Skyline finalist in STEM event

SOLANA BEACH — Skyline Elementary School has become a California State finalist in the HYPERLINK “http://www.samsung.com/us/”Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest, a nationwide competition to add focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by challenging teachers and students to take topics out of traditional classroom settings and into local communities. In addition to being awarded two Galaxy Tabs, Gina Thackrey, the STEM teacher who submitted Skyline’s application, received a professional development course from HYPERLINK “http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/”PBS TeacherLine.“Skyline is thrilled to be named a state finalist,” said Principal Lisa Denham.  “Our students are so excited to be participating in our STREAM lab this year, and are always conscious of making a difference in our community and in the world.  This project is a perfect opportunity to make that difference.”

Thackrey has moved the Solana Beach students on to this round of the competition with their interest in using STEM to address the seal population and water quality in La Jolla Cove.  Skyline Elementary is one of four other schools in California to become a state finalist in the Solve for Tomorrow contest. During the next phase of the competition, Thackrey, Skyline Elementary’s STREAM (Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) teacher, will create a lesson plan to address the issue in an educational setting. Fifty-one state winners will be announced in early December.

This is Thackrey’s first time entering the contest. To learn more about the competition and past winners, visit HYPERLINK “http://www.samsung.com/solve”samsung.com/solve.

This year, Skyline Elementary School implemented a new STREAM program. The students have been discovering and developing their passion and talents in STEM education through project based learning.  The program has been designed with the intention to empower students with 21st century learning skills so that they are able to think critically, communicate effectively, be creative, and collaborate successfully, and to provide exposure and engaging experiences in STEM related fields. To see more about what is happening in Skyline’s STREAM lab, visit HYPERLINK “https://sites.google.com/site/streamskyline/”sites.google.com/site/streamskyline/ or follow us on Twitter @SkylineSTREAM or Instagram at sky.stream.