Gwen Foote-2013 SECME Teacher of the Year

Gwendolyn Foote

Science Fair Coordinator & SECME / STEM Coach

2013 SECME Teacher of the Year

At MIAMI-DADE STEM EXPO

S.T.E.M. Regional Competitions for January 26, 2013

SECME, formerly the Southeastern Consortium for Mathematics and Science Engineering, is the Division of Mathematics, Science and Advanced Academic Programs, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program that provides opportunities for students, teachers, and parents to engage in STEM activities with local colleges, universities, and engineering partners. The SECME program is part of the National SECME, Inc. alliance.

 

                                

Gwendolyn Foote, 2013 SECME Teacher of the Year

(Science, Engineering, Communication, Mathematics Enhancement)

Gwendolyn teaches at Nautilus Middle School, an IB World School, Miami Beach, Florida.

She is a Science Dept Chair, Science Fair Coordinator, SECME Coach, and Coach for science academic competitions.

SECME Middle and Senior High Olympiad 2013 RESULTS

THINK it’s imPOSSIBLE? THINK sySTEMatically. THINK SECME!

Middle School
Teacher of the Year	Gwendolyn Foote Nautilus Middle

http://science.dadeschools.net/STEM/index.html

Nautilus Middle School Year 2012-2013 -A busy/ productive year STEM EXPO 2013

Nautilus Middle School students established their school as a STEM School by participating and earning awards in compeititons- local, regional, & national.

Gwen Foote, Science Fair Coordiator, SECME / STEM Coach, and

Science Coach for Green School & Future City Challenge Competitions

S.T.E.M. Regional Competitions for January 26, 2013
Nautilus Middle
Banner
Bridge
Essay
Egg-drop Container
Mousetrap Car
Technology Challenge - Our SECME team - Weather Wizards http://weatherwizards.weebly.com/
Waterbottle Rockets
Brainbowl
Robotic Hand

Students competed in teams during The SECME Olympiad and Festival competitions
Date: Saturday, January 26, 2013
Location: Miami Dade College, North Campus

SECME, formerly the Southeastern Consortium for Mathematics and Science Engineering, is the Division of Mathematics, Science and Advanced Academic Programs, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program that provides opportunities for students, teachers, and parents to engage in STEM activities with local colleges, universities, and engineering partners.

The local SECME program is part of the National SECME, Inc. alliance.

http://science.dadeschools.net/secme/resources.html

Gwen Foote Coaching Nautilus Middle School Future City Challenge

Gwen Foote is Science Department teacher for Nautilus Middle School and this year's coach for Future City Challenge. This engineering competition is sponsored by National Engineering Society. The Nautilus team is focusing on competing in Regional Competition at FIU in Miami, Florida.

Press Release:

Middle School Students from the South Florida Region to Take on This Challenge as Annual Future City Competition® Kicks Off Over 35,000 Students Nationally Asked To Rethink Runoff and Design Clean Solutions to Manage Storm water Pollution

IS EXTREME WEATHER BECOMING THE NEW NORMAL? DROUGHT/DELUGE CYCLES LEAD TO INCREASED FLOODING AND POLLUTED WATER SYSTEMS

Whether the result of man-made climate change or something else as yet unexplained, most people agree that extreme weather is becoming all too common. When it’s colder in May than in February, or when the season’s biggest snowstorm comes in October, something unusual is upon us.

One of the most potentially damaging aspects of extreme weather is radical swings in precipitation. Regions throughout the world find themselves experiencing prolonged drought, then are suddenly hit with torrential storms. When this happens, rainwater quickly turns into runoff, especially in cities, where hard surfaces—like roofs, sidewalks, and parking lots—prevent rain from soaking into the ground and leads to damaging and sometimes catastrophic flooding.

Until now, the most common response has been to channel water away from urban areas. But, as it moves, runoff carries pollutants into storm drains which empty directly into the waterways used for recreation, fishing and drinking water. Now engineers are rethinking this approach. They are beginning to imagine and design new and creative ways to manage stormwater that make city landscapes act more like natural landscapes. These innovations help reduce runoff, increase the amount of water that soaks into the ground and improve water quality.

The annual Future City challenge has received national attention and acclaim for its role in encouraging middle schoolers nationwide to develop their interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Participating students useSimCity™ 4 Deluxe Edition software to design a virtual Future City model, incorporating their ideas. Then they will build a physical model using recycled materials which can cost no more than $100 to build.

Through hands-on applications, Future City participants discover by doing how engineering is both accessible and can make a difference in the world.

