STEM Early High School Teacher Attends NASA Conference in Houston

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For the first time in the history of the state of North Carolina, students at STEM Early High picked, researched, designed, and on May 11th, will be testing scientific experiments in zero-g, lunar, and martial gravity environments.

— Vance County Schools Press Release —

STEM Early High School teacher Milton Lima represented Vance County Schools at the 29th Annual Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC) at Space Center Houston in Houston, Texas. SEEC is one of the nation’s leading science educational opportunities for K-12th grade educators to access the latest teaching tools that can fuel their students’ passion for STEM, explore topics in aerospace and network with space industry leaders and NASA experts!

The theme of the 29th SEEC was “Inspiration Shapes Our Future”. Lima shared that scientists, engineers and exceptional educators conducted sessions which offered hands-on, easy to implement science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics lessons, geared towards engaging students at all grade levels.

During the conference, Lima had the opportunity to present the different programs that Vance County Schools’ students have developed at STEM Early High School, such as the:

➔ Microgravity Program: For the first time in the history of the state of North Carolina, students at STEM Early High picked, researched, designed, and on May 11th, will be testing scientific experiments in zero-g, lunar, and martial gravity environments. This program is a collaboration with the Wisconsin and North Carolina Space Grant Consortium, and also Winston-Salem State University, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

➔ NASA Sparx: This is an international collaboration of teachers mentoring students on solving NASA Challenges. Students at STEM Early High worked on building lunar habitats with paper and 3-D models. They have also been working on using metaverse technology. Students at STEM were able to meet weekly with other students across the globe during NASA Sparx.

➔ Space Farmers: STEM Early High students were involved in some of the projects by NASA, which included understanding how to plant in space within harsh and inappropriate conditions. This program is part of an international collaboration of educators.

Lima was also asked to participate in the recognizing of the Limitless Space Institute (LSI) participants. Lima was 1 of 20 educators selected worldwide that are learning beyond solar system science and creating STEAM K-12 lesson plans to bring into the classroom.

“The Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC) is a place for hands-on activities combined with engaging speakers that inject enthusiasm to go back into the classroom and help students reach the stars,” says Lima. “It is my goal to continue inspiring our children to be successful in our state, nationwide and across the globe.”

The conference was also an opportunity for scientists, engineers and educators to network with each other and learn what’s happening in STEM in schools across the world. Milton Lima shared that he is meeting with the Director of Education at NASA Space Center Houston and Vice-Chair of Manned Space Flight Education Foundation Board of Director, Iván Rodriguez, to discuss collaborations for NASA Programs in North Carolina and Brazil.

TownTalk: Rural Water Apprenticeships Are Available

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How many times a day do you use water?

Morning showers, preparing a pot of coffee or washing dishes after a meal are just a few of the many ways we use water throughout the day. We turn on the spigot and expect clean, safe water to come flowing out.

But it takes a lot of work to ensure our water is potable and safe to use, and Carolyn Bynum of the N.C. Rural Water Association has a startling statistic for all of us: Over the next five years, water systems will lose more than half of their current employees, mostly through retirement.

And so just who is stepping up to fill those jobs?

NCRWA’s apprenticeship program works year-round to identify prospective employees and place them in paid positions, creating a win-win situation for people who want to work in the field and for those water systems who need employees.

People who work in water system plants and wastewater plants are very essential front-line workers, she noted. “If we don’t have clean water, everything dies,” Bynum said. “It sounds drastic, but in reality, it’s true,” she added.

Bynum is the NCRWA’s workforce development coordinator and she explained the apprenticeship program to John C. Rose on Monday’s TownTalk.

The program functions much like traditional apprenticeships, with one big exception – the NCRWA apprentices are paid while they complete the extensive classroom instruction and on-the-job training.

Her agency has placed 20 apprentices in the three years or so since the apprenticeship program  was registered with N.C. Department of Labor. Three more apprentices just completed the two-year process and they’ll be placed soon, too.

And although apprentices will be learning the intricacies of the water industry, Bynum said NCRWA strives to provide participants with occupational training that can be applied across workplaces, not just the water industry.

“We want them to have a broad view of the industry,” she said. There’s a huge growth potential in the industry that often goes unnoticed by those entering the work force.

Applications can be submitted at any time; Bynum said the industry is always looking for qualified workers to make sure customers have clean water.

She said she gets calls all the time from water systems asking for help finding employees.

The apprenticeship program allows new employees to gain experience as they learn from seasoned workers. “You don’t want to wait until they retire,” she said.

After an application is submitted, the process continues sort of like a job interview. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Apprentices complete 288 hours of classroom instruction and 4,000 hours of on-the-job training during the two-year program.

At the end of each 1,000-hour period, apprentices are required to meet milestones to show progress. This successful completion every six months or so results in a wage increase.

It’s a plus if a candidate has good math skills, but Bynum said her agency provides supplemental services to shore up basic math skills when needed. “Math is such a huge part of the industry,” she said. There are always charts to read, measurements to take and gauges to monitor to ensure systems are functioning properly.

Water systems and water treatment systems operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, Bynum said.

“It’s recession proof.”

Visit www.ncrwa.org to learn more or contact Bynum at 743.202.0971 or apprenticeship@ncrwa.org.

