HAPPY BACK TO SCHOOL AND SPIN GIRLS PROGRAMMING MONTH!

It is hard to believe that summer break is over and it is time to get back to our regular school year routines. But as most of you prepare for in-person learning, we hope that you carry some of the new skills and amazing memories you made over the summer into the school year. We are sending you all positive vibes for an amazing start to the school year! Please let us know if there's anything SPIN can do to help you with your school based learning experience.

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a summary of program changes, the schedule for September, a welcome to our new cohort, and some resources to help you out. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
- SPIN Girls Program Team 

MONTHLY RECAP

We truly hope that you our SPIN families were able to enjoy their summer break and make memories. We here at SPIN sure did. Though we work throughout the year having a few weeks away in August from direct student service for SPIN Girls staff allowed us to have have fun and make memories of our own with our full staff and other programs. Program manager Keshia and Executive Director of education Shana were lucky enough to be able to attend a trip to Yellow Island with the SPIN Fellows team and students. SPIN staff also had a painting in the park morning retreat.

Of course SPIN Girls staff have been busy preparing for the 22-23 program year by registering new girls into the family, recruiting mentors, and learning some new curriculum for our cohorts and adjusting lab and field day experiences. We also grew in programs and staffing over the summer! Please take a look at our website and our social media pages to get a glimpse at the amazing staffing additions. We are so excited to share all of this with you at the welcome back first lab day on the year on September 24th. Invitation with details will be emailed soon! 

RESOURCES

SPIN Girls students attend multiple school districts throughout King County. We value our SPIN families and know that it takes a tremendous amount of resources to nurture a student and family to success. We want to remind everyone that there are always resources available to your families to ensure that they can reach their full potential, in whatever way they may need extra support. Below you will find direct links to each King County School Districts student, family and community resources page. We have also included links to WA public charter schools and WA homeschool organization. Our hope is that you use these links to inform yourselves of resources available to increase the success of your family at the beginning of the school year. We also want you to use these links throughout the year as more details or changes may become available on the district pages. 

Shoreline 

Northshore

Lake Washington 

Riverview 

Seattle

Mercer Island

Bellevue

Skykomish

Snoqualmie Valley

Vashon Island

Highline

Tukwila

Renton

Issaquah

Kent

Tahoma

Federal Way

Auburn

Enumclaw

Fife

Washington Charter Schools Association for public charter schools in WA

Washington Homeschool Organization

LOOKING FORWARD

• Registration links for Connect to our new students have been sent out. The email was sent from "STEM Paths Innovation Network" with the subject "Online Connect Access". Please use the link to make an account and fill out the assigned paperwork before the start of our program, September 24th 2021. If you are having trouble accessing these documents please let the SPIN Girls Program Manage know. 

• Orientation/Welcome Back on September 24th. More information will be emailed within the  next couple weeks.

• Here's the schedule for the 2022-23 program year. Add these dates to your calendar so you don't miss any!

• Lab Day Saturday Time Schedules 

  • Epic Cohort (8th grade): 9:30AM-1:30PM

  • Luminous Cohort (9th grade): 9:30AM-1:30PM

  • Stellar Cohort (10th grade): 12:30PM-4:30PM

SPIN GIRLS FELLOWS

Students who graduate from SPIN Girls are invited to apply for SPIN Fellows in the Spring of their 10th grade year. Fellows are accepted based on their commitment to SPIN Girls and their interest in pursuing a STEM career.

The goal of SPIN Fellows is to empower SPIN Girls students to feel confident in pursuing STEM college majors & careers. The vision is to grow a strong alumni community, supported by SPIN Girls mentors, staff, and other alumni. SPIN Fellows breaks down the barriers that girls of color face when exploring and pursuing STEM careers and shapes a more inclusive future.

For more information visit our website: https://www.stempaths.org/spin-girls-fellows

SPIN GIRLS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | AUGUST 2022

It's Happiness Happens Month!

August is known to be a month of many fun month long observances such as: national dog month, national family fun month, national black business month, national back to school month and one of our favorites happiness happens month. The secret society of happy people set a mission to remind people that happy feelings can linger inside of you every day. Remembering happiness does not mean that you are problem free. But that happiness is about the quality of your thoughts.

Happiness is not a destination, but rather a life-long pursuit. Joy can be anywhere at any time. Don't limit yourself to searching for pleasure. Enjoy all the things that make you happy even if they are unique to only your sense of happiness. Get out there and enjoy the freedom of the last month of summer and do something that makes you happy! 