About Future City Competition

The Annual National Engineers Week Foundation’s Future City Competition, for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students, is held from September, 2012 through February, 2013. The Future City Competition is a program of National Engineers Week Foundation (NEWF), a consortium of professional and technical societies and major U.S. corporations.
For more information on the Future City Competition, visit www.futurecity.org

Last year's model city for Nautilus M.S. focused on alternative energy and received a special award for transportation with alternative energy.

Green School Challenge in Miami Beach-Nautilus Middle School

This year has been an adventure in participating in Green School Challenge Program in Miami Beach. Nautilus Middle School has been meeting monthly challenges and creating eco-friendly conservation projects that are student driven and teacher supported. The basis of these projects are S.T.E.M. activities and inspired by Science Club members.
Gwen Foote served as coordiator and sponsor of the Green School Challenge in Nautilus.
Dream in Green School Challenge Program is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop and implement programs to promote energy conservation, efficiency, environmental awareness, and promotion and education of renewable energy.

THE ENERGY WALK THROUGH CHECKLIST TARGETS IMPROVEMENTS

      Turn off lights when leaving empty classrooms

      Unplug electronic devices at the end of the day

      Turn off water faucets tightly

      Ban plastic water bottles, use reusable bottles

      Use both sides of the paper

      Use scrap paper for art projects/practice work

      Recycle aluminum, glass, plastic, paper and cardboard

      Use recycled paper whenever possible

      Use environmentally-safe cleaning supplies

      Area Mapped: Floors 1,2, 3 Classrooms, Offices, Media Center, & Hallways People on the Walk Through: Green Dream Team Students (Council, Club, Science students)

Additional School wide activities promoting conservation- energy, water, alternative resources

      Pacing Guide Lessons in Climate Change & Conservation for the Environment-

      Mousetrap Car seminar & competition (Alternative energy)-

      Recycle Boxes set up & Collections for technology recycling –

      Conservation of energy expenses

      Bionic Robotic Arm Competition with 2 teams- using recycled materials

      Future Green City Competition –

Logo contest- Essay writing –  For Climate Change

October Challenge –  Board Game, Essay writing, Energy Saving assignment

November- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

   

Green School Challenge 2012 summary in Nautilus coming soon

Gwen Foote Encourages Equity in Science Education

It is nice to see more Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math careers more gender equitable as more girls are getting involved in middle school projects and activities.
This was not the scene in the 1960s or 1970s. Opportunities are growing for females and minorities. As educators, it is our responsibility to promote and teach proactive science education for all students, with enthusiasm and excitement.

Check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CODA2gpNTas
From CBS:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7374372n&tag=strip

Gwen Foote: Finalist for Dade County Science Teacher of the Year (DCSTA)

Dade County Science Teachers’ Association (DCSTA)

2011 SCIENCE TEACHER OF THE YEAR

 DCSTA announced finalists for 2010-2011 Science Teacher of the Year Awards. 

These awards honor one classroom teacher in the science discipline.

Finalist: Science Teacher of the Year

Gwendolyn Foote

Science Dept Chair, Teacher, SECME & SCIENCE FAIR Coordinator
Nautilus Middle School
Miami Beach, FL

Gwendolyn Foote, Presenter at 2010 IMPACT EXPO Professional Development

Science Teacher, Science Dept. Chair, Science Fair & SECME Coordinator

This teacher is someone who motivates, makes learning truly exciting; a dedicated professional who nurtures hidden talents and abilities; a creative, caring individual who takes teaching science beyond the textbook. 

Sponsored by the Dade County Science Teachers’ Association (DCSTA)

& Beckman-Coulter Corporation

Nautilus Middle School & Gwen Foote Receives Awards Miami Beach Mayor

Mayor’s Recognition: Education Professionals May 2011

Certificates of Recognition are presented to Select Teachers and students of Miami-Dade County Public Schools for the 2010-2011 School Year.

Requested by Mayor Matti Herrera Bower

Receiving awards for Nautilus Middle School, Miami Beach

Left to Right: Principal Dr. Allyn Bernstein, Retiree:   William Lollis
Rookie Teacher of the Year:   Andie Rosen
Teacher of the Year:   Gwendolyn Foote

IB Students- Caring: Bianca Williams,  Balanced: Robert Berryman, Principled: Robert Barrios Thinker:  Brennan Jasso

Mayor Matti Herrera Bower

http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/visitors/

Gwen Foote, Teacher of the Year in Miami Beach

Nautilus MS: Rosen, Foote, Echemendia, Dr. Bernstein, Dr. Narson

Gwen Foote was named “Teacher of the Year” 2011

Recommended for this award by the faculty of Nautilus Middle School in Miami Beach, she received this award at an event of Miami Dade County School District who honored this educators with her administration and fellow teachers.

