NASA-Related Programs for High School Students

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium would like to share the following information about the following FREE NASA-related programs for Virginia's high school students interested in STEM.

For 11^th and 12^th grade students, Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) and Virginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS) programs are offered.

For 10^th grade students, Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS) program is offered.

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For High School juniors and seniors, Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) is an interactive online learning course with a space mission design and human space flight theme, culminating in a one-week residential Summer Academy at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton for those students who qualify.  Offered at no cost to the student, VASTS consists of seven modules and a final project to be completed from November 2017 through May 2018 under the guidance of licensed master educators.  Based on success in the online coursework, students may be selected to attend a Summer Academy where they interact with NASA scientists, engineers and technologists to design a human mission to Mars.   Students who successfully participate in VASTS can apply to earn 2 college credits for the online course and 2 additional credits for the Summer Academy. 

Please direct students or other faculty to the website for program information and application, http://vsgc.odu.edu/VASTS/   The deadline for student applications is November 12^th, 2017.

For more information on this program, please contact:

Ian Cawthray
VASTS Education Program Coordinator
ian.m.cawthray@nasa.gov
Or visit: http://vsgc.odu.edu/VASTS

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For High School juniors and seniors, Virginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS) is an interactive, on-line Earth System Science Course featuring NASA scientific research and data. The course is offered for dual enrollment college credit (statewide through TNCC) for high school juniors and seniors in the Spring semester 2018. 

By combining detailed Earth System Science content with real world data analysis, students will be exposed to a rigorous course that will work across science disciplines to cultivate 21st Century Learning Skills.  The program will focus on preparing students for the rigors of college and careers while allowing them to develop strong science-based skills such as critical thinking and inquiry-based problem solving.  VESSS will have two components.  The first component is an online sixteen-week course running from December through April. The second component is a residential NASA Summer Academy at NASA Langley Research Center for students who perform well in the course. Students who successfully participate in VESSS can apply to earn 3 college credits for the online course and 1 additional credit for the Summer Academy. 

Please direct students or other faculty to the website for program information and application, http://vsgc.odu.edu/VESSS/  .  The deadline for student applications is November 12^th, 2017.

For more information on this program, please contact:

Joyce Corriere
VESSS Education Program Coordinator
Joyce.H.Corriere@nasa.gov
Or visit:   http://vsgc.odu.edu/VESSS/

VA Summer Governor's Schools Information

Summer Residential Governor’s Schools provide gifted high school juniors and seniors with intensive educational experiences in visual and performing arts; humanities; mathematics, science, and technology; or through mentorships in marine science, medicine and health sciences, or engineering.

Each Summer Residential Governor’s School focuses on one special area of interest. Students live on a college or university campus for up to four weeks each summer. During this time, students are involved in classroom and laboratory work, field studies, research, individual and group projects and performances, and seminars with noted scholars, visiting artists, and other professionals. In the three mentorships, students are selected to work side-by-side with research scientists, physicians, and a variety of other professionals. A director and a student-life staff provide supervision of students 24 hours a day, throughout the program.

Student Nominations

Nominations may be made by teachers, school counselors, peers, or by the students themselves. A school or division selection committee chooses the nominees from each school or division and forwards the nominees to a state committee. Consideration is given to students’ academic records, test scores, extra-curricular activities, honors, and awards, creativity, original essays, and teacher recommendations. Students applying for the Visual and Performing Arts Summer Residential Governor’s School participate in a statewide adjudication where they audition or present portfolios for review before a pair of professionals in the specific arts field. Because of the limited number of residential placements available, not all students who are nominated by their schools can be accepted for participation.

2018 Academic Programs Agriculture Humanities Mathematics, Science & Technology Medicine & Health Sciences Engineering Marine Science

2018 Visual & Performing Arts Programs Dance Instrumental Music Vocal Music Theatre Visual Arts

Application and resource materials are available at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/governors_school_programs/summer_residential/

K-5 Saturday Enrichment at the University of Virginia

The University of Virginia is pleased to announce the Saturday Enrichment Program for 2018. In coordination with the Curry School of Education Gifted Department, we are offering enrichment courses for gifted or high-ability, high-interest students in kindergarten through grade five.  Applications are posted online every year on October 15 at http://curry.sites.virginia.edu and are due by December 1, 2017.  Please note that reduced tuition is available to any student qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

The Center for Gifted Education (CFGE) is accepting registrations for the 2018
Spring Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP). The session will be held on
Saturdays starting Feb. 24 and ending on Mar. 24. The
Saturday program will be located at the William & Mary Mason School of
Business
located at 101 Ukrop Way, Williamsburg, VA 23185.

