Capital STEM Alliance Newsletter – April 2022

STEM Students

CCL Regional Network

  • The Capital STEM Alliance Steering Committee will meet on Thursday, April 14 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. via zoom with two presentations:
    • Cheryl Heywood, CEO of Timberland Regional Library, will speak to career connected learning opportunities within the library system
    • Sam Wade, a youth apprentice of the Western Washington Sheet Metal Workers JATC, will talk about his perspective as a pre-apprentice and apprentice in a trade career.

Other agenda items will include the formation of an executive steering committee to guide this collective action coalition going forward; and continued asset mapping to create a more formal structure for the Alliance.

  • Music teachers and performing arts directors of the South Sound are invited to select talented students to participate in the Masterworks Chorale Ensemble’s annual Youth Music Competition on May 14, 2022, in the Black Box at the Kenneth J. Minaaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College. Students in grades 3-12 are eligible to participate. Cash awards of $200 each will be awarded to the winner in each of three categories (elementary, middle and high school). To reserve a spot in the competition, students must complete and submit an application by April 15, 2022. To view the flyer or to apply for the competition, please visit this link: https://mce.org/youth-music-competition-page/. For more information, contact Holly Negovan at [email protected].
  • EPA is excited to introduce the 2022 Clean School Bus Program as authorized by the recently signed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program provides $5 billion over the next five years to replace existing school buses with low- and zero-emission school buses. Each year, approximately $500 million will be available exclusively for electric school buses and approximately $500 million will be available for electric buses and multiple types of cleaner alternative fuel school buses. Please note that due to ongoing program development, not all program details may be available at this time. For additional information on the Clean School Bus Program, please visit our website at https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.
  • Pacific Education Institute has been granted a contract to support OSPI’s distribution of Environmental Literacy Grants to Schools and School Districts. The turn-around time for these grants is extremely short. All funds have to be spent by June 20th of this year. The first round of review begins March 31st and reviews will continue until all funds are allocated. Schools or districts that are already planning for outdoor learning on the school campus, especially to support Title 1, Title 3, Title 6, IDEA and 504 qualifying students – are encouraged them to apply.  The application process is very simple. Priority will be for Elementary Schools, and Secondary schools may also apply. Please visit this link or the Environmental Literacy Grant webpage to learn more.
  • Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) is offering highway construction and maritime trades scholarships. WSDOT’s On-the-Job Training Support Services Program (OJT/SS) and Pre-Apprenticeship Support Services Program (PASS) provide pre-apprenticeship, training, preparatory, and apprenticeship scholarship opportunities to support the participation of women, minorities, and other disadvantaged individuals in the federal-aid and state funded highway construction and maritime workforce. The application window will close June 1, 2022. Awards are made as funds are available, on a first come, first serve basis.

Single scholarship award amounts will not exceed $7,000, and the total award amount for a single individual will not exceed $10,000 in up to three (3) separate awards. If you have received a scholarship previously, and are still in a training program or apprenticeship, you may apply again by submitting a new application.

Scholarship opportunities are available and include the following highway construction and/or   maritime trades training/preparatory programs:

  • Laborers
  • Carpenters/Pile Drivers
  • Electricians (Inside Wireman)
  • Cement Masons
  • Painters
  • Truck Drivers (CDL-Class A)
  • Diesel Mechanics
  • Iron Workers
  • Heavy Equipment Operators or Mechanics
  • Able Body Seaman (AB) preparation programs (above deck)
  • Marine Engineering Technology training programs (below deck)
  • Ordinary Seaman (OS)
  • Other trades or training programs related to highway construction and/or maritime programs on approval

Awards may be applied to tuition, preparatory program costs, books, and supplies.  Other needs identified by the applicant may be approved and are subject to approval based on authorized funding criteria set forth within each program from which the scholarship award will be made (OJT/SS or PASS). For more information, please click on the link below:

On-The-Job Training Support Services Highway Construction Trades Scholarships | WSDOT

STEM Network

Early Math Catalyst Grant

Timberland Regional Library is partnering with ESD113 on a pilot program to create 20 early math book bags, available for checkout, in targeted communities. Book bag materials will include four to six beginner books on numeracy and literacy, Launch Pad ® devices loaded with early numeracy games and activities, Magnetiles ®, Tiny Polka Dots ® kits, and informational handouts for families and caregivers on early numeracy concepts.

