C&I Science Communication for Teachers and Administrators

Click on the grade level--ES, MS, or HS--in order to find news and information from C&I Science about deadlines, events, and opportunities for teachers and students in San Francisco. 

Elementary

Middle School

                                                                       🔔 MS Science March Newsletter 🔔

High School

HS Science Newsletter, 3/25/2024

This information is also viewable via Google Document

Please read below and reach out to Eric Lewis (lewise2@sfusd.edu), Secondary Science TSA, with any science-related questions. 

SFUSD Science Announcements!

 

  1. Chemical and Biological Waste: Our next pick up for hazardous waste will be over summer break. Remember to ALWAYS bundle living organism orders at your sites (order for all Biology teachers at once, not piecemeal!). Please have your new Hazardous Waste form up-to-date by May 17th. If you have any questions, please contact Eric Lewis (lewise2@sfusd.edu) or your science department chair/lead. 

     
  2. Chemical Inventories: Start updating your chemical inventories if you haven’t already (due May 15th). Department chairs/leads should find this on their Google calendar as well!

 

  1. Living Materials for Biology: Orders for spring semester (planaria!) are open. The next order deadline of 4/5 will ensure that the materials reach you by 4/17. Any living materials for this school year must be ordered by 4/19 to guarantee delivery by 5/1. 
    Form Link: https://forms.gle/p5stgasey6UgLMko6

 

  1. Equipment Exchange sheet! CHECK IT OUT! Have extra materials at your site that you’re not using? Looking for some random science equipment for your class? Check out our SFUSD Science Equipment Exchange sheet

 

 

Current Opportunities for Science Students - Please share with your students asap! 

 

  1. NEW! UCSF AI4ALL is opening doors to AI for underrepresented talent. A program at UCSF focused on AI in biomedicine. Interested students in grades 8-11 should apply now for the 2024 UCSF AI4ALL virtual 3-week program (Mon 7/8 - Fri 7/26/2024).  Find out more and apply at https://ai4all.ucsf.edu. Completed applications are due by Thursday 3/28/2024. 

     
  2. Summer Internship with the Port of San Francisco: Here is an incredible opportunity that could provide valuable skills and experiences.

Each year the Port offers 12 rising juniors an opportunity to participate in a six-week paid internship program, including one week of hands-on training in personal water and fire survival skills at Cal Maritime. The remaining five weeks will be spent at the Port of San Francisco, allowing students to immerse themselves in the dynamic culture of Port Maritime operations. This internship not only provides practical knowledge but also fosters a unique learning environment. Here is a flier which includes a QR Code for you to apply through. 

Questions? Contact Tiffany.Tatum@sfport.com. Application deadline: April 5, 2024

 

  1. NEW! The Marine Mammal Center’s April Stewardship Saturday is coming up! We are pivoting this month from our routine schedule of the last Saturday of the month to make sure tides are as ideal as possible. Please see all details below. 
    • Register for our April Stewardship Saturday here!https://bit.ly/aprilstsat24
    • Theme: Investigating Tidepools for Ocean Health
    • Description: Join Latino Outdoors, Greater Farallones, and The Marine Mammal Center as we head to the shore to study tidepools and adventure along one of our local beaches. Through this event you will have the opportunity to support a tidepool study, explore the value tidepools have for our marine mammals and community, and take some time to traverse other coastal areas to understand how all components of this ecosystem are interconnected. We hope by the end of this event you will have a deeper understanding of the value and importance of all components of our coastal ecosystem, and will have some goals for next steps to take on your conservation journey.
    • When: Saturday, April 13th from 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
    • Where: Bodega Bay – we will decide the week of the event whether it is at Carmet or Shell Beach (both within 10 minutes of each other)
    • Cost: FREE (free breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided)
    • Please make sure to register before the event!
    •  flyer!

 

  1. Girls in Motion - Spring 2024 Summit! Learn about careers in Transportation, be empowered  to pursue careers in the industry, and learn about scholarship and internship opportunities! Panel Discussions, Career Tracks, Hands-on Activity & Gift Bags! April 17, 2:30-5:00 PM
    Scan the QR Code on the flier for more information

     
  2. Careers in Science - Paid Internship at California Academy of Sciences. Careers in Science is a multi-year, year-round, paid internship and youth development program for San Francisco high school students who come from communities underrepresented in STEM, including girls and students of color. To be eligible for the program, applicants must:
    • Be currently enrolled full time as a 9th or 10th grade student in an SFUSD school
    • Maintain a GPA of 2.5 and a grade of C or higher in science and math
    • Be able to obtain a valid work permit (US citizens and others authorized to work in the US)
    • Commit to all attendance requirements for 2 or 3 years, through high school graduation
    • Be able to commute to the Academy and nearby locations after school and on Saturdays during the school year, and on weekdays in the summer (some remote work may be required)
    • Demonstrate interest and enthusiasm for learning, teaching, and doing science

Application period: February 2-April 5. Selected applicants will be required to attend an in-person group interview on April 27, 2024. More information and application.

