February 18, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

SMMUSD Student Art Work, Experiments To Journey To International Space Station:

Artwork and microgravity experiments created by Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District students will take a journey to the International Space Station and back after being selected as regional winners of the Mission 7 Student Spaceflights Experiments Program (SSEP) competition, which seeks to inspire a new generation of American scientists.

Fourth-grader Tatum Meyer of Grant Elementary School and eighth-grader Alisa Boardman of Lincoln Middle School are the winners of Mission 7 Patch Design contest. Lincoln Middle School eighth-graders Samuel Buckley-Bonanno, Shrayes Raman, Charlie Gooding and Adam Chamas won the flight experiment competition with an experiment involving paper chromatography.

“The SSEP brilliantly ties together three of our most exceptional academic programs – STEM, English language arts and visual arts,” SMMUSD Superintendent Sandra Lyon said. “How exciting it is to know that our own creations are traveling beyond our planet; congratulations to all who participated.”

The SSEP is a space initiative overseen by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE). The competition has two components – one focusing on real science and one encouraging artistic design. The estimated Mission 7 launch date is June 13.

More than 80 Lincoln Middle School eighth-grade teams contributed experiment proposals and 1,300 District students from Lincoln, along with Grant, Franklin, Roosevelt and McKinley elementary schools, created more than 400 patch designs.

Among those who will be holding their breath before the liftoff will be Meyer, whose winning patch shows smiling people holding hands around a spaceship to signify teamwork; and Boardman, whose patch shows a rocket blasting off into the deep blue horizon, simulating the creative process.

“Through collaboration, innovation and hard work, we can reach new heights together and build a better future on Earth and beyond,” Boardman said of her winning design.

The real science experiment competition is more of an interdisciplinary weave of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum and written communication skills. Lincoln science instructors realized during the SSEP 2012 Mission 2 competition that for the Lincoln eighth-grade teams, the science came easily; the language skills less so.

“Too often, science and English get disconnected,” Lincoln Middle School science instructor Marianna O’Brien said. “We want our students to become proficient in both, and also to channel their creative side.”

The school recruited LMS English instructors Gretchen McLaughlin, Susan Stivers and Joe Montanez to aid in fusing the two subjects, making the competition part of the STEM and English class curriculum. Students discovered a greater appreciation for the experiment process, leading to a much more rigorous contest.

When the Mission 7 astronauts return from the space station, the students will learn the results of their experiment, and the patches will be returned to the schools.

Though the SSEP education initiative is exceedingly popular at Lincoln, it is not free. The NCESSE provides research materials, at a cost of $21,500. To pay for this, the teacher team supported by principal Dr. Suzanne Webb enlisted several sources: $7,000 from Lincoln’s Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation Stretch Grant, $5,000 from the California Space Grant Consortium, $1,000 from District STEM funds, and $8,500 from the Lincoln PTSA.

“We greatly appreciate the generous contributions from our District stakeholders who allow our students to participate in such a magnificent educational experience,” Lyon said.

in News
<>Related Posts

Palisades Athletic Community Seek to Rebuild Programs, Fundraise for New Equipment

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

Local teams and organizations have launched fundraising efforts to help restore normalcy for affected players and ensure they can return...

SMMUSD Announces Malibu Schools to Reopen and New Bus Schedules

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

The Opening of Malibu Canyon Road and Better Weather Signals Changes All four Malibu schools will reopen on Tuesday, Feb....

The Department of Public Health to Hold Virtual Town Hall on Post-Fire Air, Soil, and Water Safety

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

LA County Officials Will Discuss Environmental Testing, Recovery Efforts The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will hold a...

Los Angeles County Launches $32.2 Million Relief Grant for Wildfire Victims

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

Eligible Households Affected by the Palisades Fires Can Apply Soon The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs...

Inglewood Man Arrested in January Homicide in Santa Monica

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

Month-Long Investigation Leads to Arrest A suspect has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred last month...

(Video) Enjoy Beach Proximity and Prime Amenities at Ocean View Hotel

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

For More Info, Go To Oceanviewsantamonica.com For More Info, Go To https://t.co/dzMk6XI2dr pic.twitter.com/lpsA0jG5dd — Santa Monica Mirror (@SMMirror) February 17,...

County Launches Opt-Out Permit for Fire Debris Removal

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

The permit allows homeowners and business owners to oversee their own cleanup efforts Los Angeles County has introduced an Opt-Out...

Post-Storm Cleanup Continues as Topanga Canyon Remains Buried in Mud

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

Iconic PCH Restaurant Takes Heavy Damage During Mudslides Pacific Coast Highway has partially reopened following the Palisades Fire and subsequent...

State Farm Faces Scrutiny Over Emergency Rate Hike Request From State Official

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

Commissioner Lara Demands Answers on Financial Stability and Consumer Impact California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has responded to State Farm’s...

Deadly Stabbing Outside Popular Santa Monica Bar on Saturday

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

One Man Killed, Another Injured in Early Morning Attack The Bungalow, a popular restaurant and bar in Santa Monica, was...

Country Club Donates $1M for Palisades Recovery

February 14, 2025

February 14, 2025

The club has encouraged members and partners to contribute to an established fund The Riviera Country Club has pledged $1...

UCLA Suspends Pro-Palestinian Student Groups Following Protest at UC Regent’s Home

February 14, 2025

February 14, 2025

Chancellor Cites Potential Student Code Violations; Student Groups Reject Allegations UCLA has suspended two pro-Palestinian student organizations following a protest...

Black History Greens Festival to Celebrate Community Legacy of Virginia Avenue Park

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

The free community event is part of Santa Monica’s Black History Month celebrations, with the 2025 theme, “Roots and Reflections:...

Flash Flood Warning Issued for Burn Areas, LAFD Officer Swept off Road by Debris

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Storm Damage Closes Pacific Coast Highway, Officials Urge Caution Not even members of the LAFD are being spared from the...

Film Review: Love Hurts

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

FILM/ REVIEWLOVE HURTSRated R83 MinutesReleased February 7th Valentine’s Day is written all over this movie. Love Hurts seems to be...