 

 

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Thinning Pines

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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Northeast Cattle Producers’ Meeting Mar. 17 In Warrenton

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The Northeast Regional beef conference is coming to Warren County next month to provide updates that are relevant and important to beef cattle producers.

Pregistration is requested by contacting your local livestock agent or by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/northeast-regional-beef-conference-tickets-543191308827?aff=erelexpmlt#search.

The meeting will be held on Mar. 17 from 1 p.m. to  4 p.m. at Sunrise Ridge Farm, located at 222 sunrise ridge farm Lane in Warrenton.

Lunch will be provided beginning at 12 noon, according to information from Matthew Place, Warren County livestock agent.

Among the topics to be discussed by area representatives include an overall industry update, as well as new VFD regulations, external parasite controls and various weaning scenarios.

A one-hour K,D, N and X pesticide credit will be available as well.

Contact Place at 252.257.3640 to register.

‘Got To Be NC’ Festival A Great Spot To Display – And View – Antique Farm Equipment

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If that old tractor that your granddaddy used all those years ago still runs, whether it’s that special shade of green or red or blue, there may be a spot for it during the upcoming Got to Be NC Festival later this spring.

Festival organizers say there’s still space for those farm-equipment items that hobbyists and others can display during the festival, scheduled to take place May 19-21 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.

Organizers are on the hunt for collectors of antique tractors and farm equipment to join a display of more than 1,000 pieces of machinery. Tractors in working order also can participate in the daily tractor parade through the fairgrounds. Participation is free, but pre-registration is required.

There also are booth spaces available for N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Got to Be NC members, independent vendors and concessionaires at the festival. Applications for all vendor locations are due by April 1.

The Got to Be NC Festival is a family-friendly event that highlights the best of North Carolina agriculture. Visitors can roam through the antique farm equipment, sample and purchase locally made products at the Food Lion Local Goodness Marketplace, enjoy the excitement of the carnival and relax to live music on an outdoor stage.

Registration forms and vendor applications are online at https://www.gottobencfestival.com/Vendors.htm

 

Warren 4-H Offers 8-Week Dairy Calf Project

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The Warren County 4-H program is sponsoring an eight-week dairy calf project for interested individuals and their families. Come out to an informational meeting on Mar. 9 at 6:30 p.m. to learn more.

The 2023 Dairy Calf Project pairs Jersey calves with 4-Hers for weekly sessions in preparation for a couple of upcoming livestock shows, said Matthew Place, Warren County cooperative extension livestock agent.

The meeting will be held at the cooperative extension office, 158 Rafters Lane, Warrenton.

Contact Place at mbplace@ncsu.edu for more information or call the office at 252.257.3640.

Join Maria Parham Health On Feb. 28 For Healthy Heart Day Community Event

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February is Heart Month, and Maria Parham Health is holding a Healthy Heart Day heart fair on Tuesday, Feb. 28, featuring information and resources to help the Henderson/Vance County community live longer and stronger.

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives each year.  More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and one-third of these deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age. Heart disease is also the leading cause of death in the United States, for both men and women.

Healthy Heart Day at Maria Parham Health will offer tools and resources that individuals need to live a heart-healthy lifestyle and to reduce or prevent cardiovascular disease, according to information from Donna Young, the hospital’s Marketing & Communication Coordinator.

Registered nurses will be on hand to provide free blood pressure and pulse/oximeter readings, and exercise physiologist Chris Cole will be there with Maria Parham athletic trainers, to consult with attendees about the best heart-healthy exercises for their lifestyles. Guests of the heart fair can speak with a registered dietitian about heart-healthy eating, and Director of Cardiac Services Lisa McGhee will give virtual tours of Maria Parham’s state-of-the-art heart catheterization lab, and is available to share information about the cardiac care services the hospital offers.

It’s also a time to learn how to properly administer Hands-Only CPR from emergency medical services professionals. Hands-Only CPR is performed with chest compressions only, and can be crucial to helping heart attack victims to survive until medical assistance arrives.

Also important to heart health is the mind-body connection. Mental health professionals will be on hand at this event to talk to attendees about how mental health is directly connected to heart health.

Heart fair attendees will also be treated to free samples, giveaways, and can register for door prizes.

The Maria Parham Health Healthy Heart Day is free and open to the public, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28. No registration is necessary; the event will be held in the front lobby of the hospital, and all are invited to simply come through the hospital’s main entrance to participate.

To learn more, call 252.436.1408, or email donna.young@lpnt.net.

(This story was originally published on WIZS.com on Feb. 15, 2023.)

SportsTalk: Vance Charter Girls Advance To Second Round

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“My job is to ruin the fun,” according to Brian Howard, Head Coach of the girl’s basketball team at Vance Charter School.  His was referring to his team becoming over confident after advancing to the second round of the state playoffs. “Our confidence level is always high. Every year we expect to make the playoffs,” Howard added.  This year is no different.  After defeating North Edgecombe 58-27 in the first round Vance Charter will now face a very competitive Clover Garden school tonight at 6pm. This is a home game for Vance Charter.

Howard says their team is built on defense but would like to see his girls play a little harder in the first half.  “We are a strong second half team,” Howard said. In his fifth year as coach Howard feels like the program has come together.  “Everybody’s playing for each other and everybody’s playing together,” said Howard.  Once again, their game against Clover Garden is at 6pm tonight (Thursday) at Vance Charter.