 

  1. NEW! Free Summer Program in Physics for High-school Girls: The Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP) is a summer learning program designed to get high-school girls excited about physics. This 3-week program is completely free to participants and will be held through video chat. Participants will learn about cutting-edge research in physics in fields such as quantum physics, optics and lasers, and astrophysics. They will also learn how to code in Python, and then apply their coding skills to physics-based projects. Participants will attend lectures by Stanford professors and researchers and work in small groups led by Stanford undergraduates, as well as attend college planning and career development workshops. First-generation students and students from underrepresented backgrounds in physics are particularly encouraged to apply. No prior knowledge of physics or coding is needed.
  1. ScienceSaves Video Scholarship for college-bound high school seniors! All of our lives have been improved by the discoveries of science. Describe an experience in your life that demonstrates that science does indeed save. The experience can be something that happened to you or someone you know. Create a 20-30 second video answering the question “What has science done for me?” or “What has science done for somebody I know?” You will be judged on your ability to highlight how science saves in a succinct, creative way with original photos, video clips, and text. Be sure to add #ScienceSaves to your video. Upload your video below no later than midnight on May 6, 2024. More information: https://sciencesaves.org/2023-video-scholarship/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email 

 

  1. CA Middle and High School Students: Climate Video Challenge submissions are due May 30, 2024: The climate crisis, caused by humans primarily through the burning of fossil fuels like oil and gas, is damaging ecosystems and disrupting people's lives in California and across the globe. To combat this crisis, communities are taking action in many different and creative ways. Whether you are inspired by others' work, already part of an active group, or looking to turn an idea into reality, the California Coastal Commission challenges you to answer the question: How is your community responding to the climate crisis? More information: https://www.coastal.ca.gov/climatechallenge/ 

     
  2. Marine Science Sundays @ The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) : Join us in person at the TMMC hospital and visitor center in Sausalito on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Anyone can participate in the program, but you must reserve a general admission ticket to visit The Marine Mammal Center that day. 
    • Mar 24 at 12pm or 2pm  |  Super Seals
    • Apr 14 at 12pm or 2pm  |  Magnificent Migrations
    • Apr 28 at 12pm or 2pm  |  Magnificent Migrations

 

Teacher Opportunities!  Be sure to check the Bay Area Science Calendar for additional science-related events and activities. 

 

  1. NEW! Chemistry teachers or Department Leads: Middle or high school science teachers can request up to $3,000 to fund actions or opportunities that will improve chemical safety in their teaching environment. Check out the website and application for funds here.

 

  1. Teacher Workshops in Conservation Science, a free, three-day, grant-funded professional development opportunity for middle and high school science educators, based at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California, with all room and board included. More information about this AMAZING professional development. Apply here! 
    Deadline to Apply: April 7, 2024

     
  2. NEW! Beetle Project: The UC Berkeley Department of Integrative Biology is seeking 15 Bay Area high school or community college instructors of biological, integrated, or environmental science to participate in a professional development workshop June 21-23, 2024, and to field test a 4-hour lesson sequence/wet lab on climate change and animal physiology using lady beetles. The workshop will include talks from renowned scientists and tours of lab and museum facilities. Selected participants will receive a kit with lab supplies, support from scientist and teacher project personnel, and a $300 honorarium. Get more information and apply here (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AV5hT61kZHr3XuVjzDpFPgMizSPW_cEAoGHnggQpOk4/edit?pli=1Deadline: April 15.

     
  3. Biology and Physiology Teachers! UCSF Anatomy Lab Educator Visitation Day is on Saturday, May 11th. This event will allow you to learn more about human medical anatomy from a mixture of UCSF faculty, medical students, dental students, and PT students. During this time, you will have ample opportunities to see and touch real human anatomical specimens and dissections, covering most of the major organ systems in the state-of-the-art UCSF anatomy lab. Interested or have questions about participating in this event? Check out this Google Form for more information as well as application instructions. You can also email questions or concerns directly to Gregory.Kincheloe@ucsf.edu.

     
  4. NEW! BioInteractive Ambassador Academy: HHMI BioInteractive is inviting high school and undergraduate life and environmental science educators with diverse experiences, backgrounds and teaching contexts to apply for the second BioInteractive Ambassador Academy: a three-year professional development experience designed to promote and support evidence-based teaching practices that incorporate BioInteractive’s approach and values as well as our free and accessible classroom resources. We are seeking educators who are committed to fostering inclusive learning environments, building cultural relevancy into their curricula, and centering equity in their classrooms. More information & deadlines

     
  5. Explore the Science Practices with these new HHMI BioInteractive New Workshops: See all virtual offerings here. Attending can count toward your 18 Paid PD Hours!

     
  6. Ventures Foundation Grants for Teachers are small - easy to get - grants for teachers. You can apply for more than one grant at a time. If you get a grant you need to do a small impact report (like you might have to do with Donors Choose). Check out the grant website here

 

  1. Check out these free KQED resources for STEM Educators here. These are resources for Winter-Spring 2024, but be on the lookout for more resources and opportunities in the future.
 

Safety Updates

  1. Chemical and Biological Waste: Our spring pickups will happen during Summer Break 2024. If you have any questions, please contact Eric Lewis (lewise2@sfusd.edu).

     
  2. Safety Materials: Please make sure to request any labels or containers that you might need for newly generated waste.  You can also request class sets of goggles or broken glass containers. Also, please make sure you update the status of safety equipment in your classroom. 

 

  1. Science Safety Resources (student contracts, letters, assessments, etc.) are available to you. Safety is an essential part of all sciences classes. All students should be provided with a contract, participate in safety lessons, and pass a safety quiz at the beginning of the year. Please note this requires use of a district login. 

Accessing HS Science Curriculum 

All staff with sfusd.edu email addresses have access to the SFUSD Science Core Curriculum

 

Students must be logged in to their SFUSD student accounts to access their science books. Link: https://www.sfusd.edu/learning/curriculum/high-school/science. Do not share teacher links with students. They will be denied access. 

 

If you have a student teacher or know of a new teacher without an SFUSD email that needs access, please email Eric Lewis (lewise2@sfusd.edu) with their google email and the circumstances. 

 

Teacher Editions (TEs): You can access all student and teacher editions electronically via Google Drive. If you are new to a site, please check-in with your science department chair/lead about a printed teacher edition. 

This page was last updated on March 25, 2024