S.T.E.M.

The Macon Outdoor Club (FHS and MEC) had a wonderful trip to the Appalachian Highlands Science and Learning Center! The group was able to participate in a citizen science project for Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Snails), and we went on a 5-mile hike! This was our first trip of the year, and it was great to get to know everyone over stargazing, spaghetti, games, and a beautiful view! Thank you to the NC Youth Engagement Commission for their support of our Trailblazers Outdoor Club (gooutside.nc.gov/trailblazers/).

We need your help! We are having our first "Kids in Nature Trail Crew" event tomorrow, August 26th from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. If you have a weed eater and would be willing to help, please meet in the outdoor classroom at Mountain View Intermediate School. This workday is not for children. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Love at jennifer.love@macon.k12.nc.us

Looking for something to do that is out of this world? Check out this program at the Otto Community Center!

Chess Club at Mountain View Afterschool Edventure Program! After Christmas break, the Edventure students at MVI started learning to play Chess. The goal was to teach them a new game that allowed for building analytical and tactical skillsets. It was decided that they would do a Chess tournament on Mondays with each win gaining them a point on the scoreboard. On May 5th, we held our last tournament day and awarded prizes for the top three scores. Congratulations to the winners!

So proud of our robotics teams! They competed this week at the Smart Tank event at Southwestern Community College and represented Macon County with excellence. Through robotics, these students are learning so much more than just coding and building—they’re developing public speaking skills, collaboration, teamwork, and most of all… resilience. Sometimes, projects that have worked all year, projects they’ve spent hundreds of hours perfecting, just don’t work when it matters most. But instead of getting discouraged, they focus on what they can control and keep pushing forward. Proud of their growth, grit, and determination. Way to go!

We would like to thank the teachers and student crews from the Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps Center for their hard work installing our new fence at the Cove Branch Habitat Restoration project. The students even found a King Snake who was enjoying the Sun in the restored habitat. Thank you also to Clark and Co. for providing the lumber and delivery. Funding for the fence was provided by a grant through the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority). The next step is to plant some grass, mulch, and install our interpretive signs! We are excited to open this space to our students!

Congratulations to Annie Hornsby, a science teacher at Macon Middle School, who was recently selected for a 5-month fellowship with The Climate Initiative (www.theclimateinitiative.org). TCI is a nationwide organization that empowers educators and young climate leaders to build more climate-resilient communities. Through its non-partisan education and empowerment initiatives, TCI seeks to ignite a spark of hope and action, enabling youth to tackle local climate challenges and champion solutions in their communities and beyond. As an Education Fellow, Ms. Hornsby’s responsibilities will include acting as a direct line of support for educators in the TCI network, assisting with the development and dissemination of resources, working to enhance TCI programming, and contributing to the creation and improvement of educational materials.

Maker Faire is the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth - a family-friendly festival of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker movement. Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, and students. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned. Maker Faires happen all over the world but the Asheville Maker Faire is the only one in the Carolinas. When: Saturday April 5, 2025 Where: AB Tech in downtown Asheville Time: 10am - 3pm Cost: FREE Website: https://asheville.makerfaire.com/

This award can be used for our Macon Summer Edventure Camps as well as other camps your child may be interested in attending. You must be a FAT Cat or Zard member with the State Employees' Credit Union. Summer Camp Awards Are Back! Entry Deadline: Feb 28 FAT CAT® and Zard® members1 can enter for a chance to win $500 toward summer camp registration fees. Here’s how: Complete this application form. Submissions are limited to one per child. Have your child share their dream summer camp experience by submitting an original drawing or an essay, 250 words or less. Applications with a drawing or essay must be submitted by February 28, 2025. Entrants must be enrolled2 in a summer camp or enrichment program for Summer 2025. Click here to view the Official Contest Rules. Apply now   1Child must have an active SECU FAT CAT or Zard account.  Children of officers, directors, employees, representatives, volunteers, and agents of SECU are not eligible. 2Proof of camp enrollment required.

Summer Edventure Camp 2025 Applications NOW OPEN! Please pick up applications from the front office at the following schools: Iotla Valley Elementary, Cartoogechaye Elementary, South Macon Elementary, East Franklin Elementary, or Mountain View Intermediate. Camp is open to Macon County students from Kindergarten through age 13. There is a $60.00 deposit due to secure your spot. Space is limited, so register early. If you have questions, please call Jennifer Love at 828-524-3314.

Last week, our MMS STEM students experienced the joy of seeing their hard work come to life as we harvested one of our hydroponic grow towers to create fresh, delicious salads for lunch! It’s was rewarding to watch our students learn about sustainable agriculture, teamwork, and healthy eating while contributing to our school community. The pride on their faces as they served the “fruits of their labor" was priceless. These grow towers were purchased with a grant through the NC Go Outdoors Program through the NC Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission.

A huge THANK YOU to the Rotary Club of Franklin Daybreak for their incredibly generous gift of $4,000 to the MMS STEM program! Project-based learning and fostering teamwork through hands-on activities can be costly, but their support helps make it all possible. We are so grateful for their partnership in building brighter futures for our students.

We need your help tomorrow at MVI!

We have added a new Edventure Club to two of our schools. Mountain View Intermediate and Cartoogechaye Elementary will now have STEM lessons using the National Inventor Hall of Fame curriculum. Mr. Navarro is leading the students in SOS Endangered where students will engineer bear-proof trashcans, find solutions for bats looking for a place to roost, and how we can clean up our water! Our Edventure Clubs will be rotating throughout the schools this year so all students will have an opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. For more information about these programs, please go to https://www.macon.k12.nc.us/page/mep-mission-statement

The Macon Edventure Program has been busy these past couple of weeks creating works of art! We are enjoying our art classes, which are taught by local artists and supported through the Arts Council of Macon County's ARTReach Program. We thank them for their support!

Thank you to the North Carolina GO Grant for supporting outdoor education at Macon Middle! Part of the $15,000 grant we received was used to purchase grow towers, which are helping students learn about hydroponic agriculture and its benefits. The Pathways, Self-Contained, and Food and Nutrition departments are growing vegetables and herbs, while STEM students are monitoring and researching the towers. It's been a fantastic collaborative experience! The best part? These towers can be moved outdoors when the weather is good and brought indoors as needed.

Thank you, Franklin Walmart, for your generous donation of a 50-inch TV to the STEM program at Macon Middle School for a raffle. Project-based learning can indeed be expensive, but the rewards far outweigh the cost. Your support plays a crucial role in helping us provide engaging, hands-on learning experiences for our students. The drone image of Franklin Walmart was taken by a MMS STEM student. We greatly appreciate your contribution in making our program a success!

Win a 50" ROKU TV and support the Macon Middle School STEM Program. Contact gareth.wilkinson@macon.k12.nc.us to purchase tickets!

Macon Outdoor Club Careers in Natural Resources field trip to Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont Nov. 11-13.