STEM Spotlight with Ms. Kelly Weston and Ms. Rebecca Finch

Explore the exciting world of STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, right here at Seneca Valley! In this episode, we're uncovering the wide range of STEM classes, clubs, and activities available to students, plus a sneak peek at the upcoming STEM Alumni event and STEM fair.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE WILL REVIEW

• What STEM is and the significant growth in related classes and programs over the years
• The many ways students can get involved with STEM
• Details about Seneca Valley's STEM Alumni event and STEM fair
• How STEM skills are preparing students for future careers

For more information about the STEM Alumni event or STEM fair, email Ms. Rebecca Finch at FINCHRS@svsd.net or Ms. Kelly Weston at WESTONKM@svsd.net.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Ms. Kelly Weston, Seneca Valley Senior High School AP Chemistry teacher, Science Department Chair and Sponsor for Science Honor Society

With 25 years of teaching experience, including two decades at Seneca Valley, Kelly Weston is a dedicated educator and passionate advocate for science. Currently teaching AP Chemistry, she also serves as the Science Honor Society sponsor and faculty advisor for the PJAS and PRSEF competitions. Her commitment to outreach shines through her organization of elementary STEM activities and mentorship of senior project students as they create their own STEM events. Mrs. Weston loves sharing her enthusiasm for science with learners of all ages, inspiring the next generation of curious minds.

Ms. Rebecca Finch, Seneca Valley Senior High School/Anatomy and Molecular Biology Teacher

Rebecca Finch is in her 32nd year of teaching in the science department of Seneca Valley Senior High School. Throughout her career, she has taught a variety of subjects, including Science and Technology, Horticulture, Biology, Honors Anatomy, and Honors Molecular Biology.  Ms. Finch is also the proud sponsor of the Medical Careers Club, where former STEM students return to engage current students in hands-on career exploration. Additionally, she co-sponsors the Science Honor Society, overseeing both the STEM Fair and annual events featuring STEM alumni. 

Transcript

FULL TRANSCRIPT (with timecode)

 00:00:02:26 - 00:00:12:01

Kelly Weston: Welcome to Voices, a national award-winning podcast brought to you by the Seneca Valley School District. This is Jeff Krakoff. 

 00:00:12:03 - 00:00:41:01

Jeff Krakoff: Today I'm joined by Kelly Weston and Rebecca Finch. Thanks for joining us, both of you. We're here to talk about STEM offerings in the district. And, Kelly, I know you teach 11th and 12th grade AP chemistry. And Rebecca, you teach, um, honors anatomy and molecular biology. So we have a lot to talk about. You know, STEM, I think everybody knows what the STEM stands for. But tell us a little bit about STEM at Seneca Valley. 

 00:00:41:23 - 00:01:46:21

Kelly Weston: So a STEM of course is Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Um, sometimes you'll see it as STEAM with the A in it standing for Art. But we seem to be more STEM at the secondary level. Um, we have a lot of classes I've been teaching here at Seneca Valley for, This is my 20th year. Okay. And we have really increased the number of offerings that we have across the board, not only in the science department, but in our technology education department, our math department. We have a lot more offerings than we ever did. Um, we have tons of classes. Um, all of the students are required for graduation to, at least in science, to take a biology course, uh, chemistry course, and then one other STEM credit. And so that opens it up. If they're not necessarily scientifically minded, but they would prefer to go into computer science, which is another program that's really great. Um, they have that opportunity to do so. So we see a lot more diversification, I would say, than we've seen in the past. 

 00:01:46:29 - 00:01:55:24

Jeff Krakoff: Thanks, Kelly. So you have your minimum requirements. But what if a student wants to get more involved in STEM? How do they go about doing that. 

 00:01:56:02 - 00:02:58:01

Kelly Weston: So many, so many. Um, so well in terms of course offerings. We have, um, all the way up to Advanced Placement. So we have Advanced Placement chemistry, Advanced Placement biology, and Advanced Placement calculus based physics. We have the elective courses like, uh, like Finch teaches. That's the honors molecular biology, which is not something that's typically offered in a high school curriculum. Uh, and that honors anatomy. We have, uh, honors organic and biochemistry, which is another course that you don't usually see at this level. Uh, and then even for those that are interested in science, but they don't necessarily want to go major in science, we have very relevant to life classes is what I like to call them. Um, we have uh, uh, horticulture and we have field biology, which is all about like what you see when you walk outside. Um, and then there's the opportunities outside of the classroom as well. Uh, we have lots of clubs and activities at this level. Um, Finch is involved with, uh, medical careers. So you can tell a little bit about that. 