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in July and what students can look forward to in August. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns. - SPIN Girls PM

MONTHLY RECAP
July held a week long summer retreat for SPIN Girls that wanted to explore and strengthen their bicycling expertise. SPIN Girls learned how to ride safely in groups and solo by working on strengthening their voices to be heard, signals to be seen and what to be observant of while biking in the city. They also learned how to preform maintenance on their bikes to keep them safely equipped to ride. Summer retreat SPIN Girls also learned personal growth skills such as what it is to be comfortable, to stretch and to be panicked and how all of these areas help us better understand ourself and goal. We hope all of the skills learned during this amazing week partnering with Bike Works and getting out doing something we don't normally do last a lifetime.

RESOURCES

Bike Works also has several of their own amazing summer programs for you to take a look at. We encourage you to get out and ride with them. 

SPIN Girls Club: Summer Retreat: SPIN Girls Club is a free after-school program for 6th & 7th grade girls* of color to explore their interests in STEM+Arts, develop leadership skills, and complete creative hands-on activities together. We are serving students from Washington, Aki Kurose, Denny & Mercer Middle Schools. If you are interested in bringing SPIN Girls Club to your Seattle Public Schools middle school, please contact us. 

Summer of Learning | Seattle Public Library:  Fun and educational programs that reflect the diversity of Seattle. Activities to support reading for fun over the summer. Early literacy activities for families to do together. Learning experiences that center youth voice and interests.

School Supply Giveaway: FamilyWorks: is hosting an event where families can select a backpack for up to two children ages 0-17 as well as a variety of school supplies. This takes place on Thursday August 25 from 12-5 in the conference room across the hall from the food bank.

Where We Converge | Back to School Backpack Drive: Tre Simmons and Emergency Feeding Program will be hosting a Back To School backpack and supply giveaway on August 20th at Garfield High School. They’ll welcome students from throughout the community to come get the gear they need to be successful in school this year.

The event will feature appearances from Simmons and Nate Robinson, as well as the UW basketball team and other local icons. There will be music, food and haircuts, as well as hygiene packs and Covid tests. In addition, a raffle will be held for shoes, clothes and more.

LOOKING FORWARD
We will be having a fun end of summer back to school kick off celebration with SPIN Girls and Mentors at the end of the month. Please look out for details to come.

Here's the schedule for the 2022-23 program year. Add these dates to your calendar so you don't miss any!

SPIN GIRLS FELLOWS

Students who graduate from SPIN Girls are invited to apply for SPIN Fellows in the Spring of their 10th grade year. Fellows are accepted based on their commitment to SPIN Girls and their interest in pursuing a STEM career.

The goal of SPIN Fellows is to empower SPIN Girls students to feel confident in pursuing STEM college majors & careers. The vision is to grow a strong alumni community, supported by SPIN Girls mentors, staff, and other alumni. SPIN Fellows breaks down the barriers that girls of color face when exploring and pursuing STEM careers and shapes a more inclusive future.

JUNE MONTHLY RECAP
College Application/Essay Writing Workshop:
The Fellows have completed the first of four college writing workshops.

Summer Internships:
Each of the Fellows have been placed in internships. Some are paid, others are intensive job shadowing. The network built around SPIN has provided the Fellows with positions within organizations such as the University of Washington, Adaptive Biotechnologies, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and the VA.

Incoming Cohort:

Twelve SPIN Girls have graduated and are joining the SPIN Fellows! They are all excited and will have their first event in August. Introductions will be made and both of the cohorts will build connections to be able to support and/or guide each other. With the addition of the twelve, we will also be hiring a SPIN Fellows Program Associate. This position will support the Program Manager and focus on the 11th grade students.

LOOKING FORWARD

Aug 20, 2022: 2022-2023 Kickoff celebration at Yellow Island. SPIN Girls Fellows will be taking a day trip to the San Juan Islands to visit the nature conservancy on Yellow Island. This day will provide fellowship between the SF Epic cohort and the incoming Stellar cohort.

For more information visit our website: https://www.stempaths.org/spin-girls-fellows

Summer is here!

SPIN Girls July 2022 Newsletter

The PNW summer sunshine and warmth has finally arrived, this weeks heatwave reminded us that summer is truly here.  We hope you all are able to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather!

