PS Science

Classroom Program:DURING THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR, PS SCIENCE RETURNED TO FULL IMPLEMENTATION IN 226 CLASSROOMS AROUND LOS ANGELES IN A VARIETY OF FORMS. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF A LIBRARY OF FULL LESSON VIDEOS THAT OUR INSTRUCTORS BEGAN PRODUCING DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH THE PS SCIENCE PROGRAM AT SEVERAL NEW SCHOOLS IN A MORE COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER BY PROVIDING EACH CLASSROOM WITH WEEKLY MATERIALS DELIVERY, LESSON PLANS, AND INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS THAT EASED THE SCIENCE TEACHING BURDEN ON THE CLASSROOM TEACHER. FOR THESE TEACHERS, WE ASSIGNED A PS SCIENCE INSTRUCTIONAL COACH WHO PROVIDED WEEKLY LESSON RESOURCES AND INSTRUCTIONAL TIPS THROUGH EMAIL, AND WAS AVAILABLE TO MEET AND ANSWER QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COACHING SERVICE. THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT MOVE AS IT REDUCED THE COST OF THE PROGRAM BY 75%, THUS ALLOWING US TO SERVE MORE CLASSES WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING OUR FUNDRAISING BURDEN. AS A RESULT, THE MAJORITY OF OUR PARTNER CLASSROOM TEACHERS WERE LEADING LESSONS ON THEIR OWN AND PS SCIENCE INSTRUCTORS LED LESSONS IN APPROXIMATELY 45% OF THE CLASSROOMS. AT 4 SCHOOLS, WE BEGAN SUPPORTING TEACHERS IN THE USE OF THEIR NEW DISTRICT PROVIDED SCIENCE CURRICULA; HELPING TO ENSURE THAT THE INVESTMENT MADE IN THE PURCHASE OF THESE NEW INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS WOULD NOT GO TO WASTE.

Enrichment programs:the 2022-23 year also had a significant increase in the number and diversity of out-of-school time enrichment stem programs that PS Science provided. All PS Science enrichment programs are provided at no cost to students. We continued to offer weekly remote stem clubs to students at all our partner schools, and in-person after school code clubs at three school sites. We also provided family Science nights at three schools, all of which were presented in-person at the school site. Through PS sciences partnership in the la stem collective and from the intermediary organization great public schools now, we received funding that enabled our instructors to work with lausd summer enrichment school sites and la city rec and park camp sites, providing thousands of youth with engaging stem programming throughout the summer. Through a grant from the ppg foundation, we were able to run year-long stem programs at three rec and park centers in the sylmar area, and at several la city libraries. PS Science also provided weekly summer stem programs for kids at the boys & girls club of santa monica, inglewood parks summer camp, the al wooten jr. Youth center, the so-la tech center, and several charter schools. Finally, three sessions of the PS Science s-team rangers camp were run in june 2023. Two sessions were held in-person at crossroads school in santa monica for 25 5th grade students, one providing all participants with bus transporation to and from the camp. The two week s-team rangers camp allowed students to immerse themselves in rich stem learning experiences and form friendships with students from other schools. The third camp session was held at f.d. Roosevelt elementary school in lawndale for 25 3rd 4th grade students from lawndale PS Science partner schools and provided the same rich social and learning community for stem-loving students.