 00:02:58:03 - 00:03:14:29

Rebecca Finch: Yeah. This, uh, we we have a medical careers club. It's probably 60 students strong. And I bring in, uh, alumni to discuss their career paths. And I do hands on activities with the kids. Um, uh, we have Science Honor Society is another fabulous which we'll talk a little more about. 

 00:03:15:01 - 00:03:28:00

Kelly Weston: Yeah, I'm the sponsor of that one. Uh, biology club. They, uh, their big event is competing in our envirothon competition at the county level. And almost every year I think they make it to states, which is just awesome. 

 00:03:29:00 - 00:03:29:24

Rebecca Finch: Engineering club. 

 00:03:29:26 - 00:04:09:06

Kelly Weston: Engineering, robotics. Uh, we can't forget the biotechnology lab over the IHS. I mean, that that's just huge. Uh, we have kids over there working with Mr. Carson and Mr. Lavelle doing projects in biofilms and e-dna and fluorescent microscopy and just way, way beyond what you would ever expect to see in a high school level. Um, that's all occurring over there. Um, you know, the kids are talking about and when there's not something that interests the kids, the kids take it upon themselves to start their own clubs. I just saw a flyer in the hall the other day. You know, their students are interested in joining, uh, starting an astronomy club. So they're in the process of recruiting to see if they can get enough students involved. 

 00:04:10:09 - 00:04:13:23

Jeff Krakoff: Is there a minimal number if you want to start your own club?

 00:04:14:22 - 00:04:35:02

Kelly Weston: Uh, I think that I think initially it's between 25 and 30, and then you have to have a faculty sponsor as well. But, you know, they're well on their way of getting that number that they need so that they can get, you know, an activity after school because it's something that really interests them. And I think that's something that's great about Seneca Valley. If the kids express an interest, they're willing to help them grow in that interest. 

 00:04:35:06 - 00:04:51:28

Jeff Krakoff: So you just mentioned a lot of things, a lot of classes, a lot of clubs. You can even start your own club. If a student's interested in any or all, do they just reach out to their counselor? Do they reach out to one of the two of you or somebody else in the science area? 

 00:04:52:00 - 00:05:26:15

Rebecca Finch: So we do a we do a club fair at the start of the school year, during the lunches and all club sponsors and students will set up tables so the kids can sort of peruse down the hallways and have the opportunity to sign up, you know, at any of those booths. And we do get the word out, you know, right through Teams and posters and bulletin boards. So we do our best to say, hey, there's no reason why there. You would have nothing to do. Here at Seneca. We have so many fabulous options here. 

 00:05:26:17 - 00:06:03:03

Kelly Weston: There's a wonderful you know, the Seneca Valley has a wonderful website. There's, you know, on the, uh, on the Athletics and Clubs and Activities page. There's a list of all of the clubs, 7-12, that are offered with links to each club with the sponsors name and information. So, you know, it's out there. Um, we have students actually, uh, two weeks ago, uh, we had students, uh, science honor society students that went into the 9th and 10th grade classes for 10 minutes at the beginning of the period just to talk about some of the offerings that we have. You know, we have teachers that are willing to give up a little bit of class time to make sure that all students are aware of the things that we offer. 

 00:06:03:05 - 00:06:03:20

Rebecca Finch: Yeah. 

 00:06:03:24 - 00:06:12:08

Jeff Krakoff: Okay. Rebecca, you mentioned there is a STEM fair.  Tell you, when is it? Where is it? Give us as much detail as you can. 

