Education Notes 4-30-21
Dulack named to Dean’s List at Central Penn College
Jenelle Dulack of Cape Coral has been named to the Central Penn College Dean’s List for the winter 2021 term. Dulack is currently majoring in corporate communications. Of the students who took classes, 37% made the Dean’s List. To qualify for the designation, an undergraduate student must carry six or more credits and earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or better for the term
Central Penn College provides students with the educational foundation to turn potential into professional success. Since 1881, the college has been a leading source for delivering career-focused education to students in Pennsylvania and beyond. With locations in Summerdale and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Central Penn College offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a variety of professional fields.
For more information, visit www.centralpenn.edu.
O’Grady named principal at Bishop Verot Catholic High School
The Diocese of Venice Department of Education has announced that Suzie O’Grady has been named principal of Bishop Verot Catholic High School, 5598 Sunrise Drive, Fort Myers.
The announcement was made by the Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane, bishop of the Diocese of Venice.
O’Grady, presently serving as the interim principal, has an established and respected reputation as an exemplary educator and successful administrator.
“The promotion of Mrs. O’ Grady to principal of Bishop Verot Catholic High School is well-deserved,” said Bishop Dewane. “Her dedication and commitment to a Christ-centered Catholic education, and to the students at the school demonstrate the qualities needed in today’s world.”
O’Grady career includes 25 years of experience at Bishop Verot having taught English, world history, and AP European history. Further, she served as dean for three years and assistant principal for six years.
O’Grady holds a B.A. in English, a master’s in public administration and an educational specialist degree in educational leadership. During her tenure, Bishop Verot received recognition as an Apple distinguished school, and O’Grady has also led her team through a rigorous accreditation process conducted by the Florida Catholic Conference this year.
Bishop Verot Catholic High School, founded in 1962, has served as a premier Catholic high school in Fort Myers for over five decades. The focus is on relationships centered on faith, learning and leadership devoted to educating the whole person, utilizing innovative technologies, empowering students through collaborative experiences and cultivating a spirit of service while grounded in our relationship with Jesus Christ.
For more about Bishop Verot High School, visit https://bvhs.org, or call 239-274-6700.
Camp Invention’s at-home summer program coming to Oasis High School
Camp Invention, a nationally recognized, nonprofit summer enrichment program, is coming to Oasis High School the week of June 28 – July 2.
At this local camp, families can choose Camp Invention’s in-person or at-home option. And to address any uncertainty that families face when planning for the upcoming summer camp season, Camp Invention now offers the Peace of Mind Promise — where parents can switch their experience format up to six weeks before their camp start date.
For its in-person option, Camp Invention will continue to adjust its in-person programs to comply with best practice safety measures to ensure the health of our campers, teachers, families and communities. These precautions may include daily health screenings for all children and Program Team Members; the use of masks; social distancing within classrooms; providing individualized materials to limit sharing; increased sanitation practices and scheduled hygiene checks within the building; and smaller student groups with staggered lunch schedules. Programs will follow all state and regional COVID-19 guidelines.
A hybrid program featuring both offline activities and optional online sessions, Camp Invention at home enables hands-on exploration by delivering an Innovator’s Toolkit, packed full of fun materials, directly to each participant. With four themed activities, step-by-step guides and an Innovator Workshop, the program brings imagination, creative problem solving and fun to children’s living rooms. During the at-home format, local certified instructors take the campers through the day’s activities, with the children choosing to attend the four daily online collaborative sessions or move at their own pace.
Each year, the program features a new curriculum inspired by some of our nation’s most world-changing inventors — the National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees. This year’s Recharge curriculum encourages children to be confident in their ideas and explore their innovativeness though hands-on activities including:
* Open Mic: Campers amplify their creative voice, reverse engineer a wireless microphone, and then develop and promote their own extraordinary invention.
* Duck Chuck: Through hands-on experiments with trajectory and velocity, children build their own device to launch rubber ducks around the world.
* Road Rally: Imaginations accelerate as children design nature-inspired vehicles that can zoom across land and add prototype elements for moving through air and water.
* SolarBot: Campers build and take care of their very own solar-powered robotic cricket, creating protective gear, a customized habitat and a fun cricket playground.
A NIHF program in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Camp Invention challenges children in grades K-6 to tap into their natural curiosity and use their creativity to solve problems. Through hands-on activities, Camp Invention promotes STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning; builds confidence, leadership, perseverance and resourcefulness; and encourages entrepreneurship — all in a fun and engaging environment. In the unprecedented times we’re all experiencing, with “unfinished learning” and other challenges due to COVID-19, these lessons and opportunities for fun ways to learn are even more valuable.
For additional information or to register, visit invent.org/camp.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex honoring educators
In honor of Educator Appreciation Week, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering educators a chance to explore space without ever leaving Earth. Between May 3-16, educators will receive free admission and $5 off admission for up to five people when they show their school ID.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex brings to life the epic story of the U.S. space program, offering a full day or more of fun, inspiration and educational activities. Educators can stroll through the Rocket Garden and admire the latest addition, ULA’s Delta II rocket. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex also recently opened Planet Play, a fully-immersive multiple-story experience for young space explorers, ages 2-12.
The visitor complex is committed to inspiring the next generation of space explorers, and also has a number of resources available for educators to expand their knowledge and dive deeper into STEM to nurture and train the next generation of space explorers.
The Educator Appreciation voucher will be available on the visitor complex website on May 3, and must be downloaded and printed prior to arrival. Teachers should present the voucher at the ticket window along with proof of employment to receive a ticket.
The offer is also open to administrators and school employees. Visit www.kennedyspacecenter.com/info/tickets#SpecialOffers