It is recommended that the club have two meeting sessions per week for 1 - 1.5 hours. Holding 2 meetings per week on different days for the fifteen weeks between October 2 and January 23 should result in a minimum of 30 student contact hours. The days can be consecutive, i.e. Monday and Tuesday; or alternating such as Monday — Wednesday or Tuesday — Thursday. Clubs must convene no later than October 15th, 2008.
A notice should be posted school-wide to announce the date, time, and location of meetings, should encourage new membership and be open to any 6th - 8th grade student. Each club should include approximately 10 members. Club members must complete a science project, exhibit it in the school's science fair and complete a survey/evaluation at the end of the semester.
At the Orientation Meeting each Science Club leader will receive a Science Explorers kit of 30 inquiry-based activities with materials for up to 40 students and an instruction manual. For more information about the kits go to www.devstu.org/explorers/science/index.html. If funds are needed to purchase additional materials for science fair projects students can apply for a Mini or Maxi Research Grant. Details are in the 2009 Science Fair Handbook.
Volunteer engineers and scientists from Peoples Gas will be available to advise and give feedback about club members' projects. Club leaders are expected to contact their designated Peoples Gas Club Advisor to arrange how he/she will participate; from email correspondence to attending club meetings on a regular basis, the arrangement should be suitable for all parties and to the benefit of the student club members.
The Peoples Gas Science Club Leader must be a member of the school's faculty. A timesheet must be maintained, signed by the principal and submitted as requested for payment purposes. The faculty sponsor must maintain an attendance sign-in sheet of students at meetings or work sessions and complete a final survey/evaluation — which includes a report of all club activities and indicates the number of students who participated in the school, area, city, or state science fairs.
Club leaders may earn a stipend of $1000, paid at $22/hr. As stated above, 30 hours must be student contact hours when the club meets. Another 10 hours can be spent preparing for club meetings and the school science fair. The remaining hours may be spent completing reports and evaluations. Instructions on how to account for these hours on timesheets will be given at the Orientation Meeting on October 1, 2008. Original timesheets (signed by the principal) and student attendance sign-in sheets for each club meeting are to arrive at the Office of Mathematics and Science GSR #80 by January 30, 2009. They may be sent via mail, mailrun or in person. Faxed and emailed copies will not be accepted. Stipends will be paid upon completion of the program.
Complete the Peoples Gas Science Club Application, have your principal sign, and return the application by September 8, 2008. Upon approval, you will receive a congratulations letter and a notice about the Orientation Meeting. The science club leader must attend the Orientation Meeting schedule for October 1, 2008. Save this date in case your club is approved. Leaders will receive extended-day pay for attending this meeting.
Complete the application form and mail to:
Angela Dumas
Office of Mathematics and Science
Medill TPDC, Room 103 GSR #80
Applications must arrive by 5:00p.m. September 8, 2008. Applications may be hand-delivered to 1326 W. 14th Place room 103 but faxed or emailed applications will NOT be accepted. Confirmations will be emailed to club leaders by September 16th, 2008.
Please e-mail amdumas@cps.k12.il.us.