December 15, 2023

QUARTERLY MEETING

AGENDA

Welcome/Introductions

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Attendee Breakout:

Get to Know One Another

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How to Build Cross-Sector Partnerships in STEM

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Breakout Session

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Report Out

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Kim Case, Executive Director, Research & Development Council of New Jersey and NJSPN Manager

Pavithra Lakshminarayan and Liz Rodriguez

South Jersey STEM Ecosystem

@NJSTEMPathways

Scan for links

Save the Dates

March 1

Princeton BioLabs

STEM Month Kickoff

9am-11:30am

June 5

Duke Farms

NJSPN Quarterly Meeting

8:30am-11:30am

Add Your Events to Our Calendar!

• Increase event visibility
• Will be added to NJSPN weekly newsletter

Attendee Connections:

Get to Know One Another

How to Build Cross-Sector Partnership in STEM�South Jersey STEM Ecosystem

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Pavithra Lakshminarayan – Lead

Elizabeth Rodriguez – Camden County Lead

The South Jersey STEM Ecosystem is a diverse community of educational institutions, training providers, subject matter experts and industry developing the region’s talent pipeline. We train skilled workers to meet the demands of the 21st century workforce��We are making South Jersey the “Go-To” place for STEM Talent.�

Our Partnership

Our Partners

Employers

K -12

After School (PreK -12)

State & Regional Networks

Higher Ed

AI Bootcamp – Mark Cuban Foundation

• Atlantic City Initiative Project Office
• Fall 2021, 2022 & 2023 – 4 Saturdays – 5 hours/day
• 20 Students attend the AI bootcamp from Mark Cuban Foundation
• Outcomes
• Development of a pipeline workforce in south Jersey of data analytics and cybersecurity professionals
• Creation of STEM focused pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs in south Jersey
• Creation of higher paying career opportunities for local youth and staving off local brain drain
• Expanded AI bootcamp exposing more students to technology or other STEM fields
• Online education and national exposure for south Jersey higher education institutions
• Supporting the county goal of diversifying the economy to reduce overwhelming reliance on the casino, hospitality and tourism industries.

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Cybersecurity Pathway

• Cybersecurity pathway with Atlantic City School District and Atlantic Cape Community College
• Articulation agreement – PLTW Computer science & Cybersecurity courses - 6 credits
• A+ Certification
• Apprenticeship program with Ocean Casino Resort
• Credentialing for Bootcamp
• Cyber day – 100 students from Atlantic city School district had full day hands on workshops on various emerging topics
• Data Analytics Curriculum

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Puratos

• Career Awareness – 21^st Century Program
• 5-week session to introduce students in the largely underprivileged community to baking in hopes of creating careers in the industry.
• Recipe for Success Summer program – During Covid, shipped the materials and offered summer programming
• Building partnership with the local school district
• Investing to build a bakery school at Pennsauken High School

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Bakery School, Pennsauken

• In 2022, first baking school in the US for Puratos and built in partnership with Pennsauken High School & Puratos Bakery School Foundation
• This is the seventh school of its kind for Puratos, with other locations in India, Brazil, Mexico, Philippines, Romania and South Africa.
• 4-year CTE Program
• Students learn the fundamentals of baking, including pastry and chocolate-making, with a focus on practical and artisan skills.
• 59 students in the first batch
• Industry recognized certification from the Retail Bakers of America

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Takeaways

• Interests & Strengths
• Partner’s resources
• Creating Continuum
• Communication
• Scaling & Sustainability

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Thank you!

Pavithra Lakshminarayan

learn@mindbytes.co

Elizabeth Rodriguez

erodriguez@camdencc.edu

Breakout Session

New Jersey's Afterschool and Out-of-School Time

Professional Network

www.NJSACC.org

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NJSACC

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NJSACC is a non-profit organization funded in part by:

• NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development as part of a Federal CCDF Block Grant Earmark
• Federal funds from Title IV, Part B, 21st Century Community Learning Centers program of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) awarded to the New Jersey Department of Education
• Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

NJSACC works to:

• Build a strong network for school age program professionals and staff in NJ.
• Provide training, conferences, workshops and information services.
• Offer technical assistance and support for the development, expansion and improvement of school age care programs throughout NJ.
• Maintain close relationships with state and local officials to define appropriate NJ state regulations and legislation for school age care.
• Share high quality resources, updates, and information related to school age care.
• Develop public awareness of afterschool issues.

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www.NJSACC.org

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Moonshot

STEM Asset Packs

NEW

RESOURCES

MONTHLY!

