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ORAU awards $25,000 for Extreme Classroom Makeover

Posted at 7:59 pm April 9, 2015
By Oak Ridge Associated Universities Leave a Comment

Charlie Arp 2015 Extreme Classroom Makeover Grand Prize

2015 Extreme Classroom Makeover grand prize winner Charlie Arp and his students. (Photo by ORAU)

 

The idea that technology has the ability to drastically change students’ lives was the focus of one regional middle school teacher’s video submission for the 2015 ORAU Extreme Classroom Makeover competition. His dream of satisfying students’ hunger for technology in the classroom was realized Thursday as ORAU President Andy Page presented Brown Intermediate School science teacher Charlie Arp with a $25,000 technology makeover during a surprise school-wide assembly.

The funding is part of ORAU’s annual Extreme Classroom Makeover competition, now in its seventh year.

In his winning video Arp, explains that when it comes to teaching with technology, the sky is the limit. He describes many new and interactive approaches to teaching math and science, and he insists that, with this grant, he can satisfy his students’ hunger for technology in their day-to-day learning environment. Brown Intermediate School serves students from the city of Sweetwater in the fifth and sixth grades. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Andy Page, Brown Intermediate School, Charlie Arp, engineering, Extreme Classroom Makeover, mathematics, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, ORAU, ORAU Extreme Class Makeover, science, STEM, Sweetwater, technology, technology makeover

Robertsville Middle competes at Technology Student Association Regional Conference

Posted at 12:09 pm March 23, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

RMS TSA Group

The Robertsville Technology Student Association, or TSA, had an outstanding showing at the Regional Conference held in Knoxville on Saturday, January 24. (Submitted photo)

 

The Robertsville Technology Student Association, or TSA, had an outstanding showing at the Regional Conference held in Knoxville on Saturday, January 24. Middle schools and high schools from across the upper east region participated at the conference, a press release said.

Robertsville Middle School TSA members competed in 12 events, and they brought home 11 trophies. The following RMS students placed in their events: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Honors and Spotlight, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: RMS, Robertsville Middle School, Robertsville Technology Student Association, STEM, Technology Student Association, Technology Student Association Regional Conference, Todd Livesay, TSA

UCOR accepting proposals for new education mini-grant program

Posted at 12:53 pm March 22, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

UCOR Logo

UCOR, the federal government’s cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, is accepting proposals from area schools for educational grants with a specific goal of enabling new instructional methods in science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM.

UCOR is a partnership between URS and CH2M Oak Ridge LLC.

The UCOR Education Mini-Grants will be awarded directly to teachers and schools for specific projects. All teachers are welcome to apply, but proposals should focus on STEM projects. For instance, a music teacher might apply for a grant for a math-related project within the field of music.

Schools in Roane, Anderson, Loudon, Knox, and Morgan counties are eligible to submit proposals. [Read more…]

Filed Under: East Tennessee Technology Park, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: educational grants, Ken Rueter, mini grants, science technology engineering and math, STEM, UCOR, UCOR Education Mini-Grants, Veronica O'Hearn

Children’s Museum hosts SciGirls Training Saturday

Posted at 6:40 pm March 15, 2015
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will host a SciGirls Professional Development Training from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, March, 21, for educators interested in teaching science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM.

“SciGirls” is a PBS Kids television series that aims to change how middle school age youth think about STEM. In each episode, bright and curious girls put STEM to work. The show’s web site offers games and projects to connect students in a safe social networking environment. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, engineering, math, professional development, science, SciGirls, STEM, STEM Training, technology

ORAU wins contract worth up to $89 million from EPA

Posted at 10:07 pm January 19, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Associated Universities Building MC-100

The Oak Ridge Associated Universities Building MC-100 is pictured above.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities recently won a five-year contract worth up to $89 million from the Environmental Protection Agency to manage the EPA Environmental Research and Business Support Program, which provides opportunities for exceptional undergraduate and recent bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral graduates to participate in the EPA-sanctioned research and administrative projects.

Through this work, ORAU will recruit and place employees at 13 EPA Office of Research and Development laboratories and research centers across the U.S.  These participants in both business and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields will receive hands-on training in real-world settings at these laboratories and research centers while contributing to EPA’s mission, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Federal, Government, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Andy Page, business, contract, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, EPA Environmental Research and Business Support Program, EPA Office of Research and Development, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, ORAU, science technology engineering and math, STEM

Superintendent Borchers at Lunch with League on Tuesday

Posted at 12:16 pm January 19, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bruce Borchers

Bruce Borchers

During a lunchtime meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Bruce Borchers will review areas of focus for Oak Ridge Schools and share data on the past year’s achievements of students and staff members.

Borchers will also highlight future plans and programs, including the plan to transform Oak Ridge Schools into the premier preK-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) school district in the nation. There will also be an update on the status of the recommendations for the Preschool and the School Administration Building, a press release said.

Borchers will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, January 20. The program starts at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Education, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Bruce Borchers, League of Women Voters, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League, Oak Ridge Schools, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, preK-12, preschool, School Administration Building, school system, Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, superintendent

Guest column: Glad she went on schools’ tour, encourages others to go

Posted at 2:49 pm December 27, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Guest Columns Leave a Comment

Art and Science Class

The microscope pictured above was in a combined class taught by art teacher Jim Dodson and science teacher John Beard at Jefferson Middle School. (Photos courtesy Mary Layton)

 

By Mary Layton

On Tuesday, December 16, I went on the inaugural Oak Ridge School’s Community Tour.

We met at the American Museum of Science and Energy bright and early at 8 am. We were divided into two groups. The Einstein Group was hosted by Tracey Beckendorf-Edou, and the Curie Group had as its leader Chris Marczak.