Afterwards, Gwen Foote was nominated and named as a finalist by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce for a Teacher Excellence Education Award.

Gwendolyn Foote, Finalist in
The 2010-2011 ELAYNE WEISBURD TEACHER EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD

The Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce created the Elayne Weisburd Educator Excellence in Education Award to recognize outstanding educators in Miami Beach who exhibits innovative and creative teaching methods to make learning fun.

The Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce named Gwendolyn Foote as a finalist for an award that brings recognition to teachers who have a Masters degree and whose programs exhibit a commitment to higher learning, provides innovative programs, and demonstrates a commitment for improving their school in the Miami Beach. The fianlists have an outstanding ability to inspire the love of learning in all students and have the respect and admiration of students, parents and co-workers in their schools. http://www.miamibeachguest.com
http://www.miamiandbeaches.com

Gwen in Miami Beach

It has been awhile since I posted, but this year has flashed by.
I will be posting more about this year and will enjoy spending the summer in Miami Beach.

New Spring/ Spring Break 2009

It has been a busy 2009. We just finished our annual progress testing and our labs are keeping us busy. The students enjoy the hands on laboratories. We are studying biology and becoming more ecologically aware. My students have helped us put a salt water aquarium so we can study marine life and ecosystems.
MYP 1 Science Instructor: Ms. Gwen Foote
In Science class we have been working on projects related to our global environment. Students created posters and 3-D Models of the Energy Pyramid of Life , illustrating the 10% rule of energy consumption through digestion. Students are researching and exploring the relationships of living organisms and the impact of human population on Earth. Through the Environmental lens (Area of Interaction), we are examining the “going green” global phenomenon, recycling, and ecological awareness. The question before us is “how can we make the right choices?”
As we study biomes and interaction of plants and animals, students are becoming familiar with taxonomy and the process of organization and classification of the Five Kingdoms.
Students' salt water aquarium to study and monitor effects of water quality on marine life forms, consists of live rock and live coral. Salt water fish are joining us soon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2000-2009

As the New Year begins in Australia, it follows the time around the world as Earth revolves. Happy New Year from Midnight Aussie time to Midnight around the world!

Education is our priority & passion

I came across an interesting video examining a philosophy of education.

http://www.teachertube.com/v.php?viewkey=7c0dfe2861199e00c9bb

Gwen Foote pursues her doctorate in Education: NOVA Southeastern University

This video was amazing when we gave our presentations in class.

This inspires me to want to teach more with technology.

I enjoy finding podcasts and videos on http://www.youtube.com%20for/for visual audio simulations in class. Our students enjoy singing along with them. Discovery, National Geographic, and History Channel websites are great resources for teaching.

We have a few laptops for our science class and need some more.

Our goal is to raise money for a SMART Board for science class at Nautilus Middle School.

http://www.nautilusibsharks.spaces.live.com/

Gwen Foote receives grant awards for Nautilus Middle School

Kristin Hoyer, Language Arts teacher & Gwen Foote , Science Teacher both receive

grant awards for their classes at Nautilus Middle School.

The Education Fund’s 20th Annual Citi Success Fund Awards Ceremony took place October 20 at the Sofitel Hotel Ballroom, Miami Florida. The Citi Success Fund provides funds to educators for innovative projects addressing the drop out problem in our schools. Projects provide opportunities for at risk youth to experience success in their education and lives.
Gwen Foote was awarded a grant for “Icky Ichthyology”. By creating a classroom saltwater tank, students can study and monitor the diversity and relationships of living ocean life through hands on experiments. Students can collect and analyze data to establish criteria for preserving endangered species and creating a healthy ocean environment. Students will integrate technology with active scientific investigations of marine conservation, while studying live specimens in the classroom aquarium.

Nautilus Middle School International Baccalaureate Candidate School

Our classroom in Miami Beach, is multicultural- Hispanic, Black, Asian/Indian, and white (non-Hispanic). We encourage students to learn science through inquiry and utilize technology in our classroom exploratory activities. We participate in "hands on" laboratories to engage students in active learning. Students enjoy a virtual interactive activities with competitive teams practicing FCAT (SAT) questions using computer and projected questions.We also encourage experiments and investigations to pursue their own interests in life and college aspirations. Funds are very limited and we need help in obtaining science kits, equipment, and supplies! We need SMART Board interactive technology system and laptops for lessons with simulated activities.Students are science students enrolled in an International Baccalaureate Program. Nautilus Middle School is in the first year as International Baccalaureate Candidate School.
Thank you to any who could help us help our students.
http://www.adoptaclassroom.com/adoption/Locator_SchoolDetail.aspx?src=1&ClassroomId=27335&SchoolId=81694&Private=0&inter=0

Nautilus Middle School / Mast Outreach Laboratory Collaboration

Nautilus Middle School science students enjoyed a special experience learning with MAST Academy's Outreach Laboratory - LandSHARC.