SEP is an academically challenging program with an emphasis on inquiry-based
learning for students enrolled in grades K-9. SEP is not meant to supplant the
regular school curriculum; rather, it recognizes the importance of allowing
able students to explore additional specialized areas of science, mathematics,
humanities, and the arts.

The program’s brochure is accessible through the Center’s website at
http://education.wm.edu/centers/cfge/precollegiate/sep/SEP-Brochure-2018-Spring.pdf.

If you have any questions, please contact the center by phone at 757-221-2166 or by email at sep@wm.edu.

NASA-Related Programs for High School Students

 NASA-Related Programs for High School Students

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium would like to share the following information about the following FREE NASA-related programs for Virginia's high school students interested in STEM.

For 11^th and 12^th grade students, Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) and Virginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS) programs are offered.

For 10^th grade students, Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS) program is offered.

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For High School juniors and seniors, Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) is an interactive online learning course with a space mission design and human space flight theme, culminating in a one-week residential Summer Academy at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton for those students who qualify.  Offered at no cost to the student, VASTS consists of seven modules and a final project to be completed from November 2017 through May 2018 under the guidance of licensed master educators.  Based on success in the online coursework, students may be selected to attend a Summer Academy where they interact with NASA scientists, engineers and technologists to design a human mission to Mars.   Students who successfully participate in VASTS can apply to earn 2 college credits for the online course and 2 additional credits for the Summer Academy. 

Please direct students or other faculty to the website for program information and application, http://vsgc.odu.edu/VASTS/   The deadline for student applications is November 12^th, 2017.

For more information on this program, please contact:

Ian Cawthray
VASTS Education Program Coordinator
ian.m.cawthray@nasa.gov
Or visit: http://vsgc.odu.edu/VASTS

Appomattox Regional Governor's School (ARGS)

The Appomattox Regional Governor’s School (ARGS) provides gifted and talented students a differentiated and rigorous education in the arts and technology.   Current eighth grade students who reside in Colonial Heights, and are enrolled in Algebra I, are eligible to apply.  James Stoneking, a representative from ARGS, will meet with all eligible eighth grade students at the middle school about the school in general and the application process in particular.  This meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 11.  Interested students should see Mr. Christopher Hathaway in the middle school guidance department on Monday, October 16 for an official application.

Additional information about the school is available at:  https://www.args.us/about-args/#more-75.  Parents and students can read about the application process, as well as view a sample application, at:  https://www.args.us/about-args/admissions/

Parents who want to know more about the school or the application process should contact Joe Douglas at the information below.

Dr. Joseph Douglas

Joe_douglas@colonialhts.net

804-874-8144

Focusing on the Future at the College of William & Mary

The Center for Gifted Education's 2018 Focusing on the Future conference will
be held on Saturday, February 3 2018 from 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event will
expose high-ability learners in grades 6–12 to career opportunities in various
professional fields. Separate sessions will be held for parents, guardians,
and counselors and will provide them with strategies and techniques to assist
students with academic and career planning.

The event will be held at William & Mary’s School of Education, located at 301
Monticello Avenue, Williamsburg, VA 23185. All students must be accompanied by
a parent, guardian, or group chaperone. All participants must register for the
event, and the registration deadline is January 12, 2018.

Additional information and the conference application are available on the
Center for Gifted Education’s website:
http://education.wm.edu/centers/cfge/precollegiate/future/index.php.

Virginia Space Grant Consortium Online Education Programs

Two months remain for the applications to Virginia Space Grant Consortium’s online education programs!

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium would like to share the following information about the following FREE NASA-related programs for Virginia's high school students interested in STEM.

Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) is a NASA-based program for 11^th /12^th grade students and STEM teachers who are interested in aerospace-related science, technology, engineering and/or math (STEM). This course focuses on space mission design and human space flight. Master Teacher positions are also available.

Virginia Earth Systems Science Scholars (VESSS) is a NASA-based program for 11^th/12^th grade students and STEM teachers who are interested in Earth Systems Science-related science, technology, engineering and/or math (STEM). This course focuses on Earth Systems Science and the NASA mission that help study these topics. Master Teacher positions are available.

Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS) is a NASA-based STEM program for 10^th grade students who are interested in NASA’s space, Earth, and airborne science-related missions managed by NASA Wallops Flight Facility. Master Teacher positions are available.