 00:06:12:10 - 00:07:54:06

Rebecca Finch: This is this is, uh, been been fun. We got it started. This will be our 13th year. It blossomed at the same time as we started the science honor society. And as a requirement to be in the science honor society, the kids have to do some independent research or an experiment and then present it in the same fashion, you know, as you would expect in a in a paper. Uh, it we've moved it around a few times. Um, right now we currently host it in our library. It is in the evening. Uh, we typically have what participant number do we have last year? 50 strong, about 50 projects. And what's really spectacular about this event is we reach out to the community, and those are and we I use the word judges very loosely because they just come in and have good conversations with the students. And so it's an opportunity to get feedback and constructive criticism. And really, to me, the most important thing is that students standing there and talking about what they've done and sharing that. Uh, so this year it's going to be March 20th, um, in our library again, we're hoping to have probably at least another 50 projects. And it can be research based. They can be more, uh, you know, data oriented. We see all kinds of different levels. And, you know, we're not there to nitpick. We just think the experience is so beneficial that, you know, we're not going to say, no, this isn't good enough. We just value the fact that they want to be there and that they, um, you know, are going to gain such incredible 21st century skills by just participating. 

 00:07:54:12 - 00:08:00:20

Jeff Krakoff: Okay. So you mentioned the event's going to be in March. The students have to sign up or register. Do they just show up? 

 00:08:01:13 - 00:09:05:28

Kelly Weston: So, uh, next week we have a science honor society meeting, and that is the topic of our conversation. The whole meeting is how to register. All that stuff will be out on the science honor society page, which is on the athletics activities and athletics page. Got it. Uh, so it will be coming live next week, and then their, uh, project proposals are going to be due right before Thanksgiving. Um, and uh, usually, uh, SV Foundation is really gracious and uh, allows us to have some STEM grant money. So students that want to do a more detailed project that might cost a little bit out of pocket. Uh, SV Foundation has graciously sponsored those students over the years and helped with some of the costs associated with doing these projects. Because these projects are not part of a class, they're they're not required to do this for any other reason other than they want to learn. Um, they do get inducted into Science National Honor Society. But again, there's no real grade or anything attached to it. So it's a lot of fun and they'll hopefully be getting those out to us soon. And then we'll be looking for, um, judges, experts. 

 00:09:06:00 - 00:09:07:10

Rebecca Finch: Experts. Yes, experts. 

 00:09:07:12 - 00:09:30:18

Kelly Weston: So, uh, and there's a spot on our website for that as well. It says community experts, please get involved. And there's a whole checklist of things. There's a form there that they can volunteer to to come in and evaluate at the STEM fair. They can come in to speak to our classes. We have people come in and speak all the time about various topics, um, or if they want to come in and speak on STEM Alumni Day. You know, that's another good way to get a hold of us. 

 00:09:31:22 - 00:09:40:13

Jeff Krakoff: Rebecca, what are some of the ways that you're seeing that STEM skills are helping to prepare students for the career today and tomorrow, I guess. 

 00:09:40:26 - 00:10:54:03

Rebecca Finch: You know, like I said, I think one of the biggest benefits are those 21st century skills that, you know, we are trying to instill in our students. And, um, you know, certainly the most obvious would just be the research skills. And anyone, you know, going into the field of science as a degree in college. If that's their plan, you know, needs those skills. So, you know, the gathering of the data and the analyzing and the in the interpretation is all very important. Um, but then there's some softer skills. Just collaboration, I think is important because we allow the kids to work in what teams of maximum of three. And so being able to collaborate with others I think is a huge skill that comes out of our STEM Fair. Communication, Like I mentioned earlier, being able to stand and confidently share the information, you know, that they have worked so hard on. And, you know, I just think, you know, many of these skills are just life, lifelong learning skills and, um, and, and just that desire to want to continue that professional development and that continuous learning is something so important and it instills it early on. So when they do move on to whatever path they choose, they have that love for learning. And I think it's just so reflective in this in this event. Yeah. 

 00:10:54:05 - 00:11:09:26

Jeff Krakoff: So Kelly, you mentioned you encourage alumni to get involved, right? Speak to a class, be part of the STEM Fair. But I understand there's a unique event at Seneca Valley. It is specifically a STEM alumni event. What's that all about? 

