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Central High School

STEM Program

December 2022

"We Work to Prepare Every Student to Excel in the Future They Create"

Strategies That Engage Minds

STEM Website

End of Semester 1

Trey Downey - STEM Coordinator

As the first semester comes to a close, I would like to reflect on the year's progress thus far and discuss what lies ahead in the second semester. A few celebrations to start. We had over 450 new freshmen this year and our AMPED (Algebra 1 in Manufacturing Processes, Entrepreneurship, and Design) program, led by Mrs. Carla Haas, was able to produce the house shirts for each new student at Central before our first House Assembly. Additionally, Mr. Larry White and Mrs. Haas have started a Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter. They are actively working with their Geometry in Construction (GiC) class to build beds for needy students. In competition news, Central High School’s Esports team went to state to compete for a title showcasing individual and group strengths and talents.

The CHS STEM Program has its first Strategic Planning meeting this coming January. Having a long-term focused goal will help direct the program into the future while also bringing input from all stakeholders. Creating a diverse group of individuals with different opinions of what STEM should look like will help to develop a common direction and allow for widespread buy-in and guidance for me to deliver the program needs our community desires. My role is to serve the needs of CHS STEM community. Having specific directions and wishes outlined in an organized and thorough way will allow me to provide the appropriate programming and resources to students, families, and educators at Central High School. Please consider joining this team if you desire to help direct the future of STEM at Central High School and the district.

Integration of the new Problem Solving Process at Central High School is beginning, and teachers have all received posters and introductory training on the process and how it is used. Our office has also started using this process to help students who go to the main office for support to organize their thoughts and process actions they may have taken so that when they meet with an administrator, the conversation can be used as a learning tool and a reflective opportunity for students to grow.

This year we have had a few staff join the ranks of our Nationally STEM Certified Educators, and I wish to congratulate those educators for taking the time to do additional training to better support our students.

Congratulations to:
Mrs. Carla Haas
Mrs. Tracy Arledge
Mrs. Shelly Siegrist
Ms. Carlotta Pidcock

The entire list of staff who are STEM Certified is as follows:

Dori Harrison Stephanie Yost
Brittany Adams Mary Doane
Michael Gear Kathy Kayton
Chuck Yost Mistie Woods
Danny Woods Haira Vargas
Krista Smith Adrienne Duff
Katrina Flores Trey Downey
Kelly Bennett Molly Burek
John Sidanycz

Community Partnerships are one of the goals I have yet to have a full opportunity to explore. Still, I would love to hear from families and anyone else who may have an idea of businesses, organizations, or others interested in partnering with CHS to further grow and develop STEM at our school and community.

As we move into a new year, we are still fine-tuning and growing in many areas of work. I will continue to use the newsletter to update everyone on the progress of our goals this year and encourage anyone with questions or ideas to reach out and share all thoughts to provide Central High School students with the best possible STEM experience possible.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Mr. Larry White and Mrs. Carla Haas went looking for ways that Central's Geometry in Construction students could use the skills they are learning to give back to our community. That's when we found Sleep in Heavenly Peace! We watched this video of Mike Rowe's Returning the Favor and we were convinced that Mesa County needs this organization.

Mr. Sellden asked these amazing teachers to share more information with our community about this non-profit that our CHS students are working with in Geometry in Construction. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a national non-profit organization that builds beds for kids ages 3-17 who don't have a bed to sleep in. Since starting this chapter the energy and involvement in it has been exploding!

Both teachers attended training in Salt Lake City a few weeks ago to be able to open a chapter in Mesa County along with a number of volunteers. While there they got to build some beds and deliver/setup beds for some wonderful kids who were so very grateful to have a bed to sleep on.

In order to be successful we must start small and grow. So after consulting DHS we have narrowed the zipcodes to 81303, 81504, and 81520. Note the Central zip codes. The applications are on-line. The link will not be activated until we have some beds already built and ready to deliver hopefully in December.

Both teachers have been informally asking students if they know anyone who doesn't have a bed and could benefit from one. Wow! Almost every student knows someone and sometimes it is themselves.

The process is this. We get donations/sponsors. We build beds. We deliver beds. A twin bed cost $249 for the lumber, mattress, sheets, pillow, and comforter. In-kind donations of new items are always welcome! We are so grateful that retired CHS teacher, Yolanda Crawford and her band of maniac quilters are making quilts to deliver with beds. If you know someone who makes quilts who would like to make one for a child the dimensions need to be:

86” - 90” in length
60”- 66” in width
The very minimum being 60”x86”.

Our GiC is building the jigs, carts, and dipping stations for the organization. We will be building beds as part of our class but that is only one small piece. This is a community organization and there will be many other builds that involve others in the community. The word is getting out and things are happening! It's so exciting that CHS kids, families, and staff are a part of it!

How can you help?

Be on the lookout for kids who need a bed. Encourage them to apply for a bed. We are hoping to open the link in December. Apply for a Bed

Be on the lookout for kids and families who want to volunteer. Kids helping kids is so cool! Volunteer CO-Grand Junction

Volunteer yourself. You don't have to know anything about building to help out. We'll teach you! We have needs for volunteers in clerical areas as well. Besides, the best way to feel good about yourself is to go out and help others! Volunteer CO-Grand Junction

Keep your ears open for donations or companies that might want to sponsor a build. We will always be looking for folks to sponsor beds, run pillow and sheet drives, make quilts, and donate needed items or services. Donations CO-Grand Junction

Become a BUNKHEAD! If you sign up to donate $20 a month for a year, you've donated $240 over the year which is one bed! It can be deducted automatically from your bank account or charged monthly to a credit card. All the cool kids are in the BUNKHEAD Club .
Follow our Facebook page.
Brelissa Robb and Tuscani Ritter are CHS students on the Board for SHP and are going to be posting our progress on this page.

Check out our local chapter page. SHP CO-Grand Junction
You can sign up to volunteer, donate, and very soon be able to apply for a bed there.

Want to be truly inspired? Watch this "Returning the Favor" episode by Mike Rowe about SHP. It will give you goosebumps. Mike Rowe Returning the Favor

If you have any questions, come talk to us. We could talk about this organization all day long!

Carla Haas - Math/AMPD/GIC