Pinecrest Academy South Charter School
AdvancED STEM Certification
Indicator 1.10
Self-Assessment Rating: 4
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As our feeder pattern school, Pinecrest Preparatory Middle High, often known as PPMH, attend our Science Fair Parent Nights and STEM Family Nights. Their students have served as judges for science fair projects, have volunteered with Newton’s Laws of Motion demonstrations, and encouraged students on their knowledge of science vocabulary through a Water Cycle bingo at one of the STEM Family Nights. Every year, they inspire our fifth grade students to Shadow a Croc. Through this program, students get to spend half a day experiencing life as a middle school student visiting multiple teachers, switching classes, organizing assignments and using their time wisely.
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Through the Everglades Foundation, our teachers have been trained in Everglades’s knowledge and curriculum. We have received professional development geared toward Everglades’s literacy in order for students to understand key aspects of this amazing ecosystem that is home to endangered species. Not only have we been trained but all materials needed for the lessons have been donated. Besides training and providing material, the Everglades Foundation conducts presentations for the students by grade level. Our students had the opportunity to meet Miss Florida 2017, Sara Zeng, who was a spokesperson for the Everglades Foundation Literacy Program and spoke to students on the importance of learning about the Everglades, staying in school, and the dangers of drugs and alcohol. This year, kindergarten and first grade students had an opportunity to experience the Everglades first-hand through an interactive field trip to the Everglades Alligator Farm.
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Through the American Heart Association we instill in our students the importance of exercise by learning jump rope skills, how their heart works, and in the process, students help other kids with special hearts by raising funds through The Kids Heart Challenge. Being an empathetic individual is part of the core values we instill at our school and this partnership allows this commitment to flourish.
We are grateful to have the community support through the above mentioned partnerships and are fortunate to cultivate new ones. This year, West Kendall Baptist Hospital reached out to us. They have visited our school and given presentations to kindergarten, first and second grade about the importance of hygiene and the importance of washing hands thoroughly. Students had the opportunity to view germs up close. During our annual walkathon, they sponsored water bottles for our students. It is our hope to maintain these amazing supporters.
Since opening our doors in 2006, our Parents as Liaisons (PALS) have worked diligently to support Pinecrest Academy South in a variety of ways. This esteem group of parents or PALS as we call them, work in conjunction with classroom homeroom parents in order to support classroom instruction. They help assist teachers with additional hands for complex in-house activities, such as helping students build prototypes. PALS members chaperone field trips, ensuring that students are actively engaged when attending, for example, Frost Science Museum or the Watsco Center for a University of Miami Basketball game. Through fundraisers such as our annual Walk-a-Thon, weekly treat sales, and Cookie Dough collections, PALS help to sponsor materials needed for STEM Lessons. Every year, PALS members encourage health and wellness by organizing and volunteering for field day and
"A" Day. Our parents not only donate materials but also their time. They are vital in representing our school through Vex IQ competitions, Math Bowl, SECME, Holiday Shows, Science Fair Night, STEM Family Night, STEM Showcases, Career Day, and on-going STEM Career Presentations.
Parents as Liaison getting ready for our annual Walkathon.
Parental involvement on Career Day.
Photo above shows PPMH students working with Pinecrest South students on Science Fair Night…demonstrating Newton’s laws of motion. Photo on the left is one of our students Shadowing a Croc at PPMH.
Our robotics program began in 2014 and Zulobots, Inc. has been a partner since inception. Their engineering staff takes great pride in having worked for NASA and Microsoft. They provide our students guidance and support in design and programming through our robotics program.
Ms. Bianca Cassouto presenting to the fourth graders all about the Everglades.
Mr. Zulu guiding our students in robotics.
For two consecutive years, we have been invited to attend the Engineering Expo at Florida International University (FIU), Engineering Center. Our students had an opportunity to explore science-related activities such as robot battles, creation of paper airplanes and utilization of three-dimensional figures with a 3-D printer. The activities are geared to expose students in the areas of STEM and to explore careers in those fields. Additionally, the Modesto Madique Building hosted CodeFest for which our students attended. Through the CodeFest students utilized the Engineering Design Process to put a robotic arm on a computer for people that are wheelchair bound in order to reach high places.
PAC Students at the Engineering Expo as FIU, Engineering Center.
In partnership with the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens, our school implements the Fairchild Challenge Program. Our students have an opportunity to compete with other schools in diverse interests to explore the natural world. Various multi-disciplinary competitions are created with specifications depending on the grade level. Their main focus is to instill environmental awareness through scientific learning and the arts. Students that participate receive passes to visit Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens. For the last two years, we are happy to announce that we received a grant for our school garden.
The effects of not washing your hands presented by West Baptist Hospital.