A Partnership in STEM Education

A proposal forBASF Corporation

October 2014

The Morris School District (MSD)• Provide excellent and innovative programs in

academics, athletics, and the arts.

• Create an environment that inspires over 5,200 students to perform to their full potential.

• Respect the uniqueness of individual differences.

• Prepare students for responsible citizenship.

• Form strong partnerships with the community.

• Attract and retain talented people (over 700 faculty)

• Assure that adequate resources are available and effectively and efficiently applied in fulfilling our mission.

MSD Commitment to Science Education

• Our K-5 science program takes a hands-on approach to learning about the world, fostering not only a strong base of science content knowledge but also striving to build upon the natural curiosities of young children and instill in them a passion for science.

• During the middle school experience the courses build on the foundations established in K-5 classrooms. They include general science, scientific study and acquiring the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will enable them to become scientifically literate citizens.

MSD Commitment to Science

• The Morristown High School science program is farmed by an innovative curriculum which was collaboratively developed by teachers and experts in the field with technology integrated throughout. – As students progress through the physical

and life science courses each student will develop an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical scientific work and the dynamics of science, technology and society.

– In addition to completing New Jersey’s high school graduation requirements, students have the opportunity to enroll in Advanced Placement courses which prepare students for rigorous college learning

BASF At Work in MSD

• TJ Stem Night• Kids Labs in Elem Schools• Garden/Rain Garden at FMS• FMS PhET simulations to integrate

STEM for special needs• Science Education and Programs

Thank you!!!

STEM Education

“... Leadership tomorrow depends on how we educate our students today—especially in science, technology, engineering and math."

—President Barack Obama

MHS Distinguished Faculty• Mr. Brian Young, STEM Academy Program

Director

• MHS boasts a strong STEM Education staff of Scientists, Tech Educators, and Mathematicians. Among our high school staff members are:

2 - Doctorate Degrees in Physics & Chemistry1 - Novartis Chemist1 - Pharmaceutical Technician1 - International Research Scientist1 - Microbiologist4 - Collegiate Adjuncts4 - Engineers: Mechanical, Chemical, Aerospace, Civil

Current Partners• BASF• Pfizer • Novartis• Johnson & Johnson

• Microsoft• Wyeth

• UMDNJ• NJIT

• Honeywell • Covanta• Technology Student Association

(TSA)• ACE Mentors • Stevens Institute of Technology

• Dolan DNA Labs• Liberty Science Center

• NJ iSTEM Initiatives• Rutgers University – School of

Engineering • Montclair State University

• The College of New Jersey

• Fairleigh Dickinson University• Princeton Plasma Physics Lab

• Drew University• College of St. Elizabeth

• Morristown Memorial Hospital• EMC

• Verizon• Bell Labs

• Great Swamp• Project Lead The Way (PLTW)• General Dynamics• American Society for Clinical

Pathology (ASCP)• Summit Medical Group• Student Global Ambassador Group

(SGAP)• Sustainable Morristown

MHS STEM Education Goals

• Capital investments to support STEM

supplies for all major tracks

• Support and Implementation of multiple STEM summer workshops

• Support and Implementation of all-girls engineering course

• Support and Implementation of Project Lead The Way Engineering Sequence

• Support and Implementation of ACE Mentors Club and TSA Association

• Development of STEM Design Challenge Activity Based Learning

• Develop and sustain career-based STEM curriculum and programs

MHS STEM Education Goals

• Redesign Academy Space to

Support an Integrated STEM Learning Environment

• Develop partnerships to provide students with professional mentors, internships, research opportunities, summer programs, and collegiate programs of study

• Develop partnerships to provide students with professional presentation opportunities

• Develop partnerships to provide students with on-site field experiences

Collaborative Learning ...

Professional Mentors ...

Field Experiences ….

Team Building ...

Technology …

MHS STEM ACADEMY

MHS STEM Academy - History

In 2002, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals partnered with Morristown High School and awarded a $500,000 grant to establish a medical arts science academy. The program has inspired hundreds of students over the past ten years while becoming one of the foremost centers for high school science education in New Jersey. The program married science education and research at Morristown HS with professional mentors, outreach programs, job shadowing internships, as well as college and university connections. After a successful ten year program the academy @ MHS was transformed into a full-fledged, integrated STEM Academy. Starting with the 2013-14 school year the future of STEM education began at Morristown High School with an inaugural academy class of 48 students. Entering it’s second school year another 50 freshmen were accepted into the program while continued efforts are on-going integrating STEM courses and identifying future potential student programs.

MHS STEM Academy - Today

The Morristown High School (MHS) STEM Academy is an intense learning environment housed inside of Morristown High School

geared to provide students with an educational experience rich in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics integration.