 00:11:10:08 - 00:12:08:13

Kelly Weston: So, we started this. This is going to be our 11th year with it. Um, with the science departments, the one that started it up here at the senior high. And basically it started with the science teachers canceling their classes, uh, right before, uh, winter break and inviting instead in speakers that used to sit in our seats to talk about where they are today. It has blossomed and grown over the years. We now have teachers in the math department and in computer science, in, uh, business, in family and consumer science, um, that actually volunteer to give up some of their class time to have some former students come in and talk about where they are today. Some of them are in their professional phase. Some of them are still in college. Yeah. Um, but it's just it's a wonderful opportunity for our students to see people that sat where they are sitting now, what they have done and where they can go with the Seneca Valley education. 

 00:12:08:15 - 00:12:39:09

Rebecca Finch: And we've gotten such great feedback from students about how valuable this day is. And I even saw it in the spotlight alumni. There was a girl recently in the Seneca Valley newsletter saying that her whole life sort of shifted when she met a student or a past student during a STEM alumni event, and how it changed her whole trajectory. So it was just, you know, I think that, um, you know, this has grown. We we're, what, up to 50 alumni now coming in for this. 

 00:12:39:13 - 00:12:40:20

Jeff Krakoff: It's just wow. 

 00:12:46:00 - 00:13:07:29

Rebecca Finch: Yeah. It and just the networking. Our kids are so thankful for that. And if they want to do their senior projects, for instance, as a shadowing event, you know, here are STEM alumni from Seneca Valley. They know everything about their senior projects. So they're usually very willing to, you know, help these kids. So it's it has just really become a really fun event. 

 00:13:08:01 - 00:13:37:15

Kelly Weston: It has been a lot of fun. And we, you know, we really try to reach out. You know, it used to be, you know, 11 years ago everybody was on Facebook. And so, you know, we would just put out a Facebook post. Hey, you know, former students, you know, we really need you. Uh, but now everybody's so diversified in their social media, uh, that we have to get a little more creative, uh, when we get to recruiting. So, uh, stay tuned. Uh, there, uh, Seneca Valley, YouTube, you're going to you're going to see the science teachers, uh, advertising the event in a hopefully fun way. 

 00:13:37:17 - 00:13:49:05

Rebecca Finch: We try to try to make it fun and yeah, try to get as many, many people back in and it. I'll tell you what though, I have students reaching out to me even in the summer saying, when's the STEM alumni event? I want to come in. 

 00:13:49:15 - 00:13:50:03

Jeff Krakoff: So awesome. 

 00:13:50:16 - 00:13:55:09

Rebecca Finch: It's now the word is out and that's it makes my job a lot easier. 

 00:13:55:11 - 00:14:09:11

Kelly Weston: Yeah being 11 years into it, you know, we have a lot of students that were there for the first or second year and they remember and they're willing to, you know, pay back, I guess pay it forward to the to the next generation. So, so really something cool. 

 00:14:09:17 - 00:14:15:29

Jeff Krakoff: You mentioned you get about 50 alumni coming back. How many students are typically part of this. And then the audience. 

 00:14:16:21 - 00:15:01:07

Kelly Weston: Oh, well, uh, all of the classes, uh, all of the, uh, there's what, eight of us science teachers, uh, and most of us teach about 100 students a day. Uh, so you're looking at 800 right there. Plus, we have students that will give up their study halls and lunches. If they can't see a particular speaker that they want to see because it doesn't like time, class doesn't work. Uh, they'll come into that, uh, the library hosts speakers for us all day. Uh, plus, like I said, I think last year we had 3 or 4 math teachers, uh, business teacher, uh, a couple tech ed teachers. We have robotics and engineering downstairs, uh, helping, you know, sometimes we get so many speakers that were looking for housing for them, we're like, okay, we got this great speaker and nobody else has room in their schedule for them. We really want this kid. 

 00:15:01:11 - 00:15:04:15

Rebecca Finch: We don't want to turn away somebody who's volunteering their time, you know? Right? 

 00:15:04:22 - 00:15:18:02

Kelly Weston: Right. But I would say I would say probably a lot of impact. I would say, I would say at least 75% of the juniors and seniors in this building will have some connection at some point of the day. Okay. Our day. 

 00:15:18:04 - 00:15:25:11

Jeff Krakoff: That's a huge, huge event. So how can alumni, uh, reach out if they're interested in being part of this event? 

