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MSMU To Receive $4 Million In STEM Funds

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Richard D. L. Fulton

Photo Courtesy of MSMU

Proposed addition (left) to the university’s Coad Science Building.

Mount Saint Mary’s University (MSMU) will be receiving $4 million in federal workforce development STEM funds to help meet the region’s increased demand for growth in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

According to Donna Klinger, MSMU executive director of communications, the funds will be used to help complete the 21,000 square-foot addition and renovation of the university’s Coad Science Building, noting that, “The Mount has experienced significant growth in science and technology programs and the funds will be used to create state-of-the-art labs and teaching spaces to meet the demands of future learners.”

Klinger reported that the scope of work for the Coad Science Building includes three phases that will begin in March, with the addition of neuroscience, computational, and microscopy research labs, as well as collaborative learning spaces. The second phase will contain the second and third levels of the addition with science labs, classrooms, and experiential research spaces. The third phase will renovate the existing space in the Coad Science Building, according to the communications executive director.

The appropriation, she said, was secured by U.S. senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Representative David Trone, “who support the expansion of the Coad Science Building and work-based training in rural Maryland,” adding, “The members of Congress expressed support for the Mount’s efforts to build educator-industry partnerships and strengthen cross-disciplinary STEM courses, especially in computer science, cybersecurity and the physical sciences.”

The federal funds stem from federal congressionally directed spending from the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, signed into law on December 29, 2022. Congressionally directed spending allows members of Congress to recommend important projects in their state or district for consideration by the Senate and house appropriations committees.

MSMU President Timothy Trainor stated, “We are grateful to Congressman Trone and senators Cardin and Van Hollen for their support of the university’s expansion and renovation of our STEM research facilities to support American competitiveness in high-demand fields such as computer science, data science, cybersecurity, neuroscience and biological, environmental, and physical sciences, as well as contribute to a highly trained STEM workforce for the state of Maryland.”

Senator Cardin stated, “Maryland’s future economy is a STEM economy, and our workforce must be trained and equipped to thrive in these fields. This new, $4 million investment in Mount Saint Mary’s Coad Science Building will ensure that its students who are seeking expertise in the STEM fields have a first-class learning facility to prepare them.”

Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee, emphasized that STEM skills are more in demand than ever, and teaching students in these fields will help prepare them for well-paying jobs while strengthening Maryland’s workforce, adding, “That’s why we fought to deliver this direct federal funding for Mount St. Mary’s.”

“Providing every Marylander an opportunity to succeed, especially in high-skill, sought-after trades like STEM, is a win-win for all of us. Not only will these programs help develop our country’s future leaders, but they will also create and fill jobs down the line in our state,” Congressman Trone stated.

Built in 1964, Coad is a three-story 50,100 square-foot building serving the School of Natural Science and Mathematics, which has outgrown the existing space and needs to be renovated for modern STEM pedagogical practices. The new classroom and lab spaces will be technology-rich, multi-use, flexible, and configurable for a variety of instructional formats and class sizes.

The $20 million Coad expansion and renovation project is also being funded by a $2 million grant from the State of Maryland, in conjunction with donations made in support of the project through the “Forward! Together as One Campaign.”  A lead donation from George B. Delaplaine, Jr. will provide the collaborative space, to be called the Delaplaine Family Academic Commons. 

Other top-level donors contributing to the expansion project are the Page Family Foundation; Trish and D.J. Monagle; Paula and Fred Neuer; and Christina Lee and Mark Sobus, J.D.

Sabillasville Literacy and STEM Night

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Theresa Dardanell

Sabillasville Elementary School (SES) students created boats to help the gingerbread man cross the river without being eaten by the fox, and assembled parachutes to help Jack float down from the beanstalk and escape from the giant. It was all part of an activity that combined literacy and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) on March 29, 2018.

Jeanne Read and Shelba Bollinger from the Thurmont Regional Library read the fairy tales to the children and then encouraged them to create the boats and parachutes, using a variety of everyday objects. The students could choose items like foam boards, straws, corks, and construction paper for the boats, along with plastic bags, tissue paper, coffee filters, and string for the parachutes.

Second grade student Sophie Wagaman was one of the first to get her boat to float across the river (a tub of water). In another classroom, a tall construction paper beanstalk was the scene of the parachute trials. A toy “Jack” was attached to each parachute. Parents were on hand to reach up high and release the parachutes while the students watched Jack float down safely.