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in June and what your students can look forward to in July, plus the schedule for next year. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns. - SPIN Girls

MONTHLY RECAP

Capstone Presentation: We celebrated the year with our first in person Capstone event! The day was shared by so many of our SPIN Girl students, families, mentors and supporters. We filled our space to capacity with smiles, laughter, heartfelt speeches and lots of amazing presentations and food! Thank you to everyone who attended. We hope you enjoyed it!
We received photos back of our amazing capstone event from our photographer and you can go to the link and download your photos. You all are wonderful and thank you for making the day so special! https://marcellaratsamy.pixieset.com/spingirls/
RESOURCES

Bike Works: SPIN Girls is partnering with Bike Works for our weeklong summer retreat this year, July 11th-15th if you weren't able to sign up and are interested in attending reach out to the SPIN Girls program manager II. Bike Works also has several of their own amazing summer programs for you to take a look at. We encourage you to get out and ride with them. 

SPIN Girls Club: Summer Retreat: SPIN Girls Club is a free after-school program for 6th & 7th grade girls* of color to explore their interests in STEM+Arts, develop leadership skills, and complete creative hands-on activities together. We are serving students from Washington, Aki Kurose, Denny & Mercer Middle Schools. If you are interested in bringing SPIN Girls Club to your Seattle Public Schools middle school, please contact us. 

Summer of Learning | Seattle Public Library:  Fun and educational programs that reflect the diversity of Seattle. Activities to support reading for fun over the summer. Early literacy activities for families to do together. Learning experiences that center youth voice and interests

Lavner Education: Summer tech camps: 2022 Virtual Tech Camps, Virtual Camps, and Online Summer STEM Camps in Minecraft, Roblox, YouTube, Among Us, Harry Potter, Coding, Game Design, Bitcoin & Blockchain, STEM & Medicine, Tech Stocks, Math Olympics, Science, Graphic Design with Custom Converse/Vans Shoes & Hoodies, Digital Art & More!

Life Enrichment Group: Sign ups available for virtual HBCU college tours and summer scholar programs. 

Washington Swimming Camps and Programs: Get active and enjoy time in the water safely. You can also use this link to search other available camps in the Washington area. 

LOOKING FORWARD

• Summer Retreat, July 11-15, 9:30am-3:30pm each day. If you signed up for retreat, you should have received an email from us with more information. If you plan on attending retreat and have not yet registered, please do so ASAP as registration closes on July 1st. If you have missed registration and are committed in attending all 5 days of the retreat please reach out to the SPIN Girls Program Manager II.

• Here's the schedule for the 2022-23 program year. Add these dates to your calendar so you don't miss any!

  SPIN GIRLS FELLOWS

   Students who graduate from SPIN Girls are invited to apply for SPIN Fellows in the Spring of their 10th grade year. Fellows are accepted based on their commitment to SPIN Girls and their interest in pursuing a STEM career.
  
  The goal of SPIN Fellows is to empower SPIN Girls students to feel confident in pursuing STEM college majors & careers. The vision is to grow a strong alumni community, supported by SPIN Girls mentors, staff, and other alumni. SPIN Fellows breaks down the barriers that girls of color face when exploring and pursuing STEM careers and shapes a more inclusive future.

  
  JUNE RECAP
  
  College Application/Essay Writing Workshop: 
  The Fellows have completed the first of four college writing workshops.
  
  Summer Internships: 
  Each of the Fellows have been placed in internships. Some are paid, others are intensive job shadowing. The network built around SPIN has provided the Fellows with positions within organizations such as the University of Washington, Adaptive Biotechnologies, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and the VA. 
  
  LOOKING FORWARD
  
  Aug 20, 2022: 2022-2023 Kickoff celebration at Yellow Island. SPIN Girls Fellows will be taking a day trip to the San Juan Islands to visit the nature conservancy on Yellow Island. This day will provide fellowship between the SF Epic cohort and the incoming Stellar cohort.

  For more information visit our website: https://www.stempaths.org/spin-girls-fellows

Happy Summer!

June is Pride Month! Check out our resources section for some activities for LGBTQ+ youth. June 19th is Juneteenth! Find programming to celebrate with in our resources section below.

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in May and what your students can look forward to in June. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - SPIN Girls PM

MONTHLY RECAP

Lab Day #5 :
Thank you to those that attended our last Lab Day event of this program year! I hope you had an amazing time seeing each other and working on your STEAM projects! Our 8th grade students finished their biology inspired backpacks, our 9th grade students finished designing their Lego robotics obstacle courses, and our 10th graders finished their climate change research projects!

RESOURCES

NAAM — Juneteenth Week 2022: Celebrate Juneteenth with free programming from the Northwest African American Museum. 

Youth Events Calendar — Lambert House: Lambert House offers free and virtual activities and resources for LGBTQ+ youth including resources on parenting and supporting youth.

