After a Tough Year, Some Good News

Let’s call the 2020-2021 school year what it was–it was hard!  That doesn’t mean good things weren’t happening.  We learned so many new skills, we focused our efforts on the essentials, and we practiced some agile thinking and problem-solving. Great things are happening for our graduates, too.  We are already hearing from our class of 2021 that their Academy foundation is helping them to build a successful undergraduate experience–from landing rare, undergraduate research/lab positions to being named to college advisory boards.

Beyond the awesome emails we are receiving from our graduates, we are hearing from university deans about our students’ success as researchers in college.  Most recently, we’ve received word from Dr. Keith Mellinger, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Mary Washington, that Alexander Fernandez, MSA Class of 2018, presented at the UMW Jepson Summer Science Institute.  During the event, he shared his work, completed under Professor Lamphere in the biology department, titled “Morphological Changes in Non-Native Fish Species Influenced by Differences in Upstream and Downstream Habitats.”  Way to go, Alexander!  We remember when he presented his senior project at the planetarium and are so proud that his desire to learn, research, and publish his work to benefit others continues.

Beyond college, our students are emerging as field leaders–even in such crazy times as the past two years.  This past summer, we learned that the MSA’s very own Alex Stern was making headlines.  Click the image below to read more about the next step in his journey.  He’s accomplished so much since his senior project exploring how businesses use big data and data science–now he’s applying his talents in the NFL!

From Senior Project to a Bright Future!

Many of you may have seen the recent Facebook post about Tunde Demuren–when he was a rising senior he completed his senior project using the Virginia Space Grant Consortium’s VASTS summer academy as his shadowing experience.  Now he is planning missions for NASA.  Learn more about his exciting work by clicking the image below.

Click the image to read the Harvard publication about Tunde’s work.

Tunde is one of many former MSA students who are still pursuing experiences, education, and career opportunities associated with their senior project focus. Here is an update from Sara Burtner, who will be interning this summer in NYC as a dance-health intern with the Joffrey Ballet School.

Both of these former students invested their time and energy into a senior project that made them proud, that taught them about a career field, and that was tied to their personal interests.  They are getting out of their education what they put in; their hard work is leading to uncommon success!  We see this same drive in our current rising seniors and know that they are headed to awesome senior projects and fabulous futures.

Among the Class of 2022, we already have Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair computational biology and bioinformatics winners–from the regional grand prize to a state first place, and finally winning fourth place internationally and a scholarship from Arizona State University–for their work titled “Application of Deep Learning in Target Identification Through Determining the Mechanism of Action Given Cellular Signature Data.”  Congratulations to Ayush J. and Omar A-H! The Class of 2022 is also excited for Alex T. who participated in some medical projects and, as a result, delivered a presentation to the National Cardiology Congress and participated in a case presentation that was recently accepted for publication!

Click the image to see the full case study.

 

We can’t wait to see what the summer holds for the Class of 2022!

Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

Last night we held our senior recognition ceremony to celebrate the 108 seniors who will graduate on Friday wearing the Mathematics and Science Academy medallion signifying their successful completion of our program.  For those who couldn’t join us last night due to distancing requirements, we have recorded the event’s Livestream.  Access that recording here.

Each graduate prepared a recording to accompany their recognition slide as they crossed the stage to receive their medallions.  Unfortunately, it was hard to hear some of those in the gymnasium setting.  You can access each senior’s slide and recording in the presentation embedded below.

As you can see, our students are headed on to some exciting adventures during the next chapter of their lives.  We know they will be difference makers in whatever opportunities that come their way!

Dolphins Making Waves at the Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair

Like with most things during virtual life, work, and school happening right now, student research has been difficult this year.  Despite all of the limitations, shutdowns, and setbacks of this year, many of our students managed to explore topics of personal interest and conduct an experimental design or engineering design project, sharing their findings at the 70th annual Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair.

In fact, Ocean Lakes High School will be representing our region at the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair, where the four first-place winners listed below will be sharing their work.  The first-place and second-place Grand Prize winners will also be representing our school, region, and state, at the International Science and Engineering Fair!  If you are interested in learning more about any of these projects, click on the image below to access the students’ project portfolios and the four first-place project presentations!

Events like TSEF couldn’t happen without the support of our students’ expert scientists and our own, much loved, Mrs. Babette Shoemaker.  Thank you for sharing your expertise to help these students engage in these topics and produce quality work.

Click on the image to access more information about each project.

Community Advisory Committee for Gifted Education Seeking OLHS Parent to Serve

The School Board is seeking a representative for the Ocean Lakes High School attendance zone to serve on the Community Advisory Committee for Gifted Education. Members of this committee include parents of students identified as gifted, representatives from community agencies and organizations, and local school personnel. The term for members is three years.

