We want to thank everyone for their support and solidarity to make NLD a great experience. Although there is much work to be done, I want to encourage everyone to stay energetic and focused on our objective to create and give to our students an incredible NLD experience. Remember, this is only the beginning. We would love to continue our unique partnership throughout the year(s). Thanks again. MLK faculty and student body

We are pleased to list the wonderful and supportive partners that have commited their time, energy, and funds to help support our upcoming NLD Celebration on May 21st.

One of our key speakers is
Dr. Antoinette Wells,NASA National Program Manager, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland. Dr. Wells has been a partner to MLK for several years and we are pleased she has agreed to participate on every level for a successful NLD celebration. Thanks Dr. Wells.

We will have a special treat at the NLD event. What do you think? No, there will be no aliens, but we will have a treasured substitute….the Lunar Specimen from the Moon. (Thanks to Dr. Wells)

Now, here is a list of our super partners and supporters.

Mr. Charles Britt, Executive Director
Center for Minority Achievement in Science and Mathematics
MLK Partner Co-Chair and Convener

Ms. Eliza Russell, Director of Education Programs
National Wildlife Federation
and MLK Partner Co-Chair and Convener

Ms. Gilda M. Allen
Environmental Program Specialist
District Department of the Environment
Watershed Protection Division

Mr. David K. Bloxsom
Calibration & Service Engineer
Microbiology International —
National Capitol Area Council Boy Scouts, Catoctin Mountain District

Dr. Patrick Carrick
Director (SES), Physics and Electronics
Air Force Office of Scientific Research/RSE
Pentagon

Ms. Catherine M. Davis
Postdoctoral Fellow
Division of Behavioral Biology
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Bayview Campus

Ms. Tracey Edou, Ed.D
Einstein Fellow
Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists
Office of Science
Department of Energy

Ms. Alison Fedyna, NIH Post-Baccalaureate, NIDCD

Dale S. Glass, Science Coordinator Service Learning Co-Chair, National Presbyterian School

Dr. Gary Harris
Director MSRCE and Nanoscale Mobile
Howard University

Ms. Natalie Hebshie
Outreach Coordinator, DESIGN SQUAD
WGBH Educational Foundation

Ms. Brenna Holzhauer
Education Manager
Earth Day Network

Dr. Toby Horn, Co-Director of CASE
Carnegie Institution for Science
Washington, DC

Mr. James Jones, Maryland Parks and Planning Commission, architect/urban planning, Prince Georges County

Dr. Michael Kaspar
President and Founder
DCSTA, Washington, DC

Ms. Katharine Leysath
Environmental Education Naturalist
Audubon Naturalist Society

Mr. Patrick Mason, Behavioral Psychologist/Scientist
Air Force Pentagon

Ms. Lisa A. McDonald
Education Director
J.Craig Venter Institute

Mr. Al Stenstrup
Director, Education Programs
American Forest Foundation
Project Learning Tree

Dr. Audrey Trotman
National Education Program Leader
USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Dr. Valoria Baylor, Principal,
Martin L. King Jr. Elementary School, Washington, DC

Science Co-Chairs at Martin L. King Jr.
NASA ENDEAVOR FELLOWS:

Ms. Netosh Jones and
Ms. h’Enri Whitseyjohnson

Faculty and Staff of
Martin L. King Jr. Elementary

We also wish to thank Ms. Camsie Matis of NSF for her constant support and encouragement.

Come and Join us on NATIONAL LAB DAY!!!
May 21, 2010

Also Students from Ballou High School’s Bioscience – Engineering Organization.
(Thanks Dr. Toby Horn)

Our school community consists of not only our elementary school, but the high school that many of our students will eventually attend. Ballou High School students are doing an awesome job with STEM initiatives and Dr.Toby Horn of the Carnegie Institute for Science and Ms. Lisa McDonald of J. Craig Venture Institute invited these students to take part in our NLD. We are appreciative to them for agreeing to do so. They are:

Juwanna Douglas, Richard Pratt, Rasonne Smith, Shanae Stewart, Donald Thomas, and Isaiah West.

Our principal Dr. Valoria Baylor would like to thank all those who have demonstrated their commitment to education and STEM alliances with Martin L. King Jr. Elementary School.

We now have two new partners supporting NLD at MLK.
Mr. Matt Monjan, DISCOVERY,Director, Account Management, Discovery Education;
and
Mr. Rick Bounds, NSTA, Asst. Executive Director of Public Operations;

We’d like to thank these two wonderful supporters for coming on board. They have supported us in the past and continue delivering quality professional development and materials to our students and faculty.

In light of the local areas cleaning up the Anacostia River, we have signed on two fantastic environmental educators from The Anacostia Watershed will discuss problems about cleaning up the river and ways the community can help.

