Science Education Partnership Information
 

The Science Education Partnership is a unique collaboration between education, business and community in Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent.  We work to bring science alive in elementary classrooms by providing resources for classrooms across our school districts.

SEP activities are focused in five major areas:

• A Science Kit Program geared for "Hand-on, Minds-on" learning,
• "Adopt-a-Scientist" Volunteer Program which brings experts into the classroom,
• Innovative science support programs that link community and schools, such as Engineering Week and Chemistry Week activities
• a  Science Resource Centre out of which all programs are run, and
• Partner recruitment and recognition

The SEP was formed for the purpose of expanding and supporting a high quality "Hands-on, Minds-on" science program for students from kindergarten to grade eight.  Industrial partners strongly support this program through both financial and human resources.  This support is invaluable to cover the costs of all the science equipment and materials required. 

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Who are our Partners?

EDUCATION PARTNERS

• Lambton Kent District School Board
• St. Clair Catholic District School Board
   

CURRENT COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS PARTNERS 2012

• Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (Engineering Week)
• Imperial Oil Ltd.
• Lambton Kent Agriculture in the Classroom
• Lanxess Inc
• TD Friends of the Environment
• Bluewater Power

PAST COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS PARTNERS 1992-2011

• Basell Polyolefins
• Bluewater Power
• Canada Trust Friends of the Environment
• Canadian Tire, Sarnia Store
• Enbridge
• Guspro
• Laidlaw
• Maple City Optimists
• Meritor Industries
• Ministry of the Environment
• Navistar Engineering Group
• Nova Chemicals Canada Inc.
• Ontario Power Generation
• Pioneer Hibred
• Shell Environmental Fund
• Siemens Canada
• Suncor Energy Foundation
• Todgham & Case Associates Inc.
• Union Gas

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Five Year Plan

The Science Education Partnership has developed a five-year plan that will provide direction, from 2007 until 20012, in reaching the goals encompassed in our mission statement: We are a partnership dedicated to supporting the elementary school science program and teachers who inspire knowledgeable, enthusiastic and responsible students.

The plan is divided into five mission elements which describe the rudimentary components of the partnership; science kits, volunteers, innovative science supports linking community and school, partners and resource centres. Five-year objectives have been developed for each mission element and measurable indicators have been assigned to provide feedback on the progress being made in all four areas.

Mission Element: Science Resources - SCIENCE KIT PROGRAM
Five-Year Objectives:

• Align all kits with revised S&T curriculum to result in one updated kit in each strand in all grades
• Increase science kit program usage
• Increase science kit program awareness

Mission Element: Science Resources - ADOPT-A-SCIENTIST VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Five Year Objectives:

• Increase number of volunteers
• Increase number of demonstrations occurring in classrooms
• Increase Adopt-a-Scientist volunteer program awareness

Mission Element: Science Resources - INNOVATIVE SCIENCE SUPPORT LINKING SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY
Five Year Objectives:

• Increase community and industry sponsored science-related opportunities for local educators

Mission Element: SEP Partners 
Five Year Objectives:

• Increase number of contributing partners
• Recognize and acknowledge partners and the SEP within the community

Mission Element: SCIENCE RESOURCE CENTRES
Five Year Objectives:

• Enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of service from the SEP

OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS of the SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP

Objective:  The Science Education Partnership must demonstrate to stakeholders that the Partnership is effective and show the degree to which the Partnership is able to achieve its mission and vision statements.
 

All objectives associated with this five-year plan have associated action items and measurable indicators that are used to monitor our progress.  These are outlined in our annual report. Should you wish to see a copy of our annual report, please e-mail sciencecentre@lkdsb.net or download a PDF version of this file.

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S.E.P. Beyond the Classroom: Innovative Science Supports Linking Schools and the Community

The Science Education Partnership not only provides resources for teachers in the form of science kits and a volunteer program, but also strives to promote science literacy through activities outside the classroom.  These activities include:

• Chemistry Week

For several years, the SEP worked with the local chapter of the Chemical Institute of Canada to host activities for up to twelve classes (300 - 400 students,) at local industrial laboratories. Here, the students experience what a "real-life" laboratory looks like and the kind of work that is conducted.  Students perform experiments, record their observations, and, with the help of volunteers, analyze the data they’ve collected.

• Engineering Week

Each year, in March, with the local Professional Engineers of Ontario, the Partnership coordinates an activity to highlight engineering.  In 2005, 16 volunteer engineers visited 32 classrooms across the district to allow students to be "Engineers for a Day".  Students were given a set of specifications and asked to build a bridge from popsicle sticks and hot glue.  All bridges were tested and the best from each class was put on public display of the entries in Lambton Mall.  The event culminated in a best-of-the-best testing session on Saturday March 5th at the Mall.

• Kids Fun Fest

For several years, the Partnership, through its volunteer scientists, has staffed a booth in the City of Sarnia Children's Festival.  Between 500 and 1000 visitors typically visit the booth, geared to a science/environmental activity.

• After-School Science Clubs

Adopt-a-Scientist volunteers work with interested students doing science-related activities after regular school hours.