Children and Youth Summer Food Service Program: From June 27 through August 24, 2022, City of Seattle will run its annual Summer Meals Program for youth 18 and younger. Meals from identified partner sites can be picked up by parents for youth who are not present. Some sites might also follow a waiver guideline that lets them hand out more than one day's meals at a time to minimize the number of visits a family must make to the site.

LOOKING FORWARD

I want to thank you all for participating in our SPIN Girls 2021-2022 program! Please join us for the SPIN Girls Capstone Presentation 2022!

Date & Time: Saturday June 4, 2022 10AM-2PM
Where: Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave S Tukwila, WA 98178

The students will have the chance to showcase their biology inspired backpacks, LEGO robot obstacle courses, & climate change solutions projects that they've been working on all year. We will also celebrate our graduating Stellar Cohort of 10th grade students!
Each student and mentor that attends will be given a Capstone gift to recognize their hard work and dedication. We will conclude the event with a small award ceremony and lunch will be provided by caterers from Spice Bridge.

Please RSVP for the event here. Please let us know if you have any questions. I hope to see you there!

SPIN GIRLS FELLOWS

Students who graduate from SPIN Girls are invited to apply for SPIN Fellows in the Spring of their 10th grade year. Fellows are accepted based on their commitment to SPIN Girls and their interest in pursuing a STEM career.

The goal of SPIN Fellows is to empower SPIN Girls students to feel confident in pursuing STEM college majors & careers. The vision is to grow a strong alumni community, supported by SPIN Girls mentors, staff, and other alumni. SPIN Fellows breaks down the barriers that girls* of color face when exploring and pursuing STEM careers and shapes a more inclusive future.
 

MONTHLY UPDATE

New Program Manager:
SPIN Fellows welcomed their new program manager, MaryAnn Hartman, this month. As a group, they brainstormed the qualities that they desired in their ideal PM. From being a local woman of color with a STEM background to being committed and caring among other characteristics, MaryAnn possesses many of these preferences. A short bio can be found in our “About Us - Our Team” page here.

UW Campus Tour and Panel: 
The Fellows visited the University of Washington - Seattle Campus and listened to members of UW’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) share their educational and career experiences. They were also able to ask their own questions and received valuable feedback and advice. The panel followed with a campus tour and ended at the University Bookstore where the Fellows chose some UW swag to take home to commemorate the visit.

LOOKING FORWARD

May 31, 2022 - College Application/Essay Writing Workshop
The first of four workshops instructed by Nylah Murphy. Through this series, the Fellows will be introduced to effective college application submissions and compelling essay writing. Nylah will also be providing independent guidance throughout the Fellows’ senior year in high school to ensure they are supported throughout the college application process.
 

For more information visit our website: https://www.stempaths.org/spin-girls-fellows

As we start planning for Summer 2022, we wanted to celebrate our success in 2021 summer programming!

It's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month!

"May marks Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which celebrates the histories of Americans hailing from across the Asian continent and from the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. This year's theme, selected by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council, is "Advancing Leaders Through Collaboration," which builds on a leadership advancement theme series that began last year." Check the recourses section for more information. 

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in April and what your students can look forward to in May. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Jaira

MONTHLY RECAP

Field Day #5:
The Epic Cohort (8th Grade) visited Seattle City Lights, toured the facility and participated in clean energy, climate change, and electrification workshops!

The Luminous Cohort (9th Grade) visited UW Immunology, toured both immunology and microbiology labs, created their own "bacteria drawings" on agar plates, and listened to a panel of female scientists!

The Stellar Cohort (10th Grade) virtually visited Meta, learned about optics, VR and AR systems, and listened to a panel of women in the field!

RESOURCES

The story behind Asian Pacific American Heritage, and why it's celebrated in May.

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success.

CELEBRATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IN SEATTLE For a list of things to do and places to go to honor AA&NH/PI heritage in Seattle this May, check out the recommendations here.

Prevention Ambassadors Application – Due May 5th Neighborhood House, APICAT, SE Seattle PEACE Coalition and Latinx King County Dream Coalition are starting a Prevention Ambassadors Program for young adults age 16-25 and parents who represent diverse ethnic communities in King County.  Bilingual youth a parents who want to share information with their community about drug and alcohol misuse, mental health and healthy choices, are strongly encouraged to apply.  We will select 15-20 participants to join this 4-month program.
 
Participants will receive weekly trainings in May-June by Zoom and then 2 trainings/cohort learning meetings per month after that for July and August.  Meetings will be on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-7:45pm. 