Wendy Vannorden and Ariel Trahan
Environmental Educators

Our students are really interested in STEM from the engineering perspective. ASEE partners with MLK through the dynamic presentations and communication with teachers from:

Bob Black, Publications and Marketing Department Head

Stacie Anne Harrison, Co-Director, eGFI: Engineering Go For It Design Consultant

Libby Martin, K-12 Meeting Coordinator

STEM is everything to a solid inquiry-based learning system. For that reason, organizations such as the American Society for Engineering Education is an outstanding partner for MLK. This past Engineering Week they presented basic information on engineering careers, ASEE website for K-12, and their upcoming conference for teachers—-thank you for coming on board!!

You never know who wants to become a part of a great story!!! Today, these three people came on board for NLD@MLK from Carolina Biological supply Company (Burlington, NC). They are donating prepared slides for our Digital Microscope. Thanks.

*Mr. Mike King, Mrs. Karen Jones, and Mrs. Nancy Byers.

Yes!!!!! Our Council members do care about DCPS students and teachers!!! The Honorable Harry “Tommy” Thomas Jr., Ward 5 councilmember has just signed his terrific team to help MLK with NLD. Thank you very much!!! Dr. Baylor

Thanks to USDA partner Dr. Audrey Trotman, Dr. Jode P. Williams, whose specialty is Food Services and Food Safety has joined MLK’s efforts to continue to diversify our areas of STEM. Welcome aboard!!!!

It’s not everyday students meet a nuclear physicist, but on May 12th the launching of NLD, Dr. Njema J. Frazier, from NNSA will talk to students about her interesting career.

Since the energy of NLD has propelled federal and local STEM professionals to come on board, Mr. Joe Haralson, an electrical engineer will now be on our team. Thank you so much!!!

These dynamic STEM professionals will come on both days: May 12th and May 21st. thank you!!!!!

Dr. Tracey Edou,USDOE
Dr. Usha Narayanan, USDOE
are representing USDOE at our school on May 12th to help students understand how computer technology and mathematics can be exciting and inquiry-based. Thanks for your time and interest. nj

Dr. Wells has brought on a few more NASA folk…Thomas Estill, Sarah E. Brown and Evelina Felicite-Maurice. Thanks for coming on board!!

On behalf of my third grade student Sinia Stewart and myself, we would like to express our appreciation to Jack Hidary, founder of NLD, Camsie Matis, Albert Einstein Fellow, Dr. Jan Cuny (NSF), and the Creative Coalition for inviting us to a wonderful luncheon on Capitol Hill. We were proud to represent Martin L. King Jr. Elementary School and to have met so many wonderful supporters for NLD. Kumar Garg, Policy Analyst under the Executive Office of the President was very expressive in his saluting MLK teachers and students for their hard work. Our plans for the May 12th launching for National Lab Day is going to be successful thanks to our partners and especially Charles Britt, Executive Director for CMAST (Cente for Minority Achievement in Science and Technology) and his Board members for stepping up to the plate.

All of our partners from the federal and local governments are very committed and that is what will go far for us!!! We agree with Jack Hidary, NLD is about US and it is about life-long learning. Thanks again to everyone!!! Netosh Jones

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

This was truly a day the Lord has made, as a sign of positive reinforcement from one person to another person. The launching of National Lab Day at Martin L. King Jr. Elementary School today was FANTASTIC!! Jack Hidary, founder of NLD brought Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to our school and to my classroom.

Secretary Duncan had a very serious affect on my students today!! His expression of high expectations for them to be successful and to become wonderful citizens of the world begins as he says…at this young age!! They are learning and yearning to learn new concepts, skills, and problem-solving processes. Teachers cannot do it all!! That’s why National Lab Day is so important!

Today’s demonstration in my classroom was on building a science car using simple materials. Students were excited to work with federal and local STEM professionals on this project. What was really great is that the cars worked. This is real life learning. Not only do my students use hands-on-learning activities, but they are exposed to a total inquiry-based learning environment.

Secretary Duncan saw examples of reading strategies for comprehension (Question, Answer, and Relationship; cursive writings of reports/responses; and he heard students read their own words about science and engineering. This is the nitty gritty stuff, as Jack Hidary stated will make the difference in their future as students and as choice makers.

Dr. Francis Eberle, president of NSTA presented our school over 400 t-shirts that reads: “Science Matters in Washington, DC”. Wow!! That says it all!

Thank you NLD, as an organization for giving back to the communities of American society.

And thank you Creative Coalition for bringing your talents to our senses, reminding us that STEM, as Tim Delany says should be “STEAM”—Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics". This is not just a five-year plan, it is a lifetime plan for saving our youth.

Don’t forget, our next NLD is on May 21st.

On May 12th, at Martin L. King Jr. Elementary, Secretary of Education
Arne Duncan made a presentation to
Dr. Valoria Baylor, principal of
Martin L. King Jr. Elementary, for her 40 years of service to the District of Columbia Public School system. He presented her with a signed basketball as a “Distinguished Principal”. Congrats Dr. Baylor.