• Science Fair Guidance/Judging

Partnership volunteers meet with individual students, or groups of students, who wish to enter the county-wide science fairs. They provide guidance regarding topic selection, experiment set-up and experimental design.

• Other Presentations and Displays

Partnership members, typically members of the Steering Committee, make regular presentations about the Partnership to local service clubs and potential business partners. Volunteer scientists regularly participate in local business Open Houses where they demonstrate a particular science topic.

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History Timeline

The Science Education Partnership is a unique enterprise that has thrived for over a decade. Key details in the development of the S.E.P. are listed below.

1992

• Dow approached the Lambton County Board of Education, (now the Lambton Kent District School Board) and the Lambton County Roman Catholic Separate School Board (now the St. Clair Catholic District School Board) to form the Lambton County Science Education Partnership.
• A one-time grant from the Ministry of Education and Training was received. This funding was dedicated to in-service training of teachers as new science kits were developed.
• A primary (grades K-3) and junior (grades 4-6) curriculum team was established to build science kits.

1993

• Polysar (now Bayer Inc.) became a partner and provided funding to be used to renovate and furnish the Science Resource Centre.
• The first science kit, “Primary Bounce, Roll and Spin”, was built and tested in two classrooms. The pilot teachers and curriculum team members finalized the inventory and this was duplicated into multiple copies. An in-service to introduce the kit to teachers was held with one teacher from every school attending. This process would become the model for development of all future science kits.

1994

• A technician for the Science Resource Centre was hired.
• The Science Resource Centre, housed at St. Joseph School in Sarnia, officially opened in November.

1995

• Imperial Oil joined as a human resources partner. Retired engineers, scientists and technical people become involved in the Adopt-a-Scientist Program. Volunteers in this program assisted with “hands-on” science activities in classrooms.
• Sarnia Hydro (now Bluewater Power) committed their support to build a “Power of Electricity” kit for the junior division.

1996

• Interprovincial Pipeline (now Enbridge) became a partner.

1997

• Via the community group, Friends of the St. Clair River, funds were donated from the Ministry of the Environment, Canada Trust Friends of the Environment, and Shell Environmental Fund. This was used to build a River Science Kit.
• Cabot Carbon joined the Science Education Partnership.

1998

• Amalgamation of school boards occurred resulting in the co-terminus boards from Lambton and Kent counties joining, thereby doubling the district size. A transition team was formed to determine how the partnership would expand to service the entire district.
• The official name, Lambton County Science Education Partnership changed to Science Education Partnership.
• The new Ontario Science and Technology Curriculum was introduced. The curriculum teams worked to align all science kits to this new curriculum.
• Imperial Oil, previously a human resources partner, became a financial partner.
• Other new partners contributing within the year included Meritor Industries and the Maple City Optimists.

1999

• An intermediate curriculum team was formed to build kits for grades 7-8.
• Navistar and Seimens Tilbury Plant became new partners.

2000

• A satellite centre was established in Chatham. It was staffed half time to service the schools in the south part of the district.
• New contributors to the S.E.P. included Pioneer Hybrid (now Monsanto), and Kent Agriculture in the Classroom.

2001

• A grant from the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology was received and used to build and copy three new kit titles.
• Several members of the Steering Team presented a session on the S.E.P. at the province-wide Science Teachers Association of Ontario Conference in Toronto.

2002

• Due to the impending closure of St. Joseph School in Sarnia, a relocation committee was created to find a suitable site for the Science Resource Centre. The committee successfully determined that Errol Road Public School was the most viable option and the centre was re-established there in July.
• A tenth anniversary open house was held at Bayer in June. The celebration consisted of a timeline display, refreshments and hands-on activities.

2003

• Suncor pledged support to produce two Ecosystems pilot kits for grade 7.
• Ontario Power Generation agreed to fund two kit titles: Electricity for grade 6 and Conservation of Energy for grade 5.

2004 

• Basell, Nova Chemical, and Todgham & Case Associates Inc. each submitted a donation to the Partnership.
• The office at the Sarnia Science Resource Centre was renovated and a new laptop was purchased. 
• The Science Education Partnership web site was launched.
• The S.E.P. was nominated for a 2004 Technology Innovation Award sponsored by The Learning Partnership.
• The S.E.P. was nominated for a a National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion.

2005 

• The partnership welcomed new partners Guspro and Union Gas.  Dow, Lanxess, (formerly Polysar, Bayer) Imperial Oil, Cabot Carbon, Nova, Laidlaw, Ontario Power Generation and Kent Agriculture in the Classroom continued to support the SEP.
• The Adopt-a-Scientist Program marked the tenth year of helping with hands-on, minds-on science in the classroom.  The volunteers were honoured at a luncheon and presented with plaques containing student art work to mark the occasion. 
  

2006

• New partners Bluewater Power Distribution Company and Pioneer were welcomed to the SEP.
• Adopt-a-Scientist Volunteers were named on the Mayor’s Honour List in Sarnia.  

2007

• A district-wide Teacher Resource Fair was organized to include over 25 booths that included educational vendors, school board resource programs, and local community organizations that offer programs for students.
• A new five year strategic plan was developed to guide SEP activities from 2007 to 2012