Payment will be as follows:
$200 for May trainings/presentations
$200 for June trainings/presentations
$100 for July training/presentation
$100 for Aug Training/presentation
$600 total per person
 
Training topics will include:

Introduction and overview of prevention
Marijuana and youth
Vaping
Mental Health And Suicide Prevention
New Marijuana derived products including Delta 8

To apply, fill out the online application: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6840264/Prevention-Ambassadors-Application 

LOOKING FORWARD

In light of the recent lifts of the COVID-19 mandates, please visit our website for an update on our COVID-19 protocols. Masks are encouraged at SPIN events.

Lab Day #5 Saturday May 14th, 2022. Lunch provided.

• Where: Tukwila Community Center: 12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila, WA 98168.

  • Epic Cohort (8th Grade): 9:30AM-1:00PM

  • Luminous Cohort (9th Grade): 9:30AM-1:00PM

  • Stellar Cohort (10th Grade): 1:00PM-4:30PM

• *8th and 9th graders, feel free to arrive at 9:00AM for extra mentor-mentee hangout time.

Thank you for participating in our SPIN Girls 2021-2022 program!
Please join us for the SPIN Girls Capstone Presentation 2022!

Date & Time: Saturday June 4, 2022 10:00AM-2:00PM
Where: Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave S Tukwila, WA 98178

The students will have the chance to showcase their biology inspired backpacks, LEGO robot obstacle courses, & climate change solutions projects that they've been working on all year. We will also celebrate our graduating Stellar Cohort of 10th grade students! Each student and mentor that attends will be given a Capstone gift to recognize their hard work and dedication. We will conclude the event with a small award ceremony and lunch will be provided by caterers from Spice Bridge.

SPIN Girls FELLOWS

Students who graduate from SPIN Girls are invited to apply for SPIN Fellows in the Spring of their 10th grade year. 15 Fellows are accepted based on their commitment to SPIN Girls and their interest in pursuing a STEM career.

The goal of SPIN Fellows is to empower SPIN Girls students to feel confident in pursuing STEM college majors & careers. The vision is to grow a strong alumni community, supported by SPIN Girls mentors, staff, and other alumni. SPIN Fellows breaks down the barriers that girls* of color face when exploring and pursuing STEM careers and shapes a more inclusive future.

For more information visit our website: https://www.stempaths.org/spin-girls-fellows

Happy Spring!

I hope you all are staying safe and feeling hopeful about the future. It's time to get ready for warmer weather and hopefully more sunny days!

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in March and what your students can look forward to in April. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Jaira

MONTHLY RECAP

Field Day #4:
The Epic Cohort (8th Grade) visited Renton Technical College, toured the labs and participated in Automotive Technology, Manufacturing & Fabrication Technologies, & Welding workshops!

The Luminous Cohort (9th Grade) visited Microsoft's 343 Industries. 343 Industries is the video game company that is home to the Halo Universe. Our students toured the famous Halo museum, learned about the different careers in the gaming industry, and of course played Halo Infinite!

The Stellar Cohort (10th Grade) visited Adaptive Biotechnologies and participated in a DNA extraction activity, 3D printed their own DNA helices, and learned what goes into an effective social media post in the biotech industry!

Lab Day #4:
Our 8th grade students created biology inspired backpacks, our 9th grade students programmed their LEGO robots and began designing their obstacle courses, and our 10th graders continued their climate change research projects!

RESOURCES

Starting March 12, masks will no longer be required in many indoor public spaces including K-12 schools and child care facilities. Public Health – Seattle & King County follows the guidance for schools and child care from the Washington Department of Health. School districts and child care facilities may choose to have students, teachers, and visitors wear masks even though the mask mandate is ending. Any individual who chooses to continue wearing a mask in school or childcare should be supported in their decision.

LOOKING FORWARD

In light of the recent lifts of the COVID-19 mandates, please visit our website for an update on our COVID-19 protocols. Masks are encouraged at SPIN events.

Field Day #5 on Saturday April 23rd, 2022. Light snacks provided.

• Epic Cohort (8th Grade), 9:30AM-12:30PM: @ Seattle City Light

• Luminous Cohort (9th Grade), 9:30AM-12:30PM: @ UW Immunology

• Stellar Cohort (10th Grade), 1:30PM-3:00PM: Meta/Facebook (virtual)

Lab Day #5 on Saturday May 14th, 2022. Lunch provided.

• Where: Tukwila Community Center: 12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila, WA 98168.

  • Epic Cohort (8th Grade): 9:30AM-1:00PM

  • Luminous Cohort (9th Grade): 9:30AM-1:00PM

  • Stellar Cohort (10th Grade): 1:00PM-4:30PM

• *8th and 9th graders, feel free to arrive at 9:00AM for extra mentor-mentee hangout time.