Many of the SES staff members were on hand to serve pizza before the activities began. They were also available in the media center and the computer lab to help with the other literacy activities. In the computer lab, parents had the opportunity to use some of the online literacy resources with their children.  After completing an activity in the media center, every student had the opportunity to choose a book to keep. The books were donated by a very generous community member.

Joey and ILO Blentlinger and Robbie Koontz create parachutes to help “Jack” escape from the giant.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

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Theresa Dardanell

Fun hats were everywhere on the first day of Read Across America week at Thurmont Primary School (TPS).

Students celebrated the March 2 birthday of Dr. Seuss with a week of fun activities, focusing on a different Dr. Seuss book each day. Of course, the book on Monday was The Cat In The Hat. For the book, Green Eggs and Ham, on Tuesday, students wore green clothes.

Wacky Wednesday was the obvious book choice for the Wednesday book, and everyone had fun wearing their clothes inside out or backwards.

To go along with the book Fox in Socks on Thursday, crazy socks could be seen peeking out of shoes. Unfortunately, the activities for Friday were canceled when the Nor’easter forced schools to close.

Along with reading the books and wearing corresponding clothes, teachers provided fun activities, based on the books and the characters in the stories. In Mrs. Hamscher’s Kindergarten class, children wrote about their favorite and not-so-favorite foods when they talked about Green Eggs and Ham. On Crazy Hat Day, they wrote sentences to describe their hats.

Mrs. Hamscher said, “We love Dr. Seuss in Kindergarten!” Second grade students had a chance to vote for their favorite books and first grade students did a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activity, using stacking cups to make a hat.

Read Across America week is an annual reading motivation program, sponsored by the National Education Association.  Principal Karen Locke said that because reading is the number one predictor of student’s success, children are encouraged to read every day, and parents are provided with tips to help their children with reading. Books are everywhere at TPS, not just in the library.

Along with the books available in the classrooms and in the library, the TPS Book Nook is filled with a variety of free books for students to borrow.

Carly Hahn, Brayden Rickerd, Shane Smith, Clark Lasher, and Madilynn Wachter, wearing their special hats on The Cat In The Hat Day.

Photo by Theresa Dardanell

Happily Ever After – Technology

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by Valerie Nusbaum

This morning, I sat down at the computer to start drafting my column. It was very early and my mind was fresh—as fresh as it ever is, I mean. Thoughts were swirling through my brain about spring being just around the corner, with robins heralding its coming and gardeners preparing for their planting season. I was thinking about St. Patrick’s Day and all the celebrations: the wearing of green, corned beef, cabbage, and green beer. I was planning to write an appropriately seasonal column.

I then turned on the computer, waited for it to boot up, and logged on. My main system is several years old, and it seems—like me—to get slower and slower with age. I finally got my page formatted and then my computer locked me out. There was a big red alert, telling me that I had a virus and that I needed to call the included phone number to find out how to fix it. Sure. I’ll do that. And I’ll buy some swamp land in Florida while I’m at it.  These messages have been coming to me a lot lately, and both Randy and I have done all we can to clean up the computer, but we’ve decided that it’s beyond our capabilities.  We’re calling in the geeks. Professional ones.

In the meantime, though, there was a column to be written, so I logged out and shut down and re-booted.  I decided to check my e-mail before I started writing again. The computer told me that I needed to switch users, but it waited to do that until I had written a lengthy response to my cousin, Pat. I lost the whole message and was too frustrated to start over, so I sent her a quick note and told her I’d call her later. I’ve learned to save anything and everything that I write, which takes even more time. Isn’t technology supposed to make our lives easier? Aren’t we supposed to be able to take care of things with just the touch of a button? All of a sudden, I lost my internet connection, so I said a bad word and went back to work on my column. At that point, I would have cheerfully thrown the whole kit and caboodle out the second floor window of my office, but I know the cost of a new computer, and I imagine I’ll have the same problems with another set-up.  Am I the only one who finds dealing with computers not as much fun as Bill Gates tells us it should be?

I’d do a lot more of my work on my tablet or my phone if I could. Both of those devices work pretty well most of the time; however, I have poor eyesight and arthritis in my hands. It’s not easy for me to type on anything but a full-size keyboard. I make an awful lot of mistakes when I try to text, but I’m usually unaware of it since I can’t read that small screen. Poor Randy is my go-to-guy whenever I have a technological issue. I know I must drive him crazy. He’s a good sport and he does what he can. Some days I wish we had a fifth-grader living with us. Kids and young people seem to catch on quickly to all the new techno-gadgets. These days, I not only feel old, I feel stupid, too.

