.

The same can be said for the organizational awardees; Delta High School is committed to preparing students in the Tri-Cities area for college degrees and careers in STEM-related fields, while the North Olympic Library Systempromotes the importance of science education among the general public bycollecting science materials and offering community-based provides science programming on an ongoing basis.

“The recipients this year reflect the wide range of advocacy that is being done in our state,” said Sonia Siegel Vexler, interim co-director of Washington State LASER. “From the federal level, to the classroom to a community institution, they are helping students to see that science is not only all around them, but that it is important to their lives today and will continue to be important in their future.”

Efforts at all levels of science education - including early learner, K-12, vocational, undergraduate, graduate, adult, and informal/public science education - were eligible for consideration.

This year’s award was given to three individuals and two organizations.Awardees received $5,000 each to be donated to the not-for-profit public education entity of their choice for use in its efforts on behalf of science education. The monetary reward as well as funding for the awards process was generously provided by The Boeing Company and Battelle.

Recipients will be recognized on May 10 at Town Hall Seattle (Town Hall is located at 1119 Eighth Avenue at Seneca Street). This event includes lunch, an awards ceremony, and a forum with the award recipients having a conversation about science education for the 21st century.   This event is hosted by City Club and sponsored Boeing. To register, please go to http://www.seattlecityclub.org/20120510  

Individual Awards

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell

Washington state

Kelly Edwards

Associate Professor, University of Washington

Mike Town

Science Teacher, Lake Washington School District STEM School

Organization Awards

Delta High School

Richland, WA

North Olympic Library System

Port Angeles, WA

Detailed information regarding the awardees is at:

http://www.wastatelaser.org/_awards/recipient_1112.asp

Washington State LASER is a private public partnership working with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) as well as with the National Science Resource Center (NSRC) which is a non-profit science education organization sponsored by the Smithsonian Institute and the National Academies. It receives financial support from OSPI, The Boeing Company, Battelle and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

For more information about Washington State LASER and the Science Education Advocate Awards, please visit http://www.wastatelaser.org.

Mid-Columbia Education Hits the Notes

January 9

Excerpt from the Tri-City Herald:

Mid-Columbia education hits the notes

By Phil Ohl, In Focus

With all the focus on what's wrong with schools in America and in Washington, it's easy to miss what's right. Right here in the Mid-Columbia, we have outstanding examples of creative, innovative learning with undeniably positive results.

A sterling example is Delta High School. Delta is a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) high school that distinguishes itself as an inclusive high school. Any student residing within the three school districts can enroll -- no tests, no aptitude minimums, no private tuition and no application screening.

After just two years of operation, the 2010 High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) results show that, if taken as a separate high school, Delta would rank among the top 5 percent of all public high schools in our state.

Read the Full Article Here

 

Delta Receives Innovative School Designation by OSPI

November 21

Delta High School has recently been designated as a 2011 Innovative School by Washington State's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

Washington's Innovative Schools program celebrates our state’s most inventive and exciting school models and encourages bold, creative and innovative thinking across Washington’s public schools. In accordance HB 1521and E2SHB 1546, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has established selection criteria and outlined a process for school districts and educational service districts to recognize existing innovative schools and create new innovative schools and programs.

The major characteristic of Delta High School is an integrated, interdisciplinary program of study that weaves science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and humanities concepts together through the use of hands-on, project and problem-based, and inquiry focused instruction. Delta enrolls 100 students in each grade, and students are selected by lottery. Delta is supported through a partnership between three school districts, a state university, a community college, a national laboratory, a foundation, and additional community partners. Unique features of the school include:

  • A trimester schedule and 90 minute instructional blocks.
  • Standards focused grading throughout.
  • Focus on core preparation in grades 9 and 10, electives options in grades 11 and 12, and senior seminars.
  • Mentoring of students and teachers by STEM professionals.
  • Advisory classes support student learning and preparation for post-secondary education and career.
  • Internships, tours, job shadows, and career mentoring are integral part of student experience.
  • Electives, sports and extracurricular activities available at boundary schools.

For More Information Visit:  http://www.k12.wa.us/InnovativeSchools/DesignatedSchools.aspx

Delta Wins We The People

November 21

Delta HIgh School placed first at We the People District Competition and will now be moving on to state! This was the first year Delta participated in the simulated congressional hearings. Teams of 3-5 students prepared four-minute opening statements then fielded questions from a panel of three judges-Richard Reuther, Kenneth Ames and David Blacketer.

They’ll now work (outside of class) to prepare 3 new hearing statements for the Washignton State competition on January 7th. 

Poetry Out Loud Inspires Students

November 13

Excerpt from Tri-City Herald

Teaching an Old Art to Young Students

By Jacques Von Lunen

 

Scientific minds

Pop songs are the gateway drug to poetry in Sarah Pack’s English class at Delta High School in Richland.

“With freshmen, I start off with John Lennon’s Imagine,” Pack said. “I ask them if that’s a poem.”

The students are intimidated by poetry at first, she said. The literary techniques used by poets are a foreign language to most teens, she said.

Annabeth Guzman was a freshman in Pack’s class last year.

“I was terrified when she mentioned the word ‘poetry,’” Annabeth said. “I’m more of a science and math person. Poetry scares me — emotions are just thrown in your face.”

Annabeth participated in Poetry Out Loud last year simply because she had to, she said.

“But once I got into my poem, I really connected,” she said.

Read more: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/11/13/1714579/teaching-an-old-art-to-young-students.html#ixzz1eMsADa5t

Gov. Chris Gregoire Visiting Delta High School

October 28

Gov. Chris Gregoire will be visiting Delta High School Friday, October 28th.

She will be meeting with students and staff to discuss the innovative STEM education methods being developed at Delta High School.

 

VISTA/ Delta Team Take Home Three Awards

October 24

The VISTA Engineering Technologies / Delta High School CANstruction Team earned three awards at a ceremony last Friday at Columbia Center mall:

Structural Integrity

Honorable Mention – going above and beyond and doing something different

People’s Choice – the most votes for our structure in the ballot box at the mall = the most cash raised!

Over $750 cash was collected from the event for 2nd Harvest and lots of canned food.  Final weighing for the pounds donated will be sometime this week.

$1 purchases 6 pounds of food. The money collected through this activity will buy 4500 pounds of food and make 3000 adult meals.

 

 

Delta Student to Compete in 2012 Olympic Trials

October 8

Lisa Bratton, a Richland Swimmer and Delta High School Sophmore, has qualified to compete in 2012 Olympic Trials this June.

To read the whole article, Click Here.

 

 

Attorney General Rob McKenna Tours Delta

September 21

Attorney General Rob McKenna visited Delta High School today in Richland to talk about funding for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) school.

McKenna said he supports STEM schools and would do everything he could to help provide funding for Delta High School. 

Click Here to read more

Delta High ready for freshmen

August 2

At least a dozen printers were stacked up last week in a classroom at the new Delta High School in Richland.

There also were rows of tables, file cabinets and shelves waiting to be filled. Pretty soon there will be students too.

The new regional public high school focused on science, technology, engineering and math -- or STEM -- will open to about 100 freshmen in the fall.

Read the whole story