 00:15:25:19 - 00:16:20:17

Kelly Weston: Well, uh, usually we have them email, uh, Miss Finch, uh, and her email is Finchrs@svsd.net. There's also the link on the Science Honor Society uh, club activities page for getting involved. And that is one of the choices that's out there. And we will reach out to them. Um, we usually, uh, put the plea out, uh, right before Thanksgiving. Um, and then as soon as we get back from Thanksgiving break, we're emailing back and forth and trying to finalize our list and get everybody um, there we. We try to encourage the alumni to come again. Uh, Seneca Valley is really good at giving us some swag. I guess you could say they get a little swag bag of Seneca Valley items. Uh, we give them lunch, they get a free lunch out of the deal, and just the opportunity to come back and see, you know, where they were and talk to their teachers. I think it's been huge. It's been, I think, good for everyone. Yep. 

 00:16:20:25 - 00:16:30:25

Jeff Krakoff: That's awesome. So for both of you, is there anything we didn't cover? Is there anything else you'd like to let people know about the STEM offering at Seneca Valley or these two events? 

 00:16:31:06 - 00:18:16:25

Kelly Weston: So, uh, science Honor society, um, is really big in science, community service. So, you know, we have the STEM Alumni Day where our students are the benefactors, but we love and my students love to go down to the elementary level and do things with our elementary students. Um, I personally have a few students that I mentor for senior project that organize elementary outreach days. So we just had one on Saturday. We had 50 elementary kids up here on campus on a Saturday with about 20 of our Science Honor society students running activities to inspire them to want to be the next generation. And the really cool thing was, is the student that hosted the event on Saturday actually came to one of our elementary outreach events the very first year that we did, though. So we have that going on. Um, we're working on a mentoring program, uh, through some of the elementary schools to help them with their STEM fair projects, uh, helping them with the planning and execution and creating their boards and stuff. I have another student that's doing that. Um, we have I just, uh, got in contact with Ehrman Crest last year. We went in three of the science teachers there wanted to do a science outreach day, kind of as a "yay" we made it through, uh, PSSA's. And so we did a blood focused, uh, outreach. Uh, this year, all of the teachers at Ehrman Crest want to do that. So we're looking at trying to figure out how we're going to visit 12 different science classes, uh, in April. But I'm really excited. And my students are going to do that. I love to see our students reaching out to the younger generation. Yeah, that's one of the things that they get the best, uh, experience out of is sharing their love with others. 

 00:18:16:28 - 00:18:20:23

Rebecca Finch: We have a spring outreach event for the elementary students again this spring. 

 00:18:20:25 - 00:19:08:03

Kelly Weston: We have another one of my other students is organizing one. Um, and then our students can also in terms of what they can do, um, last year we had three students participate in Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science with their STEM fair projects. Um, they all earned a first place at regionals and got to go to Penn State, where they all three earned first place awards there. That's some of them earned some cash. Yeah. And, uh, we have students that participate in the Pennsylvania Regional Science and Engineering Fair, um, that used to be housed in the gifted department and last year that got moved on to a science honor society's plate, if you will. Um, so the students that are in science honor society have the opportunity to participate in both of those competitions. Okay. Um, take them out of, you know, to take their projects to the next level. So. 

 00:19:08:05 - 00:19:24:06

Jeff Krakoff: All right, so for any students or parents, check out the website for all of the course offerings, clubs and events. And if there are any alumni listening to want to get involved, definitely reach out to Rebecca Finch. And yes, give us your email one more time. 

 00:19:24:12 - 00:19:33:21

Rebecca Finch: Sure, it's Finch f as in Frank inchrs@svsd.net  

 00:19:34:01 - 00:19:40:04

Jeff Krakoff: All right. Well, thank you both for all the great information. That was Kelly Weston and Rebecca Finch. Thank you so much. 

 00:19:40:17 - 00:19:41:20

Rebecca Finch: Our first podcast, this is exciting. 

 00:19:41:22 - 00:19:44:27

Jeff Krakoff: And you did extremely well. Thanks for joining us today. 

 00:19:45:03 - 00:19:46:13

Kelly Weston: Thank you. Anytime.