Our 4th Annual MDIS STEM Festival was held on October 30, 2020. We are happy to have held this event virtually this year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Explore our virtual festival.
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MDIS Third Graders Raise and Release Trout in Patapsco State Park
MDIS Third Graders Raise and Release Trout in Patapsco State Park
Our Maryland International School (MDIS) 3rd graders participated in the Trout in the Classroom program sponsored by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. In December 2019, Mr. De Francesco’s class received 69 trout eggs and were able to release 53 of them this spring. Due to COVID-19, students participated in a virtual release that they were able to watch via YouTube in April. See the links at the end of this post to view the videos yourself!
The Trout in the Classroom Program was brought to MDIS through Mr. De Francesco’s membership with Trout Unlimited. After learning about the program, he was able to apply and receive the Maryland DNR’s Aquatic Resources Grant (ARE). As a result, MDIS was able to acquire the start-up materials and eggs for this program
Throughout the year, the students transformed a 75-gallon aquarium into a temperature-regulated habitat, raised the trout from eggs to fingerlings, and then released them into a state-approved cold water stream or lake. Students became experts in knowing and testing the 55-58 degree water temperature required for these fish to thrive. Daily, they tested the water for pH, ammonia, and nitrate levels and cleaned the water using a gravity suction system.
“I have been a life-long angler and enjoy fly-fishing immensely. Being able to share my hobby along with the science behind it has been a joy!” said Mr. De Francesco. “In addition, the interest of the students and their families makes the work that it takes to get set up worth it! I loved hearing the conversations from our students while also having eager parents come to me wanting to see the fish.”
This program promotes interdisciplinary learning across several subject areas including biology, chemistry, mathematics, and environmental education while fostering a conservation ethic. Students learn about the life cycle of trout, their local environment, and the health of their water ecosystem. The students also learn to test, collect, and communicate data to ensure that the trout are thriving. The program will be a great addition to our school’s annual Earth Day festival.
With the ARE Grant, we are excited to bring the Trout in the Classroom Program to MDIS annually. The faculty at MDIS is looking into ways to expand this program to grades 1-5 in the future.
If you would like to see more about our third grader’s experience check out some of the videos about their experience on YouTube:
- Trout Eggs when they were first received
- Trout Release Day
The mission of Maryland International School (MDIS) is to provide an academically rigorous and supportive college-preparatory education with an interdisciplinary and applied focus on the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, in order to prepare students to become creative problem solvers, effective communicators and tomorrow’s leaders who think ethically, independently, and globally. Visit us online to learn more.
Scott E’s Blog Interviews Rebekah Ghosh, Head of School, During COVID-19 Outbreak
Scott E’s Blog Interviews Rebekah Ghosh, Head of School, During COVID-19 Outbreak
Rebekah Ghosh, Head of School & Executive Director, Emily Seppa, Primary Years Programme Coordinator, and Nikki Tanner, Middle Years & Diploma Programme Coordinator of the Maryland International School (MDIS) spoke to Scott E of Scott E’s Blog about the MDIS temporary campus closure and shift to online learning amidst the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Please click here to listen to their Zoom video call and learn more about the transition to online learning and how MDIS is engaging with their school community while remote. Thank you to Scott E for sharing our story during this unprecedented time.
Shifting to Online Learning Amidst COVID-19
Shifting to Online Learning Amidst COVID-19
In light of COVID-19, the Maryland International School (MDIS) campus has temporarily closed and shifted to online learning. After several weeks of preparation, hard work and dedication from our teachers and staff, MDIS went live with remote learning on March 18, 2020.
“I am proud of our students, faculty, and staff for their efforts in making online learning successful,” said Rebekah Ghosh, Head of School & Executive Director, “In this unprecedented time, our students remain eager to learn and engage with their classmates, and our teachers are ready to take on the challenges of online education.”
MDIS has always been STEM and technology-focused. Students have experience using Chromebooks on a daily basis which allowed for a smoother transition to online learning. However, with our shift from face-to-face to online education, our new remote learning avatar, CyberEd, is helping prepare students as they adjust to their new online learning schedule.
After day one, parents were pleased that MDIS was able to quickly shift to online education, preventing a learning gap in their children’s education. Given our required social distancing, students are able to continue their education and maintain a sense of routine, while at home.
Beyond our goal of extending to education online, we seek to keep our MDIS family connected; providing structure, support, and continuity in this trying time. We will continue to live out our mission by bringing our community together in new ways.
Research shows that kids thrive academically when provided a structured schedule. Our teachers and administrators are working to provide students with a consistent schedule. This will help relieve some anxieties the students may be feeling, as well as make the transition back to face-to-face learning in school much easier when the time comes.
Day to day, each student will login to their classes virtually via Google Classroom. Lessons are a combination of pre-recorded lessons, live streams, where students and teachers can interact in real-time, assignments that provide direct interaction between classmates, and a combination of screen time and unplugged activities.
Our Lower School students (Grades 1-5) have pre-recorded lessons from their teachers. This allows the students to hear and see the lessons taught in a familiar format by their teachers, work at their own pace, and re-watch lessons when they need to. The teachers then follow-up to see how the students are progressing. Our Upper School (Grades 6-12) students have real-time teleconferences with their teachers. This holds the students accountable for their learning and ensures continuity of education.
“We are trying to connect with our students in real-time,” said Emily Seppa, PYP Coordinator/Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment Coordinator, “This can be via video chat, phone call, and/or online text chats between the students and teachers. We find that this brings some normalcy to our student’s learning, which is much needed.”
Students are still participating in their enrichment activities beyond their typical classroom instruction. Enrichment teachers are posting weekly assignments related to health, language, art, and music. Enrichment activities allow students to continue staying active, exploring their creativity, and developing new skills.
Thank you to our students, parents, faculty, and staff for making the MDIS transition to online education successful!