SCMS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM UPDATES
October 8, 2019
Dear Mustang Families,
As many of you have discovered, the SCMS After School Program has a variety of programs for our middle school students. Please see the SCMS web site for information about our program: https://southcountyms.fcps.edu/activities/after-school-program
We have added a few new programs and wanted to share the information with our families. In addition, we are looking for parent volunteers for these programs. If you are interested, please reach out to Mr. Woodby (see below) and he can share the steps to become a volunteer with FCPS.
INNERSPACE SCIENCE:
Do you know a student fascinated by the undersea world and the technologies for exploring it? Innerspacescience.org is a group whose members build and operate manned submersibles, which are made available to scientists at no cost. On land, they use the subs to excite students about STEM and ocean conservation. A few weeks ago, National Public Radio featured them on their program "All Things Considered" and the piece makes a great introduction: https://www.npr.org/2019/09/02/755571204/submarine-hobbyists-help-researchers-on-montanas-flathead-lake
The organization's founder, Alec Smyth, is also on the crew of Pisces VI, a research submarine that enters service in 2020 with missions to places like Antarctica and the Indian Ocean. Alec will be offering a two month after-school program during which students will get to see a two-person sub and learn about physics, engineering, marine ecology, and marine conservation. The program has received great reviews from students and parents where the program has been held in previous years.
The cost of the program is $150, but Innerspace Science doesn't want anyone left out for economic reasons - anyone who can't afford the program can earn a scholarship by writing an essay. There will be an info session for parents and students on Thursday October 10th at 2:30 p.m. in room B137. To register for this program or learn more about it, please email Alec Smyth at alecsmyth@gmail.com.
ODYSSEY OF THE MIND:
Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving competition in which teams of up to seven students present their solution to a wacky problem. While each team has a coach, the student teams solve the problems on their own. There are five problems. Each team picks one of the five to solve and work on their solution, typically over a period of months.
Every year, the specific problems are different. Here’s a link to the synopses for this year’s problems: https://www.odysseyofthemind.com/2020ltproblems/. Note that full detailed descriptions of each problem is much longer then what is summarized in the synopses. There will be an information session for students and parents on Wednesday October 16th at 2:30 in room B137.
More information is available here: https://www.odysseyofthemind.com/
GOLF CLUB:
The After School Program is still looking for students who are interested in participating in our Jr. Golf Program. The program is available on Mondays from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. Students should report to the cafeteria for check-in. Students will be using Laurel Hill Golf Club throughout the Fall, weather permitting. Students must have access to their own golf clubs. Please see Mr. Patton with questions or email him at JMPatton@fcps.edu.
For information about these and other After School Programs please see the SCMS After School Web page or email Mr. Chris Woodby at cwwoodby@fcps.edu
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