Spring has sprung here in the land of STEM-Biz:

Hello and Happy March.  I hope this newsletter finds you well.

STEM Biz students have been extremely busy!  The beginning of March we wrapped up the the Rotation-4 Seminar Coding & Digital Video Editing.  All students created multiple web pages and a digital video production using video, images, audio, and voiceovers.  The students had a lot of fun and learned a lot about what it takes to work in these fields.

Rotation-5 has begun and STEM Biz students are learning about the wonderful world of Microsoft Office in a course called Office Technologies and Organization.  In this course, students will solidify their knowledge of file management and organization using network drives, learn about Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.  In addition to the MS Office suite, students will learn the ancient and secret language known as cursive, and will also spend time learning the proper touch-typing method of keyboarding.  

The student's first major project was to write a letter to a local restaurant or the school administration.  We'll see what kind of response they receive.  Stay tuned for more info, and have a safe and relaxing Spring Break.

Mr. P
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Hello!

Welcome back to another wonderful STEM-Biz update!  Even though it is cold and snowy, STEM Biz is heating up!  We are currently in the middle of Rotation-4, Coding with HTML4 and Digital Video Editing.

Students were nervous and excited about learning how to do real coding using HTML4.  Most students had been used to some sort of block-coding, which differs from the line-by-line, keystroke-by-keystroke coding we are doing now. We worked for four lessons on learning how to code using the proper syntax, and then the students got to pick their own topics and are now well on their way to creating a 4-page Website.

Digital Video Editing has begun!  We are using a program called Movie Studio Platinum to create high-end video productions.  The students received some instruction on how to use the new software, and they have begun creating their videos based on the same topics as their websites.  Please check out some of the pics below to see our students in-action!

Have a great day!
Mr. P
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Happy New Year!
STEM-Biz kicked off 2019 in style as students finished their cereal creations and presentations.  Please see some of the cool pics below that show some of our students with their finished products.
Have a GREAT day!
Mr. P

Happy Holidays from STEM-Biz!

We are in the middle of Rotation-3, The Business Behind Cereal.  Students are having a great time as we explore this amazing 7.7 billion dollar per-year industry.  The amount of marketing and advertising in this industry is amazing!

Our students are working to create their own brand of cereal, and marketing campaign to go along with it.  We also did a taste test to see if commercials and advertising impacted our taste buds.  See the pics below, and have a great rest of the year!

Sincerely,
Mr. P
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Happy Holiday Season:

It has been a GREAT Rotation-3 in STEM Biz!  We have finished the class called Making Money Through Investing.  Students had a great time learning about the stock market, investments, and more.  We concluded the course with each student sharing out their company research project. Many students learned a great deal about how large companies start and grow.  

Students also learned about the investment pyramid, including the different types of investments at each level.  We also cornered the market in a game called PIT.  Students had a great time!

I would like to wish all STEM students and their families a very blessed holiday season.

Sincerely,
 Mr. P

 
Hello & Happy October!

It's been a very busy month for STEM Biz students.  We recently wrapped up Rotation #1, and students worked very hard to complete their projects and meet their deadlines.  All work for Rotation #1 Class MARKETING THROUGH GRAPHIC DESIGN was due last Friday October 12th.  FINAL Deadline to turn in work is this Friday October 19th.  We'll be reporting out badge progress and student proficiencies shortly after that.

On Tuesday, October 9, 2018, business students from Waukesha STEM Academy--Saratoga Campus participated in the 32nd annual Career Expo at the Waukesha County Expo Center  Over 900 students from 14 Waukesha County middle schools participated in the event.  Each student attended three 35-minute workshops from different career areas that comprise a Career Pod. One of the goals of Career Expo is to introduce students to careers and occupations that may be new to them.  This is a great opportunity for students to learn about and explore different career paths.

Career Expo is supported by a team of business leaders and representatives of service organizations, county government, colleges and trade associations.  They provide the financial support, in-kind contributions, career workshops, and volunteers needed to make this event a success. The ultimate goal is to help build a qualified and competent future workforce by introducing students to a variety of career options through hands-on activities.  
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Please see pictures from the field trip shown below.

Welcome Back!

STEM Biz is super-duper excited to be back at school!  We are ready to rock, and the students are stoked for Rotation-1, Marketing Through Graphic Design.  

Our Level-1 students have learned about the 5 P’s of Marketing, and why businesses participate in marketing activities.  Students have also begun learning about graphic design using a program called Adobe Photoshop.  We started with how advertisements contain layers, and students created their own layer project.  We started by introducing students to layers by building burgers, and then students began creating their own food items using these layer concepts.  In future lessons, students will continue to learn the basics and beyond in Adobe Photoshop, including the opportunity to “Flip This House” as they used photoshop to do some home remodeling.  They will continue to use this dynamic software to create professional advertisements and promotional messages including print ads, movie posters, and more!

​Level-2 Students have been working on creating their businesses, including designing logos, letterhead, envelopes, business cards, and more!  They also completed their product photography lesson, and their pictures turned out fantastic and professional looking.  Level-3 students created their learning plan and are enjoying learning new techniques of design and advertising. 

All 7th Grade students will have a field trip in early October for Career Fair at Waukesha State Fair Grounds.  Please be on the lookout for the permission slip coming home.  Again, this is 7th grade only.  We look forward to continuing our learning in this course as we develop our design and marketing skills.  You can reach me anytime at dprothero@waukesha.k12.wi.us 

Hello:

As Summer is rapidly approaching, I wanted to thank all of the students and their families for their support this year.  This will be my last newsletter for the 2017-18 School Year.

STEM Biz students have enjoyed a GREAT year!  Right now students are in the middle of Rotation-6, the SIM Exploration.  6th Graders have their restaurants set-up and are open for business.  7th Graders have set-up their retail stores and are attempting to earn as much weekly profit as possible.  8th Graders have learned a bit about what it is like in the real world....from finding a job and apartment, to buying groceries and paying taxes, the SIM is helping them experience important life skills in a digital world.

To my 8th Grade families, congrats on promotion  nd good luck next year!  6th and 7th grade families, I look forward to working with you again next year!  Have a great summer!!!

Mr. Prothero
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Hello:

I hope everyone had a relaxing spring break, and now we are back in the groove of school!  STEM Biz students have been working hard to finish up Rotation-5, Office Technologies and Organization.  We also received several responses to our student letters from local businesses.  Special shout-outs to BelAir Cantina, Chic-Fil-A, Dady-Ohs and others for writing letters back to our students. 

Rotation-6 has begun, and students are working in SIM Exploration.  Students in grade 6 are learning what it takes to run a restaurant business.  Students in 7th grade are learning about retail store ownership.  Students in grade 8 are learning about personal finance, and how to survive in the real world.

Please check out the pics shown below, and enjoy!
Mr. Prothero
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Spring has sprung!

Students in STEM Biz are in the middle of Rotation-5, "Office Technologies & Organization".  In this class students will focus on file management, proper keyboarding technique, the mysterious secret language known to adults as "cursive", and an introduction to Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.

Students explored Microsoft Word and created several documents.  Their first assignment was to write a proper business letter.  Their letters were written to their favorite restaurant, or to Mr. Murray...student's choice!  Students then created a newsletter, and a trifold brochure featuring five vacation destinations.

We started Microsoft Excel this week, and students are learning the ins and outs of how spreadsheets work, including cells, formatting, and formulas.  We will get more in-depth on this when we return from Spring Break.

I hope you all have a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable Spring Break!

Sincerely,
​Mr. Prothero