Plan to attend STEM Career Exploration Days March 2 & 3 being held at the Grand Rapids Public Museum in conjunction with the FACING MARS Exhibit. Great opportunity for students to interact with employers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Contact groupscheduling@grmuseum.org or call 616-979-1754 for funding to support this field trip for middle/high school students.

Work-Based Learning creates meaning for students by expanding the walls of classroom learning. It also develops workplace competencies, improves student grades, attendance and employability while connecting education with the real world.  Just a couple of reasons to do one!

Plan to attend the WCYC Career Expo & Resource Fair on Thursday, November 10 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm at Rogers Plaza, 28^th Street SE, Wyoming.  This is not a job fair but an opportunity to explore careers at area businesses and learn the importance of what you are learning in school and how it applies to the world of work. Who should attend – students, parents, teachers, and guidance counselors.  Prizes will be drawn every 20 minutes – must be present to win!  Come to find out “Your Steps to the Future.”

Workpaths would like to congratulate all the graduates of Kent County!  We wish you all the best as you start the next journey of your life.

Teachers – don’t forget to register for the program before your summer vacation begins.

During the 4 ½ day program, teachers will partner with two local businesses to see how teams, projects and whole companies work and learn. Past participants called it “one of the most rewarding professional development opportunities they’ve ever been involved in.” Participants will be eligible for SB-CEU’s or 3 college credits. Contact: annak@workpaths.com for more information and how to register.

…become a teen volunteer! They are looking for teens entering 9th – 12th grades in September 2011 who have a passion for carrying out the education and conservation mission of the Zoo. Through their experiences, teen volunteers gain knowledge and skills in a unique and rewarding environment.

Deadline for submission is May 6. Questions should be directed to Jim Swarts by phone (616) 336-4317 or email:  jim.swarts@kentcountymi.gov. For more information go to: http://www.johnballzoosociety.org/volunteer.php (see the bottom of the page).

4.  Take a Walk:  Get the kids outside to enjoy the spring weather.  If you can’t take a class outside, encourage your students to do so when they get home.  Give them the inspiration to appreciate what nature has to offer and not take it for granted.  Point out the different trees you may see from you classroom window, study the insects and birds that are out in the spring, and talk about how they can help to sustain them.

5.  The Three R’s:  No- not what you’re thinking.  Think Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and promote on a daily basis.  Don’t use paper cups for your coffee. Make sure there’s a recycling bin next to the copy machine and printers, and start a car pool.

Remember:  if we take better care of our Earth so will our kids!

Here another tip to help Mother Earth.

3.  Cancel Sales Catalogs:  I’m not promoting the end to catalog ordering from the many wonderful places.  But what I am suggesting is that you can view all those wanted items on-line. How many catalogs do we receive and never open? By doing so, it saves trees, water, energy, and our climate.  A school in Massachusetts started “The Catalog Canceling Challenge” in 2007 and it quickly caught on.  Since then, over 8,200 students in 22 states canceled 57,000+ unwanted sales catalogs.

For 40 years, Earth Day has inspired and mobilized individuals and organizations worldwide to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.  Over the next couple of days, we’ll be sharing ideas that be done in the classroom or at home.  Here’s the first couple. Have fun!

1. Recycling:  The importance of a healthy earth is in the forefront this week.  And one of the first things kids think about when it comes to thinking “green” is recycling. How does your school handle recycling?  Student-run recycling initiatives are easy to start.  And the money generated can be used to support a field trip, a special classroom lunch or donated to a worthy cause.
2. Build: After starting the recycling program and before you actually have it collected, let the kids build with it.  There will be bottles, cans, paper and cardboard. Let their imaginations go to work to see what they can design.  Make a contest out of it!