SPIN GIRLS FELLOWS

"In March the SPIN Fellows continued their bi-weekly study group sessions to focus on schoolwork, standardized test prep, and general group bonding. "
- Fellows Program Manager

Students who graduate from SPIN Girls are invited to apply for SPIN Girls Fellows in the Spring of their 10th grade year. 15 Fellows are accepted based on their commitment to SPIN Girls and their interest in pursuing a STEM career.

For more information visit our website: https://www.stempaths.org/spin-girls-fellows

STEM Paths Innovation Network (SPIN) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Shana Beckwith to the position of Executive Director of Education and Katherine Barr to the position of Executive Director of Operations.

Shana and Kat have been working closely together to shepherd SPIN from a small, grassroots project to a full-fledged nonprofit serving hundreds of students and families every year. SPIN has implemented a shared leadership model in order to honor the strengths of their leadership, ensure that the organization continues to be led by its commitment to the communities they serve, and build a distributed decision-making model amongst all staff.

The Executive Director of Education (EDE) provides leadership and vision in the ongoing planning, implementation, development, direction, review and evaluation of SPIN’s curriculum, instructional services and operations. The EDE ensures that SPIN objectives are aligned to frameworks and to instructional practices that provide optimum outcomes to students and families of color. The EDE leads the organization in partnership with the Executive Director of Operations and the Board.

The Executive Director of Operations (EDO) is responsible for ensuring the successful fulfillment of SPIN’s mission while embodying all of the values that define SPIN’s culture. The EDO leads SPIN’s financial management, communications, human resources, and fundraising activities, and works with the EDE and the Board to determine SPIN’s strategic direction.The EDO leads the organization in partnership with the Executive Director of Education and the Board.

If you’d like more information about SPIN, please contact us! info@stempaths.org. We also invite you to make a contribution to our work!

---

It's Women's History Month!

SPIN Girls is celebrating Women’s History Month by shining a light on our mentors in STEM! These inspirational women are doing amazing work and are impacting the industries they serve by helping to pave the way for future female innovators to do the same. THANK YOU SPIN GIRLS MENTORS!

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in February and what your students can look forward to in March. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Jaira

MONTHLY RECAP

Lab Day #3:
The Epic Cohort (8th Grade) students designed an article of clothing inspired by the various ways animals and plants protect themselves.

The Luminous Cohort (9th Grade) students programmed their own LEGO robots and used color sensing technology.

The Stellar Cohort (10th Grade) students continued their climate change research projects and prepared for their capstone presentations!

RESOURCES

Neighborhood House is pleased to be partnering with Inspiring Here and Now to offer this free online workshop for African American parents and teens ages 12-16!  Each parent/caregiver receives a $75 gift card for participation. ***Inspiring Here & Now Supports Black and Brown families by providing the Strong African American Families-Teen Program (SAAF-T). SAAF-T is a program that is effectively helping families of color to learn skills needed for teens to resist drug use, make responsible choices about sexual activity, plan for higher education, and careers. Parents and teens learn together in weekly sessions featuring fun activities. This program was developed specifically for African American families and is evidence-based. Flyer and registration form here.

Leaders of Today is an organization focused on providing youth with mentorship from leading professionals to foster a culture of innovation and nurture the next generation of Leaders of Today. Interest in writing or STEM? Enter the 2022 Leaders of Today Competition by April 30th 2022. Competition winners will serve as our 2022 Leaders of Today "Youth Visionaries" and are chosen by the Adult Ambassadors in their chosen category.
    
An invitation for King County youth to join the 2022 Youth Forum!The King County Youth Bill of Rights Task Force (meet them again, here!) are hosting a community conversation about issues critically impacting young people, 24 years old and younger, in our region. The forum will be led by the Task Force members who will share and facilitate conversations around mental health, resource scarcity and equity, school challenges, and more. Click here to learn more and view registration details!

EPIC-Engineering Possibilities in College shares Cal Poly’s College of Engineering mission “to educate students for careers of service, leadership, and distinction in engineering or other fields by using a Learn by Doing, hands-on approach." EPIC is open to all rising 6th-12th graders. The program’s primary goals are to attract more female, first-generation and low-income students to the field of engineering and inspire them to choose it as a career path. Applications closes April 15, 2022 at 5:00 pm (PST). Apply here. 

LOOKING FORWARD

SPIN students and mentors will need to bring proof of vaccination or a negative test result to all future SPIN events. Visit our website for an update on our COVID-19 protocols.
Field Day #4 on Saturday March 5th, 2022. Light snacks provided.