How about all the self-checkouts that have popped up in grocery and other stores? I get hung up with those, too. The other day, the darned thing told me to move my items from the bagging area. Then it told me to put them back. Then it told me to call an attendant.  I think it was just messing with me. You know there’s a room with a monitor and a microphone, and some guy is sitting in there toying with us. Those self-checkouts are supposed to help us get out of the stores more quickly. Well, that’s only because there’s just one open checkout lane in the whole store with a human attendant, and there are fourteen people waiting in that line. Fourteen techno-dummies like me.

I won’t even write about the automated telephone systems. If I talk about that, I’ll only raise my blood pressure and upset myself.  So many hours of my life have been spent on hold, while I press numbers to navigate those systems—hours that I’ll never get back.

Even our vehicles have computers now. I get into Randy’s truck and think I’m in the cockpit of an airplane. There are so many lights and buttons.

If you ask Randy for his thoughts on technology, he’ll tell you that he’s convinced that we’re being watched at every turn, and even in our own homes. You know your voice-controlled devices are always listening to you, don’t you? Randy also believes that technology is working toward eliminating more and more jobs for us humans. He tried explaining that to one of the self-checkout attendants at the grocery store, but she told him to move his items from the bagging area. Or maybe that was the machine talking.

“STEAM” Night at Sabillasville Elementary

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Theresa Dardanell

The floor of the Sabillasville Elementary gym became the Atlantic Ocean—gymnastic mats were transformed into the Titanic, and ordinary physical education equipment turned into icebergs, lifeboats, and gear to get the students (passengers) to safety. That was only one of the exciting activities during STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Night on May 5, 2017.

Twenty-five families attended the event, which began with a welcome by teacher Melinda Bentz and a pizza dinner served by Principal Kate Krietz and other staff members. Students had the opportunity to visit two of the five stations set up throughout the school. Physical Education teacher Michael Pritt said that the Titanic Challenge gave the students the opportunity to create an engineering strategy and work as a team.
In the Imagination challenge, students used Legos to build a car powered by a balloon. Teachers Tonya Wantz and Shari Austin worked with students to design their cars. One outstanding car traveled 101 inches!

Art teacher Heidi Hench said that the Transportation Creation challenge combined art and math; students used geometric shapes to create and draw different means of transportation.

The computer lab was the location of the Information Station, where Media Specialist Renee Bennett showed students, and their parents, how to use a database to learn more about the Titanic and then use that information to create a fun bookmark.

Thurmont Library staff members Jeannie Read and Shelba Bollinger set up the Engineering Challenge station, where students could design and build structures using everyday items like clothespins, blocks, plastic cups, rulers, and paint sticks. Educational door prizes like Lego, art, and building sets were given out during the evening. One excited student jumped up and cheered as soon as his name was called as a prize winner.

Students were challenged to build the tallest structure during STEAM Night at Sabillasville Elementary School, while parent Kellie Bytella (far right) cheered them on: (back row) Cale Tyeryar and Blair Carpenter; (front row) Brynn Eyler and Giana Bytella.

SCHOOL news

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Hour of Code

Lindsay Brandt

Technology never seems to be too far from our hands these days. We have smart phones in our pockets; iPads, laptops, and desktop computers for work; and even smart TVs. Although nobody wants their loved ones to be addicted to technology, it is hard to deny that technology is an important and essential tool that every student should learn to utilize.

During the week of December, 8-12, 2014, seventh grade students from Thurmont Middle School participated in the global movement, Hour of Code.

Code is the process of telling the computer what you want it to do. Instead of their usual computer class schedule, students were taught the beginning basics of coding through computer games and lesson programs. Students played games to help them begin to learn the basic steps of code during their 47-minute block of computer class. It would be difficult for the students to become bored, considering the variety of different themes for the students to play and participate in, such as virtual ice-skating with Disney’s Frozen characters, battling ogres, and drawing.

According to the event’s website, Hour of Code is organized by www.code.org, a public 501c3 non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science by making it available in more schools, and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color.