  The STEM Academy offers a four year program of studies

designed for students in the Morris School District who have demonstrated success in mathematics and science and have

expressed an interest in pursuing a STEM career. The new research focus of the MHS STEM Academy has resulted in a

mandatory freshman STEM Research Science course that targets science literacy, research skills, and exposing the students to the

vast array of STEM careers while experiencing the inquiry and design processes. Students also need to successfully participate

in the guest speakers and field experiences, complete a community service requirement, and complete a STEM Academy

elective track. 

.

STEM Academy Mission

The mission of the MHS STEM Academy is to provide students with access to the skill sets to be successful in a STEM environment for real-world applications. The programs put in place to assist in these goals are: • Careers & Program Workshops• STEM Professional Presentations• Problem-Based Learning Activities• Field Experiences• Job Shadowing• Professional Mentorship• Research Science• Challenge-Based Problem

Solutions• Engineering Design

Challenges/Briefs

STEM Academy Elective Tracks

Biomedicine

Engineering

Architecture

Computer Science

Environmental

Sustainability

Program Highlight

Academy students participate in the annual STEM Summer Workshop held at Morristown High School. During this three day event student teams work collaboratively on multiple STEM design challenges while also spending a field experience day at Stevens Institute of Technology. Here three students compete against their classmates working on designing a cantilever that can withstand the most suspended weight.

 

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) is a collaborative international center for fusion energy research that is a world leader in developing the knowledge, understanding, and key innovations needed to make fusion energy a plentiful, safe, and environmentally healthy energy source for future generations. Beginning in 2014 the Morristown HS STEM Academy has begun an educational partnership with the Princeton University funded laboratory. On March 12th, 2014 the STEM Academy visited and toured the PPPL facility learning about fusion energy production and harnessing it as a viable energy source for future generations.

Program Highlight

Sustainable energy device

A Redesign! A Blueprint by Our Students….

Two dimensional Plan Three Dimensional Plan

The BASF STEM Academyat Morristown High School

“Supporting independent thinkers while building

collaborative learners for a 21st Century STEM

environment”

BASF STEM Academy at MHS!

 • Promotion of partnership between

BASF and MHS to local, state, and national community

• Partnership in Scientific Research and Student Competition

• BASF Professional Mentors working with MHS STEM students

• On-site career shadowing

• Local Community outreach programs

• Promotion of females and minority students in STEM programs

• Environmental sustainability programs and research

• Connection to student research, competitions, and internships

BASF STEM Academy

Vision

Your Impact and Legacy

We would be honored to explore with you a facility naming opportunity that is meaningful to your corporation and recognizes your investment in our community and our students. We are considering the BASF MHS STEM Academy.

The redesign and program growth of our STEM Academy will allow us to expand programs, serve more students and enhance the STEM education experience for our community. The project will also allow us to more fully deliver on our commitment to be one of the leading providers of STEM education, programs and resources for students in the area. We are grateful for your generous commitment to the Morris School District over the years.

We respectfully request a leadership grant of $500,000 (contributed over ten years) from BASF Corporation to establish a multi-level partnership with BASF Corporation and Morristown High School to significantly fund STEM education for our greater Morristown community of students for the next decade.

Partnership Investment

 Program Resources and Development• Summer STEM Workshop /Incoming Students: $5,000 x 10 years:

$50,000• Summer STEM Workshop /Career Program: $5,000 x 10 years:

$50,000• Professional Speakers & Mentors: $1,000 X 10 years:

$10,000• Scientific Research Mentors: $5,000 X 10 years:

$50,000

• Biomedicine Anatomy & Physiology Program in collaboration with Rutgers Univ 10 years:

$25,000

• Project Lead The Way Engineering Program 10 years $40,000

• All-Girls and Minority student STEM Programs 10 years $20,000• Environmental Sustainability Programs 10 years:

$20,000

Equipment and Materials• VEX Robotics, Engineering, 3D Printing, Arduino Boards, and Architectural Supplies: $10,000 X 10 years:

$100,000

• General Supplies: $1,500 X 10 years:

$15,000

Facility and Building Redesign• STEM Academy space design - labs, desks, work stations:

$120,000

 

Ten Year Partnership Funding Commitment = $500,000

THE MORRIS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

The Morris Educational Foundation

Facilitate student development

– Support innovative approaches to improving student achievement – Provide funds for enrichment activities – Administer scholarships to graduating and graduated Morristown

High School students– Provide equipment and facilities not funded through other means

Encourage excellence through creative teaching

– Support professional development of teachers– Provide venture capital for creative ideas and programs

Promote community/school partnerships

– Promote community awareness of educational challenges– Develop enrichment programs to address the needs of the

Morris School District and the communities it serves – Foster the development of alumni relations – Provide a vehicle for individuals, businesses and organizations to

share resources and gifts with the Morris School District and its students and staff

Why the Morris Educational Foundation?

Nearly 100% of donations directly support programs and children of the Morris School District

MEF designates gifts that honor donors’ intent

Direct access to a diverse student body eligible for scholarships and other grant awards

Strong Public Awareness of Mission

Low Costs – financially well-managed

20 year history

Committed and robust alumni