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For High School juniors and seniors, Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) is an interactive online learning course with a space mission design and human space flight theme, culminating in a one-week residential Summer Academy at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton for those students who qualify.  Offered at no cost to the student, VASTS consists of seven modules and a final project to be completed from November 2017 through May 2018 under the guidance of licensed master educators.  Based on success in the online coursework, students may be selected to attend a Summer Academy where they interact with NASA scientists, engineers and technologists to design a human mission to Mars.   Students who successfully participate in VASTS can apply to earn 2 college credits for the online course and 2 additional credits for the Summer Academy. 

Please direct students or other faculty to the website for program information and application, http://vsgc.odu.edu/VASTS/   The deadline for student applications is November 12^th, 2017.

For more information on this program, please contact:

Ian Cawthray
VASTS Education Program Coordinator
ian.m.cawthray@nasa.gov
Or visit: http://vsgc.odu.edu/VASTS

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For High School juniors and seniors, Virginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS) is an interactive, on-line Earth System Science Course featuring NASA scientific research and data. The course is offered for dual enrollment college credit (statewide through TNCC) for high school juniors and seniors in the Spring semester 2018. 

By combining detailed Earth System Science content with real world data analysis, students will be exposed to a rigorous course that will work across science disciplines to cultivate 21st Century Learning Skills.  The program will focus on preparing students for the rigors of college and careers while allowing them to develop strong science-based skills such as critical thinking and inquiry-based problem solving.  VESSS will have two components.  The first component is an online sixteen-week course running from December through April. The second component is a residential NASA Summer Academy at NASA Langley Research Center for students who perform well in the course. Students who successfully participate in VESSS can apply to earn 3 college credits for the online course and 1 additional credit for the Summer Academy. 

Please direct students or other faculty to the website for program information and application, http://vsgc.odu.edu/VESSS/  .  The deadline for student applications is November 12^th, 2017.

For more information on this program, please contact:

Joyce Corriere
VESSS Education Program Coordinator
Joyce.H.Corriere@nasa.gov
Or visit:   http://vsgc.odu.edu/VESSS/

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For high school sophomores, the Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS) is a program focusing on the earth and airborne science, engineering, and technology integral to current missions at NASA Wallops Flight Facility and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. This dynamic (and FREE) program, designed by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC), inspires students who possess technical and/or scientific interests and are motivated to learn about the many different opportunities that NASA offers. 

The VSCS program features two key elements: 1.) an on-line science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning experience featuring five modules; and 2.) a seven-day residential Summer Academy at NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, VA where selected scholars will learn first-hand from NASA professionals about cutting edge technologies and missions.  

Program Information:

• FREE Program for 10^th Grade Students
• Online modules covering NASA aircraft, balloon, and sounding rocket missions launched or managed at Wallops Flight Facility
• Online course runs from December 2017 through April 2018
• Highly successful students will be selected for a week long Summer Academy at NASA Wallops Flight Facility (Chincoteague, VA)
• The deadline for student applications is November 12^th, 2017
• http://vscs.spacegrant.org/ for application and more information

For more information, please contact:

Kirsten Manning
Education Program Coordinator
kmanning@odu.edu.

Math Masters for 5th Grade Students at the Math Science Center

Math Masters challenges 5th grade gifted students, chosen by their school divisions, to explore complex mathematical puzzles and engage in problem-solving of real-world situations through a mathematical lens. Using a variety of materials and computer programs, students spend three Saturdays immersed in rigorous mathematics activities. Students will spend a great deal of time working in groups to communicate ideas and share strategies. Students explore the creative side of mathematics as they dive into problems with a different theme each Saturday.

Dates: Saturdays,November 4, 11, and 18
Times: 9:00am to 2:00pm
Cost: $45.00 per student
Application: Students identified as gifted in math will be given an application by their teachers that will be sent to the Gifted Coordinators in each school division for selection into the program.
Registration: A registration link will be sent to those students selected for the program.

Topics include:

• Engineering: Explore the connections between engineering and math through several design challenges.
• Space Math: A trip to Mars? Mining an asteroid? Are these evenpossible in your lifetime? Buckle in as we put mathematics to work for us to explore the enormity of our solar system.
• Math-lympics: Jump into the sport of math and the math of sports while looking at the power of numbers and the mathematics used by athletes, statisticians, and coaches.

Students who would like to participate should see their gifted resource teacher.