 ESD 113 Regional Administrators in early learning and Math will assist by aligning educator materials with the book bag resources. In addition, they plan to create early Math kits for educators in grades Pk-3, that reinforce early numeracy concepts and vocabulary, and support the book bag activities. The program will roll out in early Fall 2022, with plans to expand to more communities and early learning centers by 2023.

RALLY

Mason County Consortium of Student Success

  • The Shelton Family YMCA is hosting its first ever Healthy Kids Day® on April 29th. Healthy Kids Day provides an essential service to our communities by connecting families with activities and resources to help their children stay healthy and resilient during these difficult times. Healthy Kids Day is a free community event designed to provide parents and caregivers the key ingredients to help make a healthy kid. Now in its 29th year, it is the largest event of its kind in the nation. As the leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening community, the Y has been working harder than ever before to make sure everyone in our community feels safe and cared for as we navigate these challenging times together. For more information, please click on the flyer link.
  • The Youth Connection of Mason County is holding its second annual Pride Party on June 24th from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the Shelton Youth Connection Center, 123 S. Second Street in Shelton. All LGBTQ+ youth and Allies ages 12-24 are welcome. For more information, contact Amanda Oakes at (360) 462-0125.
  • Family Education and Support Services (FESS) invites everyone to advocate for Child Abuse Prevention Month by planting a blue Pinwheel for Hope in one of their Pinwheels of Hope Community Gardens from April 1-30.

Other fun activities will include a Pinwheel Scavenger Hunt around Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties, and starting a Pinwheel Garden of Hope. For more information or to register for any of these activities, contact www.familyess.org/Pinwheels, or click on this link to the flyer.

  • Community Youth Services has the following programs available:
    • The Transition Age (TAY) Youth WISe program serving Medicaid eligible youth ages 15 to 20 has openings. For more information, contact [email protected].
    • The Multisystemic Therapy (MST) WISe program serving youth ages 12 to 17 is now able to accept referrals for youth who are diagnosed on level 1 of the Autism Spectrum Disorder. For more information, contact Allison Graff.
    • Catholic Community Services (CCS) WISe program is now serving an additional 10 families. The focus is on expanding services to meet community needs. Services are primarily in person, with exceptions for team meetings to avoid bringing together groups until the pandemic subsides. For more information, contact Heidi Knadel.
  • United Way of Mason County is holding its Spring Dessert and Gift Auction on Friday, April 22nd, from Noon-2:00 at the Allyn Waterfront Park. For questions or to donate auction items, please call the Mason County United Way at (360) 426-4999 or via email at [email protected].

Lewis County Thrives

  • WorkSource Lewis County is holding two pre-apprenticeship boot camps in April:
    • Construction pre-apprenticeship boot camp begins Monday, April 4th through Friday, April 29th from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Location is 1060 West Eells Hill Road in Shelton. Explore the construction industry first-hand and discover a variety of careers while meeting industry professionals and potential future employers. This all-inclusive training will help build participants’ knowledge of shop skills, fitness, power tools, professional development, and trades math. Attendees will complete small-build projects and leave the training with employment opportunities and the skills to be competitive for an apprenticeship. To register:
  • Underground Communication Construction Training boot camp begins Monday, April 11th through Friday, April 22nd from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location is: 1937 Lashi Street SE in Olympia. Participants will be inspired with certified, professional hands-on training that will prepare them for an exciting and innovative career in the underground communications industry, where they will provide communities with the critical infrastructure needed to maintain everyday life. Learn how to safely work around and identify existing utilities, safely operate and maintain hydraulic heavy equipment, understand conduit placements, mud mixing, soil classifications, plotting drill paths and much more. Participants will walk away with the proper skills and knowledge to work safely and confidently in this groundbreaking industry. To register:

Contact Damian Magista or call (360) 357-3362 for more information in either of these training opportunities.