Students investigated marine life and ocean environment through virtual interactive computer programs and laboratory examination of marine specimens with activities like radiotelemetry, classification and clinical laboratory procedures.

MAST Academy, part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, is a magnet school that hosts this exciting outreach lab visiting and teaching schools in the Miami area.
Gwen Foote, Science Teacher,

Nautilus Middle School "Home of the Sharks"
IB Candidate School

My son, Shawn R. Scarbrough

I classified this as wellness because, to remember true memories and able to express feelings is to know wellness. My students have been asking me about my son.

I ran across these photos, thinking they (and he) would enjoy them. In 1988, I took Shawn to Australia to visit friends and art clients. We rode with the "real" men from Snowy River (as in the Disney movie, on the actual horses in the movie), Mick and his children. Shawn was a charmer with animals, our own, owls, hawks, and deer. He is an amazing person, caring, happy, and strong as a child and son. Friends with his cousins, like Danny Jr. and Angela, they had close relationships. He was close with and fond of his grandfather, Maj. John Foote Sr., alike in spirit and very close as grandfather and grandson. It is no wonder Shawn went to Iraq, as a marine, and came back safe and sound. Warriors and military leaders run in our Foote family. We lived with his grandparents for 6 months and cherish that time spent with them.
I was a major influence in Shawn's life and it is evident in his life now. We were tremendously close and I had the opportunity to be involved in all of his activities and clubs. I am thankful for having the chance to be his mother and am very proud of him. We had the experience of traveling across the country as I was working as a freelance artist, from Dallas, Texas to Seattle, WA, back through Denver when he was 9 years old. My little sister, Darlene and I still am greatful for the memories. We were living in Dallas at the time.
I love him and always will, regardless of time, distance, and situations that our busy lives present.
Mothers need to always enjoy the time they have with their children. It flies by so quickly!

Agroecology Summer Workshop for Teachers at Florida International University

Florida International University Agroecology Program for Teachers

The FIU Agroecology Program is a comprehensive program that integrates education, research and training of university and high school students and teachers on agricultural issues at farm level and regional landscape level. The program focuses on interfacing agriculture, natural ecosystems and urban development and consists of specialized undergraduate agroecology courses, field trips, summer internships, graduate fellowships, and training workshops for university students and high school teachers.

The objective of this workshop fosters a relationship between teachers, FIU instructors, local government, and non-profit institutions. Participants experience practical application of relevant science curricula in agro-ecological sciences with a strong commitment to the future well-being of people and environment.
This workshop has been made possible by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.
July 14-18, 2008

"Agroecology: principles, practices and research applications" Dr. Krish Jayachandran

Dr. Mahadev Bhat & Dr. Krish Jayachandran
Agroecology Program at FIU
Florida International University
Department of Environmental Studies
11200 SW 8th StreetMiami, Florida 33199



The five-day workshop covers advancements in agroecological issues facing South Florida and beyond, by experts from FIU, USDA, Archbold Biological Station, other agencies and farmers, in a three-day field trip to USDA Horticultural Research Station, Miami, and MacArthur AgroEcological Research Center, Lake Placid, Florida.This program is funded through a grant from USDA-CSREES.


The focus of these programs is on the triangular interface between agriculture, natural ecosystems, and urban areas. The image below depicts the underlying connection between these three different areas, with some of the positive and negative feedback effects. South Florida presents an ideal setting to study the relationships between natural, agricultural, and urban areas due to the availability of these three different types of environments. The fragile Everglades covers most of south Florida and is impacted by the pressure from the growing population of the nearby urban areas. Productive agricultural lands are necessary to provide for the increasing population, which in turn put more pressure on the natural areas.

Solstice in the South

December 21 Happy Solstice
I teach at Nautilus Middle School Science.
We’re off for Holidays so’
“Merry Christmas”
“Happy Hanukah”
“Happy Kwanzaa”
And
“Happy Solstice”
I enjoy teaching at Nautilus Middle School.
Our students are inspiring and motivating.

Miami is a great place for Xmas Holidays,

Everyone enjoy your holidays!!
Visiting San Antonio is a lovely place to spend time with family.
Weather is pleasant and so is family at the holiday time.