• Epic Cohort (8th Grade), 9:30AM-11:30AM: @ Renton Technical College

• Luminous Cohort (9th Grade), 9:30AM-12:30PM: @ 343 Industries - Microsoft

• Stellar Cohort (10th Grade), 1:30PM-4:30PM: @ Adaptive Biotechnologies

Lab Day #4 on Saturday March 26th, 2022. Lunch provided.

• Where: Tukwila Community Center: 12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila, WA 98168.

  • Epic Cohort (8th Grade): 9:30AM-1:00PM

  • Luminous Cohort (9th Grade): 9:30AM-1:00PM

  • Stellar Cohort (10th Grade): 1:00PM-4:30PM

• *8th and 9th graders, feel free to arrive at 9:00AM for extra mentor-mentee hangout time.

SPIN GIRLS FELLOWS

"In February, the SPIN Fellows met for their in-person check-in where they made lists of their dream colleges (including the University of Hawaii, WSU, Berkeley, Portland State, and Osaka University Japan) and continued writing their independent project proposals. Independent projects for this cohort range from coding an original app, developing a social media marketing portfolio, and interning in a research lab! The SPIN Fellows also hold bi-weekly study group sessions as a new space to focus on schoolwork, standardized test prep, and general group bonding. "
- Fellows Program Manager

Students who graduate from SPIN Girls are invited to apply for SPIN Girls Fellows in the Spring of their 10th grade year. 15 Fellows are accepted based on their commitment to SPIN Girls and their interest in pursuing a STEM career.

For more information visit our website: https://www.stempaths.org/spin-girls-fellows

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It's Black History Month!

Today marks the start of Black History Month. The theme for 2022 focuses on the importance of Black Health and Wellness. This theme acknowledges the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. If you're interested in being inspired, check out this reading list that highlights books, websites, and other historical materials and guides on Black Health and Wellness.

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in January and what your students can look forward to in February. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Jaira

MONTHLY RECAP

Field Day #3:
The Epic Cohort (8th Grade) virtually visited the Hutch United - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, toured the lab, built foldscopes and listened to a career panel of female scientists.

The Luminous Cohort (9th Grade) virtually visited MacDonald Miller, learned about the different pre-construction teams such as detailing, engineering, estimating and design that are involved in executing projects and listened to a career panel of women in engineering.

The Stellar Cohort (10th Grade) virtually visited TomboyX and got insight on what a typical production cycle looks like, how to predict color and print trends, and how to analyze and assort sales numbers. Students also had the chance to design their own prints for undergarments, lounge wear, or activewear!

RESOURCES

School Guidance from WA DOH
K-12 Schools Requirements 2021-2022 (wa.gov)
Supplemental Considerations to Mitigate COVID-19 Transmission in K-12 Schools (wa.gov)

Plenty of vaccination and booster appointments in Auburn and Seattle for the whole family. Looking for COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for kids and adults? Vaccination sites in Auburn and in Seattle have many appointments available! First and second doses for ages 5 and older, boosters for everyone 12 and older.

More information (including about free transportation and child care support) and other locations for vaccination: kingcounty.gov/vaccine (translations in 17 languages)

The Washington State Department of Health is recruiting young people living in Washington for a Youth Advisory Council. We are looking for applicants age 13-21 who live in Washington State and have access to the internet, social media, and email.  Our recruitment will center on the communities most affected by health care inequities. More information about meetings, expectations, and how to apply can be found at: https://waportal.org/partners/home/adolescent-health/youth-advisors  
 
In-person and virtual experiences honor Seattle’s Black & African American community. In Seattle, the legacies and achievements of Black Seattleites have shaped the city’s excellence in art, music, culture, business, science, civil rights and hospitality – among other industries. Visit Seattle strives to honor these achievements in Seattle history and recognize the Black excellence that shines in Seattle today: https://visitseattle.org/press/press-releases/visit-seattles-2022-guide-to-celebrating-black-history-month-in-seattle/

LOOKING FORWARD

SPIN students and mentors will need to bring proof of vaccination or a negative test result to all future SPIN events. Visit our website for an update on our COVID-19 protocols.

Lab Day #3 Saturday February 12th, 2022. Lunch provided.

• Where: Tukwila Community Center: 12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila, WA 98168.

  • Epic Cohort (8th Grade): 9:30AM-1:00PM

  • Luminous Cohort (9th Grade): 9:30AM-1:00PM

  • Stellar Cohort (10th Grade): 1:00PM-4:30PM

• *8th and 9th graders, feel free to arrive at 9:00AM for extra mentor-mentee hangout time.
  