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2023-24

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AFTERSCHOOL

CONVERSATIONS

3rd Thursdays

at 11am

Dec 21 Jan 18

Feb 15

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NJSACC'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME

APRIL 26 & 27, 2024

NJSACC FLASH

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STEM COACHING TEAM

Contact us for school age quality coaching, technical assistance,

training information, great resources, & so much more!

Arlyn Jimenez Quality Coach ajimenez@njsacc.org

Dagmar Wojcik Quality Team Director dwojcik@njsacc.org

We’re here for your school age team . . .

RESOURCES AT: NJSACC.ORG/RESOURCES

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NJSACC STAFF TEAM

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From left to right

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Adam Cruz Chief Operating Officer

Sarah Cruz Director of Special Projects

Dagmar Wojcik Quality Team Director

Patricia Pugliese Technical Assistance Specialist

Jessica Heiberg Director of Program Services

Kandece Francis Administrative Assistant

Ebony Grace Chief Executive Officer

Tyneisha Gibbs Director of Expanded Learning Opportunities

Arlyn Jimenez Quality Coach

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Moonshot

STEM Asset Packs

MONTHLY!

REALISTIC SUPPORTS

Wednesday, 3/1/23, 10-11:30am, Virtual, $20/participant

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MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS

Wednesday, 3/8/23, 6:30-7:30pm, Virtual, NO FEE

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PLANNING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS

Wednesday, 4/4/23, 10-11:30am, Virtual, $20/participant

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Upcoming Events

NJSACC.ORG/EVENTS

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Professional Development

OPTION 1

NJSACC Live Virtual & In-person Events

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OPTION 2

On-site Training with an NJSACC trainer

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OPTION 3

FREE WEBINARS through collabornation.net

Technical Assistance

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Contact Quality Team Director Dagmar at dwojcik@njsacc.org for more information

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We’re here for your afterschool team

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www.NJSACC.org

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New Jersey’s

Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Professional Network

advocates, promotes and supports the development,

continuity, and expansion of out-of-school time programs.

www.NJSACC.org

Think Sideways. Think Upside Down.

Future Engineers is an education technology company that specializes in contests and challenges for students.

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Our online, multi-challenge platform engages students in challenges nationwide.

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We develop and administer these challenges for customers, which are then offered free for students via our online platform.

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Students can participate in challenges in-class under the oversight of their teacher, or at-home under the oversight of their parent.

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www.futureengineers.org

What is

Future Engineers?

If you are a K-12 student in the United States, your challenge is to research Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS), a type of nuclear “battery” used in space exploration and dream up a new RPS-powered space mission to a destination with limited or obstructed access to light. Write about where your RPS-powered mission would go, the mission goal(s), the advantages of using RPS, and a

unique power you have to help achieve mission success.

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Your entry has a 250-word max, and entries are due January 26, 2024, 8:59 PM PT

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The Challenge

www.futureengineers.org/powertoexplore

Watch the challenge video!

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SEMIFINALISTS

• Prize: RPS Prize Pack

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Photo Credit: National Veterans Memorial and Museum

ALL PARTICIPANTS:

• Invite to Virtual Event with NASA
• Digital Participation Certificate

FINALISTS

• Prize: Virtual Session with a NASA Expert and a Finalist Prize Pack

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WINNERS

• Prize: Trip for two to NASA’s Glenn Research Center

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Photo Credit: National Veterans Memorial and Museum

CHALLENGE RESOURCES

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• Links and Lessons

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• Power to Explore Slide Deck

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• Learn About RPS Lesson Plan &

Digital Scavenger Hunt

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• Brainstorm Topics

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• Take Home Worksheet

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• Coming soon! Energy Conversion Lesson Plan, Slide Deck and Video.

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• Flyer

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If you are a 9-12th grade student in the United States, your challenge is to research past and future impacts of climate-related hazards in your community, including drought, wildfire, flooding, and extreme heat, then develop a proposed action to help build a more resilient community. Your entry must include:

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• a written explanation of your proposed climate action (200 words max)

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• an image (max 3GB) of a “poster” that supports your climate action

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Entries are due January 19, 2024, 8:59 PM PT

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The Challenge

www.futureengineers.org/battelleclimatechallenge

Students are encouraged to use these five "steps to resilience" to guide their entry development process:

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• Understand Exposure & Climate Hazards - What is the normal climate for your community? What is changing or likely to change in your local climate?
• Assess Vulnerability & Risk – What aspects of your community (e.g., roads, parks, schools, businesses) will be affected by a climate hazard?
• Investigate Options – Brainstorm potential actions to help build a more resilient community. Your climate action could be a technology solution, a change of behavior, a school or community program, a response plan, or more.
• Prioritize & Plan – Develop a plan to implement your proposed climate action.
• Take Action – This student challenge is asking for proposed climate actions. Actual implementation of your proposed climate action will not be judged; however, we encourage students to take steps in your community, whether big or small, to make your climate action happen!

