Cogent Interactive Case Studies for Biology: A Problem Solving Approach, June 2nd, 8:30-11:30 am, South Cobb High School
 
This session will introduce teachers to interactive on-line case studies that are designed to help students learn difficult biological concepts through inquiry and problem solving.   Each case provides a captivating real-world scenario where students solve problems by making observations, collecting and analyzing data, forming and testing hypotheses, and communicating their findings.  As students complete their explorations, teachers receive immediate formative assessments to guide teachers in identifying which concepts and skills require additional study.    

Register here

The Cobb Literacy Conference for Social Studies, Science and ELA teachers
June 27-29, 8:30-3:30, Campbell High School

How it works:
Elementary School Teachers: You can participate in as many of the 3-4 days of cross-curricular workshops as you wish.* The science workshop, Increasing Scientific Literacy Using Picture Perfect Science and Formative Assessment Probes, will be held on June 29th. Read the Summer PL Catalog (pages 12-14) to understand all of your workshop choices throughout the conference. Again, you can choose to participate in as many days as you wish (*Title I teachers who wish to receive the stipend must participate in all days).
Register here

Middle School Teachers: A three-day workshop, Hands-On, High-Tech Science will be offered June 27th-29th as the main science strand of the Cobb Literacy Conference. The workshops will be led by teacher-leaders at each grade level and will emphasize exemplary, technology-rich lessons.  Register here

High School Environmental Science and Biology Teachers: A three-day workshop, Hands-On, High-Tech Science will be offered June 27th-29th. The workshops will be led by teacher-leaders and will emphasize exemplary, technology-rich lessons. Register here

Star Lab Training for Any Science Teacher
Summer Starlab training will be offered on June 2nd at Russell Elementary School.  In case you didn't know, CCSD has 5 Starlab Mobile Planetariums.  These are used by 4th, 6th, and high school science classes.  Teachers wishing to check-out the starlab portable planetariums will need to be trained.  NO ONE will be allowed to reserve the starlabs until they have completed this 3 hour Starlab Basics training. Register here

Students from five Cobb and Cherokee district high schools just earned the team's 8th Regional / District Chairman's Award which is the most important and highest ranking award at the FIRST Robotics Competition which took place at UGA. 

The team will now advance to St. Louis to compete for the International Championship Chairman's Award and a berth in the Hall of Fame.  This is the culmination of 8 years of progressive improvement and work in advancing STEM education and represents tens of thousands of hours of work by students and mentors. 
 
The Chairman's Award requires many months just to prepare and is an annual report of team activity and strategy.  In addition to written documentation, the team has to prepare an oral 7 minute briefing, which is followed by a rigorous Q & A.  A short companion video is also released to describe briefly what the team is doing. 

Cobb student participants include:
Kell
 Daniel Navarro
 Evan Brown
 Jared Homer
 Spencer Mason
 Elijah Brumfield 
 Dev Patel

Kennesaw Mountain
 Danielle Newman
 
North Cobb
 Mackenzie Sicard (Migzy)
 
Sprayberry
 David Williams
 Jimmy Bass

Other awards from the weekend include: 
The 2nd highest award, the 'Engineering Inspiration Award' went to East Cobb Robotics (Pope students)
 
The robot winning alliance,
   Walton Robotics - Walton HS 
   East Cobb Robotics - Community Team, Pope HS Students
 
The student leadership award, the Dean's List Finalist Award went to Amanda Firestone, Wheeler HS Circuit-runners.