Sandy Zimmerman, who teaches Inventions and Innovations class and Communication Techniques class at Thurmont Middle School said, “The field of computer science is growing by leaps and bounds. Today’s student is tech savvy. This helps with critical thinking and problem-solving skills; it incorporates math skills, science skills, and brings in the STEM (Science, technology, engineering, mathematics) initiative. ” 

Mrs. Zimmerman has taken the required services and state tests, dual majored in Early and Elementary Education, and she is certified to teach Technology Education, Business Education, and Family and Consumer Science. She began teaching at Thurmont Middle School in 1998. When asked whose idea it was to become involved in Hour of Code, she replied, “[It was] suggested by our Curriculum Specialist, but not mandatory. However, there is a computer programming component in the Communication Techniques Essential Curriculum.”

Seventh grader, Austin Beard, is one student who has taken a particular interest in learning computer science. Austin stated that he uses computers to browse the web, but with being taught coding, it has been a whole new experience.

“It’s really fun. You get to tell the computer what to do. It came naturally during the couple of sessions I’ve had with it. I had to figure out what to do, but once I got the hang of it, I was able to do a lot more things, because the computer has to do what I tell it to do,” said Austin. Austin is already interested in attending a college that will provide classes particularly for coding and computer science.

As every parent and teacher knows, it is impossible to completely monitor everyone at once, but Mrs. Zimmerman has the ability to view the progress and statistics of each of her students through the program. The students are individually tracked through their personal log. Then the information is sent to Mrs. Zimmerman, who monitors the progression through the system. She is shown different states of completion through checks. A dark green check shows the code was completed as instructed, whereas, a light green check signals that the program was completed, but perhaps with a different way of reaching the final result.

“Its like math,” Zimmerman said, “you have the correct final result, but you may have been using a different formula to reach the correct answer.”

A special guest was invited to view the students working on their tasks. Susan Ferris, of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage – Frederick Branch, was asked to speak with the students and offer help to the students if needed. Ms. Ferris has a degree in Computer Science from Shippensburg University, and she applies her coding skills to her career with Wells Fargo.

“It’s a fun career with plenty of opportunities,” Ferris said. “As frustrating as it can be, that code, those numbers, they are only doing what you tell it to do.” Ms. Ferris enjoyed watching the kids work through the learning games.

Some parents may have concerns about their students being on computers, but the teachers have security blocks to prevent students from venturing to websites that aren’t classroom approved.

This is the first Hour of Code event for Thurmont Middle School, and if it proves to be a success, perhaps it will spread to all grade levels. Globally, 75,237,749 students have participated in the project so far.

2015 CHS Safe and Sane News

The Catoctin High School (CHS) 2015 Safe and Sane Graduation Committee is diligently working to provide a fun and safe graduation night for the Class of 2015.  To date, they have held multiple fundraisers and events and would like to thank everyone who has supported them to this point. They have many exciting events planned and are asking for your continued support.  They are asking all parents of graduates to please get involved; they need tremendous help to ensure their efforts are successful.

On Saturday, January 17, 2015, there will be a Cash Bash and Dinner at the Guardian Hose Company Activities Building in Thurmont. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., with dinner served at 6:00 p.m.; drawings begin every fifteen minutes at 6:00 p.m.  Tickets are $40.00 and admit two people. Please contact Cheryl Phelan (bochph@aol.com or 301-524-3106), Cindy Grimes (cindy_grimes@msn.com or 301-788-5354), or Shannon Wetzel (shanypany328@yahoo.com or 301-748-7068) for tickets or more information.

Wing Night will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2015, at the Vigilant Hose Company in Emmitsburg. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $20.00 each and include meal, wings, and beverages.  Please contact Cheryl Phelan (bochph@aol.com or 301-524-3106) for tickets or more information.

On Saturday, March 7, 2015, Safe and Sane will hold a Sportsman’s Dinner at the Lewistown Fire Hall. More information will be coming.

Safe and Sane meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Catoctin High School Media Center. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. For a listing of their current events, please “like” them on Facebook: Catoctin High Safe and Sane 2015 or visit their website at www.catoctinsafeandsane.com.

Catoctin’s New Year Resolutions

Ashley McGlaughlin 

Although 2014 has ended, our home town school of Catoctin High School (CHS) is beginning 2015 with a lot of new year resolutions. Many of the resolutions remain consistent with an overall inspirational goal. Administrators, educators, and students have a positive outlook on Catoctin’s start to the second semester of the school year. This means that there is much in store for students to learn, and even more activities in which to succeed.

