In August 2002, a teachers’ educational workshop for the Science and Math teachers was held at Rylie Academy. Science educators from NASA/Explore! of the Lunar and Planetary Institute of Houston, Texas conducted the “Fun Day with Science” workshop. There were 62 teachers from the following schools in the Dallas area: Inspired Vision I, Inspired Vision II, A +, and Rylie Academy.
In September 2002, a group of students from Rylie Academy traveled to Houston, Texas to participate in a science educational lecture and tour of the Lunar and Planetary Institute. There were ten students selected from a group of 55 who participated in this two-day trip to Houston. The trip also included a tour of the Johnson Space Center that was once the home of the past space missions.
In October 2002, five students from Rylie Academy had the opportunity to participate in the “Robotics” competition hosted by the University of North Texas, in Richardson, Texas. The program sponsors for this program were Rylie Academy and the Committee for Action Program Services, CAPS.
In December 2002, seven students from Rylie participated in a hands-on training in the Forensic Laboratory at the Drug Enforcement Administration’s South Central Laboratory in Dallas. This was part of an eight-week mentoring/training to prepare the students for a Science Fair competition held on the campus of the University of Houston, Downtown. The Science Fair was sponsored by the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE).
In January 2003, 35 teachers from Rylie Academy, Inspired Vision I & II participated in a hands-on science-training workshop at the Dallas Zoo. Also in January 2003, 49 students Rylie Academy participated in an overnight camp-In at the Science Place Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. The students participated in science related activities and lectures taught by educational coordinators and volunteers from the Science Place.
In February of 2003, two students were selected to participate in the Regional NOBCChE Science Fair competition on the campus of University of Houston Downtown, in Houston, Texas. One sixth grader, placed second in the field have Forensics chemistry, and an eighth grader received honorable mention in the field of Forensics Chemistry (fingerprints).
In March 2003, CAPS facilitated and co-sponsored the Science Teachers workshop at the 30th Annual NOBCChE conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In April 2003, CAPS sponsored two teachers from Rylie Academy to attend the Annual Science Teachers’ Workshop in Indianapolis, Indiana. The National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. The workshop was held at the NOBCChE national conference. Also in the same month, CAPS sponsored ten students from Rylie Academy to participate in the Physics Bowl held at Rylie.
In July 2003, CAPS partnered with NASA, Explorer! “Fun With Science” from Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Field Division and South Central Laboratory to host a Science Teachers Workshop. A total of 19, which included educators and administrators, participated in the workshop.
In October 2003, CAPS sponsored a teachers’ workshop for the Dallas Independent School District educators. Twenty-seven educators from grades 6-8 participated in various experiments that would aid them in the classroom, as well as attend lectures on motivating and sparking the interest of science to students. The host for this workshop was the Drug Enforcement Administration South Central Laboratory. Guest presenters for this workshop were from “Fun with Science” Explore!
In November 2003, CAPS sponsored a teachers’ workshop for the Dallas Independent School District. The workshop was held at the DEA South Central Laboratory in Dallas Texas, and NASA Genesis Mission program from Aurora, Colorado, was the presenter. A total of 19 participants attended the workshop.
In February of 2004 CAPS co-sponsored the Science Fair with A+ Academy, where 201 students grades Pk-12 participated. Also in February over fifty six graders from A+ Academy, Inspired Vision I & II charter school, were invited to participate in the over-night camp-In at Fair Park, in Dallas, Texas.
In May of 2004, three days of science activities, for students in grades 1st through 5th were having learning about science the program “Fun with Science.” This gave the students a great opportunity to learn the various areas of science.
In August of 2004, I was a guest of the Genesis Space Program for a two-day workshop in Utah where I participated in the return of the Genesis spacecraft. The goal of the Genesis mission was to collect dust from space and have NASA scientists examine it for clues on the origin of the solar system. To end another successful year, in December of 2004, a trip to the Science Place field was offered to fifth graders from A+ Academy. They participated in an overnight camp-in to conduct science experiments. Bank of American and other community supporters made the program possible.
In January of 2005, CAPS was given a wonderful opportunity to partner with Paul Quinn College, Science Department, under the direction of Dr. Weldon Walton, who hosted a science teachers’ workshop for educators from A+ Academy, Inspired Vision I & II. During the month of July, 2006, CAPS held its first Summer Science Academy on the campus of Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas. The Academy assisted 23 (4th-12th grade) students from the Dallas area on how to properly construct science fair projects. The Academy also included hands-on experiments and research projects.