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The Challenge

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• 1 Grand Prize Winner will present their poster at the Innovations in Climate Resilience Conference in Washington DC and receive a $5,000 STEM grant for a U.S. nonprofit organization, public library, or public school.

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• 4 Finalists will receive a $1,500 STEM grant for a U.S. nonprofit organization, public library, or public school.

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• 10 Semifinalists will receive a Sustainable Prize Pack

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Prizes

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Entries Due: January 19, 2024, 8:59 PM PT

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Semifinalists & Finalists Announced: March 13, 2024

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Finalists Interviews: March 18, 2024

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Grand Prize Winner Announced: April 22, 2024

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Timeline

Photo Credit NASA

Photo Credit NASA

SPREAD THE WORD!

The challenge one-pagers have links to graphics, flyers, and more.

Power to Explore Student Writing Challenge (K-12)

https://futureengineers.box.com/s/38usyschhe8qs6aw3qjt835tqox2swmd

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Battelle Climate Challenge (9-12)

https://futureengineers.box.com/s/pnqx41a335uz8gymld0wepq1tyh3gnlp

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NJSPN Updates

Emerging Ecosystem

Grant

About the Grant:

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• The NJSPN seeks to support current ecosystems and up to three new ecosystems with between $10,000-$50,000.
• Competitive applicants will demonstrate the resources and design to engage with local and regional partners in education, business and industry, and STEM professions to create viable and sustainable STEM opportunities within their ecosystems.

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Funds Can Support:

• Development of leadership team
• Creation of a ecosystem sustainability plan
• Support of STEM programs
• Maintaining overall ecosystem operations
• Engagement with local and regional STEM partners
• Measurement of STEM programs

Innovation

Fund

About the Grant:

• The New Jersey STEM Strategic Advisory Board, will award grants of up to $75,000 to high-quality, innovative STEM education proposals.
• The purpose of the funding is to increase the access and exposure to STEM and to measure and improve STEM interest and learning outcomes for P-16 students.
• Proposals should include elements of measurement and evidence based educational programming and/or high quality curriculum that enhance the learning for P-16 students.

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Funds Can Support:

• Funding should be used to increase access and exposure to STEM for P-16 students and to measure and improve STEM interest and learning outcomes inside and/or outside of the classroom in summer 2024 or through the 2024-25 school year.

Report Out

March 2024

OUR GOAL FOR 2024

40,000

Learners Impacted

Upcoming Deadlines

Visit www.njstempathways.org/njstemmonth

STEM 101 Conference

Hosting organization: Latinas in STEM Foundation

County: Hudson

Total Attendees: 644

The STEM 101 Conference was held on March 24, 2023,

at Alexander D. Sullivan School in Jersey City in celebration of

NJ STEM month. The PreK-5th grade student body attended

workshops throughout the day, including virtual and in-person

professional volunteers sharing their “My STEM Journey” stories. Hands-on activities such as experiments in chemical reactions, aerodynamic paper airplane competitions, earthquake-proofing structures, and creating electronic circuit bookmarks rounded out the day.

MCST Hackathon

Hosting organization: Morris County School of Technology

County: Morris

Total Attendees: 110

On Saturday, April 22, 2023, Morris County School of Technology hosted their 8th annual 12 Hour MCST Hackathon, which was attended by 110 area students in grades 7-12. The Hackathon is a free event and all participants received free T-Shirts, water bottles, meals, as well as prizes for the 5 top winning teams. A hackathon is where teams of 4 students try to ‘hack’ something together. They create apps, solve problems and create robots.

Lyndhurst Lego Masters Challenge

Hosting organization: Lyndhurst School District

County: Hudson

Total Attendees: 360

The Lyndhurst Talented and Gifted Program participated in the first ever Lego Masters Challenge.They randomly picked a story and had to create a group build based on the interpretation of the book. Once the build was completed, each group was required to create a short video explaining how their build correlated with their story. All of the videos were presented to the 3rd-5th grade student population and they voted on which build was the best! Winners received a Lego prize.

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2023 Mini-Grant Stories

I CAN STEM

Highlighting people of color, women, LGBTQ+ Community, and people with disabilities that work in a STEM related field in New Jersey.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CAMPAIGN

Attendee Announcements

Thank You And See You Next Time!

Please look out in your email for our post-meeting survey.