January not only brings a new year, but it also brings HSAs (High School Assessment) and PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) assessments. The education system in Maryland has recently changed, replacing HSAs in subjects like English and mathematics with PARCC testing. PARCC is a new efficient way to test students. This is leaving only biology and government HSAs. The teachers at Catoctin are ready to receive and develop a way of teaching with the new curriculum headed their way.

“Teachers have strengthened their professional practice through professional development, and they have a grasp on all the changes that have occurred in their curriculums,” said CHS Vice Principal, Marcus Allen.

Educators at Catoctin all wish for students to do their best. Since PARCC is new, there is no scoring benchmark.

Catoctin has been having some difficulties with electricity; some of the school is still part of the original building, built almost fifty years ago. Over Christmas break, electrical work was completed by many entities, but mainly the folks at the Dixie Electric Company.

“The town of Thurmont, Dixie Electric, and Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) have done great work together to update some equipment that is part of the original building that has lastled nearly forty-six years. This is really complicated and difficult work, and hats off to the Town of Thurmont for the job they have done in making sure the school has continued uninterrupted. We will have one last big electrical update that will be finished over Christmas break,” said CHS Principal Bernard Quesada.

This electrical update is another resolution, so there will not be any more issues with the electricity. 

To make sure students know their opinions are important to the CHS administration, the administration surveyed the students to see where they need to make improvements the most.

“We surveyed our students about a month ago to listen to where we can improve, so we are always looking to reach the needs of our kids. That being said, we work with FCPS to keep our school system policies relevant and consistent,” stated Quesada.  This commitment will continue to be a resolution in 2015.

Also, new rules have been added for behavior issues, bullying, and so on to protect the students at Catoctin High School. “Two new changes at CHS include a FCPS update to the Bullying, Harassment and Intimidation Process, and a revision to the Discipline Regulation. It contains a much greater latitude in providing a variety of consequences than the prior version of the regulation,” stated Allen.

Another New Year resolution from Quesada is: “Our entire staff has been working hard to keep improving our school culture and level of rigor in the classroom. Our school is great, and we want to keep moving forward so that our students will be able to compete academically with anyone from anywhere. Every new achievement raises the bar a little higher; we don’t believe in complacency.”

Everyone at Catoctin High School wants to keep having a powerful school spirit, a safe environment, and to keep spreading the positive attitude for years to come. These New Year resolutions will lead to another awesome year here at Catoctin, and many years to come. Have a safe and happy New Year, from Catoctin High School!

STEM Club Makes Learning at Lewistown Fun

James Rada, Jr.

One fun way to get students interested in science and math is to let them put it to use. Members of the Lewistown Elementary STEM Club are building boats, creating with Legos, and making mag-lev train race along tracks.

“The premise of the club is that we can use STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to close the achievement gap. The hope is that we will be able to increase our students’ math and science scores,” said Principal Shirley Olsen.

The club is in the second year of a three-year grant that allows three teachers to work with thirty students on Monday afternoons for an hour after school.

“They use a wide variety of methods to engage students in science and technology,” Olsen said.

This month, for instance, the students are using magnets to create levitating trains. It’s the same technology used to build high-speed trains. Tools like Legos or Engineering is Elementary are used regularly to connect with students. They are building wind devices and holding a boat regatta, learning about science and math without realizing it.

“STEM tends to be a more-dynamic way to engage them and also tends to be more transdisciplinary,” Olsen said.

The school also sponsors a STEM night in March to bring in community members to demonstrate different occupations that use STEM. Olsen said that she wants students to see the real-life connections to STEM. The evening event also allows students to show off projects they have been working on during the year.

Along with club projects, the students can also get help with their science fair projects.

Last year, Olsen said there was an increase in students’ math and science testing scores, but it wasn’t as much as had been hoped.

“We didn’t make the gains we had set goals for, so we have adjusted the program to do more math,” said Olsen.

She said that teachers are tracking the data about student performance regularly and even making interventions during the school day to help students if necessary.

“The students seem to be pumped up and excited about the program,” Olsen said.

This includes students whose behavior during the school day can be very challenging. “They typically do well in STEM Club,” stated Olsen. “That says to me that they are involved and engaged.”

The students don’t mind as long as they are having fun, and they seem to be.

For the teachers, the grant also allows for them to get professional learning opportunities to learn how to reach different types of students in order for them to perform better.