Just want to say thank you to everyone involved in this project. Please let me just make a reminder to partners…we are here to assist teachers and expose students to STEM lessons. (We are not charging schools or our products or skills.) Thanks again!!
Please check my Flickr.com photostreaming…I’ll try to update it now and then. See you next week!! Netosh

May 21, 2010
Martin L. King Jr. Elementary School
I couldn’t sleep last night wondering and praying that all would be very positive today. Everything for our local science fair and National Lab Day events went better than I ever expected. The students’ science projects were very interesting and our judges, Dr. Joe Haralson, Ms. Crystal Snowden, Ms. Chapman, and Ms. Williamson (two teachers) did a superb job. Their efforts were displayed by their patience with the process and with me!!!! I wish Camsie Matis and Dr. Jan Cuny could have been a part of this momentous event.

Jack Hidary would have been very proud of MLK students today. They exhibited pride and knowledge throughout the process and were eager to hear the results. There were two grand prize winners: Shanelle Griffin and Monae Richardson. Shanelle was in the K-3 category and Monae was in the 4-6 category. We had first through third place in each group. Great job!!!!

Mr.Charles Britt, our partner co-chair and Ms. Eliza Russell, the other partner co-chair were very excited to see those happy faces of students who won. (The rumor was that $100 was the grand prize.) No, not quite. However student learned how to work towards a goal with passion and strive for perfection and follow-through.

Dr. Njema Frazier, of USDOE talked to students about engineering and what it was like growing up finding yourself and deciding on a career. Students were impressed by her warm association with them and how she could talk with them, not to them. Dr. Joe Haralson, a nanotech specialist and electrical engineer explained how math and reading
is important for an engineer. He’s been working with third graders for the past month on the engineering proces.
Whatever he is doing, it is working!!!!

Our keynote speaker was Dr. Antoinette C. Wells, a national program manager for NASA (GSFC). She has worked with schools for a very long time and is a former DCPS administrator and guidance counselor. What really hit home with these students at MLK is that she was brought up in their neighborhood as a child. Small World Isn’t It? Then, one of the partner scientists, Crystal Snowden of JCVI, was a former girl scout of hers. Dr. Wells was very proud of her.

Dr. Wells invited Mr. Thomas Estill of NASA to bring the Lunar Specimens/Meteorite Samples to MLK. What a treat!!!! Ms. Jones is the only lunar certified teacher at MLK, but Dr. Wells wants to help change that.

National Lab Day brought many messages from Dr. Wells to MLK students. They must strive for success and be focused on studies because there is so much for them out there that will have a positive impact on their lives, if they give it a chance!!

Ms. Eliza Russell of National Wildlife Federation let the students know the recent oil spill is very much a part of NWF.

Approximately 15-20 partners took the reigns at MLK and brought their expertise, knowledge, skills, laughs, patience, and just plain fun learning to MLK. Dr. Patrick Carrick and Mr. Patrick Mason of the Pentagon taught students about building a foam rocket and then testing it. This was a huge hit.

Mr. James Jones of MC-NPPC is an urban planner and the third graders loved his “community project”. Students got to plan a community and began to understand how professional planners go about doing this.

Ms. Crystal Snowden of J. Craig Venter Institute, brought the genomics mobile unit and it was fascinating!!

Three scientists from NIH demonstrated how bacteria can be “visited” by using a microscope and the use of the digital microscope was again a huge success story!!

Ms. Gilda Allen was great with students, teaching them about compost and decomposting. What a treat because anyone who has seen her work knows you don’t want to miss it. She is very thorough and very knowledgeable. Ms. Allen is with the District’s Department of Energy, Watershed Division. She also goes to schools and works with schools to build greenspaces and gardens.

USDA interns under Dr. Jode P. Williams gave workshops on good eating habits, food nutrition, and safety. K-1 students loved it. Dr. Williams will be proud of their work.

Ms. Dale Glass of the National Presbyterian School amazed students in the third and fourth grades about owl pellet skeletons. They actually found skeletal remains and could place them on a symbolic chart of that part. Great!!

Ms. Brenna Holzhauer and her assistant gave relevant information on water scarcity. She is educationl manager for Earth Day Network.

Ms. Nellie Cureton, a retired guidance counselor for MLK, came to the event as a continued supporter for MLK as a partner. She’s been a huge help in planning this event.

Of course Mr. Charles Britt proved again how important CMAST’s role is in the District of Columbia. As time grows, I suspect CMAST will be a “household word” in every school in DC. His organization spear headed the secondary science fair (which was a big success) and they are now working on the elementary science fair for DC. Great work CMAST!!

Thanks to great partnerships like NSTA, CMAST, DESIGN SQUAD, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS and many more, our NLD was very successful and very impressive!!
Thank you to all!!!!

Thank you much Dr. William Jeffs of Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas and Natalie Hebshie of DESIGN SQUAD CHALLENGE for helping this event.