The Community Advisory Committee for Gifted Education meets monthly (September – June). The responsibilities and duties of this advisory committee are to:

  • Review annually the local plan for the education of gifted students, including revisions;
  • Determine the extent to which the local plan for the previous year was implemented;
  • Develop annual goals and priorities;
  • Represent the community;
  • Encourage a collaborative relationship between school division staff and the community;
  • Become knowledgeable about current programs, research, and best practices in gifted education and its relationship with general education;
  • Focus attention on issues relative to improving the educational services for gifted students; and
  • Submit recommendations of the advisory committee in writing to the Superintendent and the School Board.

For additional information about the Community Advisory Committee for Gifted Education, please visit https://www.vbschools.com/community/call_to_action

Senior Project Introduction: Parent and Student Intro Meeting

We had a GREAT turnout for tonight’s senior project information night.  If you weren’t able to attend tonight, click on the image below to access a video recording of the event.  To complete the “check-in” survey visit this link.  To access the resources referenced during tonight’s presentation click here.

Click the image above to access a recording of tonight’s presentation.

Virtual Senior Project Gallery and Junior/Parent Information Event

Current academy juniors and their parents are strongly encouraged to attend the senior project gallery open house being held this Tuesday, February 2nd from 6:00-7:00pm.  Prior to the event, please visit the virtual senior project gallery by visiting:

https://sites.google.com/vbschools.com/virtual-senior-project-gallery/home to check-out the work completed by this year’s seniors.

At 6:00, current juniors and their parents are invited to a senior project information session being held through Google Meet that will run from 6:00-6:45. The session, hosted by Mrs. Graves, will cover the timeline for 2021, submitting proposals, and how the senior project will figure into senior year planning. You’ll even have the opportunity to talk to a few of this year’s seniors in a breakout Q&A session during the last 15 minutes.

The link will be sent to parents and students through Schoology and Alert Now.

Student Support Leads to Program Success

We are so proud of our teachers and students during this difficult time.  Virtual learning, working, and living has impacted us all.  However, our teachers, students, and parent/alum boosters are “making it work!”  As we approach the holidays, we want to take stock of the good things happening–the bright lights in this dark time–and share them with you.

Our students represent our program with poise–

Isn’t Vanessa a great ambassador for our program? (Video not playing? Click here.) While our teachers help students explore those STEM opportunities and grow into polished young adults, like Vanessa, we couldn’t do that without the support of our parents.

How can parents get involved?

We have a tremendously helpful MSA Booster Club.  The Boosters support all kinds of projects–from securing lab resources to supporting student enrichment and independent projects.

Here are three examples of Booster funds supporting student work. Check out these senior project grant winners:

They are also a great community sounding board for parents looking to connect with folks who have lived the life of an MSA parent; in typical years, the Boosters host social events for parents to connect.

However, this year, as a result of our virtual environment, membership is down and as is support for the Booster Club’s fundraisers.  This dip in membership and support will impact future efforts like the senior scholarships, underclassmen enrichment grants, senior project grants, and support for future events like symposium and the senior recognition ceremony.

How can you join and support this group’s efforts?

  1. You can become a member: Click Here!
  2.  You can support their fundraisers:
    • Buy a T-Shirt: Click Here!
    • Holiday shop!  Use the MSABC’s Amazon Smile link to do some holiday shopping: Click Here!
    • Buy your groceries at a Kroger: Click Here!
    • Enjoy some holiday lights at a discounted rate:

      Click the image for more information and to access the link to purchase. Note: If ordering multiple tickets, you will need to click the purchase link for each separate purchase.  You will then receive an email with separate vouchers for each ticket.

 

Rethinking the Annual Open House

The challenges of this year have resulted in rethinking the face-to-face events like the annual MSA Open House.  This year our open house went “virtual” with prepared content about our program, a virtual senior project gallery, and even a building tour.  If you missed it, or would like to visit the page again, click the link attached to the image below.

NASA affiliated programs–deadline is soon

10TH GRADE
Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS)
 – Online course for 10th grade students focusing on missions flown or managed by NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, with a week-long summer academy program at NASA Wallops Flight Facility. http://vsgc.odu.edu/spacecoast/

11TH AND 12TH GRADE
Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS)
 – Online course for 11th and 12th grade students focusing on NASA’s human spaceflight missions and the Journey to the Moon and on to Mars with a week-long summer academy at NASA Langley Research Center. Students can earn up to four free dual enrollment college credits.  http://vsgc.odu.edu/VASTS/

11TH AND 12TH GRADE
Virginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS)
 – This interactive online earth system science course for 11th and 12th grade students features NASA scientific research and data. Students can earn up to five dual enrollment college credits and can also be selected to attend a summer academy program at NASA Langley Research Center.  http://vsgc.odu.edu/VESSS

Online course applications are OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 25th for 10th – 12th grade students to apply.