We began with a short history of Oak Ridge given by Ken Mayes. We were reminded of the important role our city played in World War II.

Bruce Borchers, superintendent of Oak Ridge Schools, welcomed us to the tour. He told us about the Keys to College and Career Readiness. These goals were developed by interviewing and surveying Oak Ridge students, parents, staff, and community in late 2013. The goal of the keys is to prepare students to go to college, obtain industry certification in a skill, or receive military preparation by graduation. Borchers told us that our tour would show us how they were working to obtain these goals. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Guest Columns, K-12, Opinion Tagged With: Bruce Borchers, Chris Marczak, college, Community Tour, David Bryant, David Kolodney, industry certification, Jefferson Middle School, Jim Dodson, John Beard, Ken Mayes, Keys to College and Career Readiness, Mary Layton, military preparation, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Schools, ORHS, Robertsville Middle School, science technology engineering and math, STEM, students, Tracey Beckendorf-Edou, Willow Brook, Woodland Elementary

Glenwood Elementary wins $10,000 for teaching kids how to code

Posted at 1:20 pm December 3, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Schools LogoAll 368 students at Glenwood Elementary will participate in one of the largest CODE education events in history. The Hour of Code will be held December 8-14, and Glenwood Elementary is the only school chosen in Tennessee to receive $10,000 from Code.org to buy technology for bringing these critical skills to students.

Google, Microsoft, Apple, President Obama, Bill Gates, Shakira, and Ashton Kutcher have all backed the Hour of Code, an Oak Ridge Schools press release said. More than 100 partners are coming together to support this global movement. So far, 47 million students have tried the Hour of Code. The Hour of Code movement is aiming for 100 million students.

On Tuesday, December 9, at 2:30 p.m. Oak Ridge Schools Assistant Superintendent Christopher Marczak will present the $10,000 prize and speak on the importance of bringing computer science into the schools. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Christopher Marczak, Glenwood Elementary School, Hour of Code, Keith Jackson, Linden Elementary School, Oak Ridge Schools, Roane State Community College, STEM, Willow Brook Elementary School, Woodland Elementary School

Honors: St. Mary’s teacher wins Air Force award

Posted at 8:42 pm November 29, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

St. Mary's Teacher wins Air Force Award

Teacher of the Year Marsha Sega receives a check from Steven Dillenburg, chapter president on September 24 in the St. Mary’s School library. (Submitted photo)

 

Marsha Sega is the middle school science and math teacher at St. Mary’s School in Oak Ridge. Her work preparing her students to use and excel in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) won her the local Air Force Association chapter’s Teacher of the Year Award earlier this year.

The second part of the award was presented in the form of a check from Stephen Dillenburg, chapter president of the local Air Force Association on September 24 in the St. Mary’s School library, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Honors and Spotlight, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Air Force Association, engineering, Marsha Sega, math, mathematics, SASEF, science, Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair, St. Mary’s School, STEM, Stephen Dillenburg, teacher, Teacher of the Year, technology

Oak Ridge Schools offers tours Dec. 16; 30 slots available

Posted at 2:02 pm November 25, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Schools is offering tours of elementary, middle and high school classrooms on December 16. Only 30 slots are available.

The community tour is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. December 16.

“See how Oak Ridge teachers and students are teaching and learning while school is in session,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12 Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, Bruce Borchers, Oak Ridge Schools, Parker Hardy, STEM, tours

Oak Ridge Schools ‘STEMposium’ convenes educators from across country

Posted at 11:38 am October 22, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bruce Borchers

Bruce Borchers

Discovery Education and Oak Ridge Schools will host a STEMposium on Thursday. It will be an interactive discussion focused on best practices for providing students with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to succeed in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers, a press release said.

The release said the event will convene educators from some of the most innovative school districts across the country, including Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Houston Independent School District, Grand Prairie Independent School District in Texas, Baldwin County Public Schools in Alabama, Richland School District Two in South Carolina, and the New York City Department of Education.

They will discuss best practices for building a culture around STEM education, the release said. That includes exploring how to implement innovative STEM instructional strategies, and the use of digital content and curricula to drive student achievement. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Bruce Borchers, Chris Marczak, Cindy Moss, Cristian Carranza, Discovery Education, engineering, Georgia Department of Education, Gilda Lyon, Kelli Lauth, mathematics, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Schools, Oak Ridge STEM, Pollard Technology Conference Center, science, STEM, STEM education, STEM Launch School, STEM teaching, STEMposium, technology

Children’s Museum awarded $137,108 grant by museum institute

Posted at 6:28 pm September 28, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Healthy Living Exhibit

 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded $137,108 to the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge this month.

The museum will use the grant funds to develop its new Kids in Action! Healthy Living Exhibit and programs. Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will plan, develop, and construct “Kids in Action,” a healthy living exhibit and accompanying educational programs to support healthy nutrition, healthy activity, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, and community wellness, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: children's museum, Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, grant, Healthy Living Exhibit, IMLS, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Kids in Action, Mary Ann Damos, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, Susan H. Hildreth, University of Tennessee, wellness

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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  • ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal+ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal More than $1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares Oak Ridge, Tenn. ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares nonprofit organizations. ORAU has raised more than $1 million over the past 10 years through this campaign. A total of $126,839 was pledged during the 2024 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares or both. ORAU has remained a strong pillar in the community for more than 75 years, and we encourage our employees to consider participating in our annual giving campaign each year to help our less fortunate neighbors in need, said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. Each one of our employees has the power to positively impact the lives of those who need help in the communities where we do business across the country and demonstrate the ORAU way taking care of each other. ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeAssociatedUniversities Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/orau Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau ###

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