Field Day #4 on March 5th, 2022. Light snacks provided.

• Epic Cohort (8th Grade), 9:30AM-11:30AM: @ Renton Technical College

• Luminous Cohort (9th Grade), 9:30AM-12:30PM: @ 343 Industries

• Stellar Cohort (10th Grade), 1:30PM-4:30PM: @ Adaptive Biotechnologies

SPIN GIRLS FELLOWS

"In January, the SPIN Fellows started the year with a virtual meeting where they discussed their study timelines for the SAT. During their latest in-person check-in, they visualized their dream college experiences and began writing their independent project proposals. Independent projects for this cohort range from coding an original app, developing a social media marketing portfolio, and interning in a research lab! The SPIN Fellows have also organized bi-weekly study group sessions as a new space to focus on schoolwork, standardized test prep, and general group bonding. "
- Natalie, Fellows Program Manager

Students who graduate from SPIN Girls are invited to apply for SPIN Girls Fellows in the Spring of their 10th grade year. 15 Fellows are accepted based on their commitment to SPIN Girls and their interest in pursuing a STEM career.

For more information visit our website: https://www.stempaths.org/spin-girls-fellows

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Happy 2022! 

I hope you all enjoyed the holiday season and will be blessed with renewed health, joy, and success this new year! In the months of November and December, the Fellows have been attending regular all Fellows check-ins as well as personalized 1-on-1s with the Program Manager (that's me! - Natalie). They determined personal and group values to drive their future goals, outlined college and career ambitions, and ended with a holiday party where they constructed and decorated gingerbread houses.

For the month of January, we will be diving deep into standardized test prep (SAT & ACT) and learning  how to apply and earn scholarships.

Just a sneak peek at what 2022 has in store for the Fellows:

• College tours

• Networking

• Financial Aid Workshop

• College Application Prep

Looks like there will be lots of exciting and educational opportunities ahead for our Fellows this year! As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

- Natalie

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Coming Up

• January 11: Test Prep (VIRTUAL)

  • Time: 5:30-7:30

  • Location: Zoom

• January 25: Scholarships

  • Time: 5:30-7:30PM

  • Location: Kent Commons Community Center, Olympic Room

• Scheduled 1-on-1s with Program Manager

• Optional: Biweekly SAT prep and study group sessions

  • Starting Sunday 1/23 from 10:30am-1:30pm

  • Location: TBD

Resources

The Washington State Department of Health is recruiting youth ages 13-21 for their Youth Advisory Council. Apply here by January 31, 2022.

Volunteer with Northwest Harvest by repacking product at a regional distribution centers, distributing food at the SODO Community Market in Seattle, helping out at special events, or hosting food drives.

INSIGHT High School Program is an intensive four-week program designed to introduce students to public health, biomedical research, & medicine. For summer 2022, the program has been adapted to a virtual format to follow public health guidelines.

Changemakers in Computing (CIC) is a summer 2022 program hosted by the University of Washington’s Allen School. This free program aims to serve Washington State high school students from systemically marginalized backgrounds to develop coding skills through culturally relevant project-based learning, learning about different areas of computing, receive support in pursuing continued learning, etc.

For more opportunities like these, check out the UW Youth Program Directory.

Health Resources

Youth Ages 16-17 Are Now Eligible for Boosters

Families can find and schedule appointments for COVID-19 vaccines and boosters at vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov.

Early testing is important to help prevent COVID-19 from spreading to friends, family, and the community. Find a COVID-10 testing site near you.

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Happy New Year!

I hope you all were able to stay safe and enjoy the holiday season! Here's to hoping 2022 brings more peace and joy to our lives!

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in December and what your students can look forward to in January. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Jaira
 

MONTHLY RECAP - DECEMBER 2021

Field Day #2:
The Epic Cohort (8th Grade) virtually visited Blue Origin, learned about the possibility of living in space, and built mini parachutes.

The Luminous Cohort (9th Grade) virtually visited the Allen Institute, listened to a panel on women in neuroscience, and participated in a neuron building contest.

The Stellar Cohort (10th Grade) visited the UW Makerspace and built their own holiday themed plush toys using 3D printing and LED lights.

RESOURCES

COVID-19 Information and Resources December 16, 2021 update: Boosters for ages 16 and older. Anyone age 16 and older can now get a booster dose: 6 months after their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna (note: 16-17 years old can only get Pfizer). 2 months after one dose of J&J.

LOOKING FORWARD

SPIN students and mentors will need to bring proof of vaccination or a negative test result to all future SPIN events. Visit our website for an update on our COVID-19 protocols.

Lab Day #2 on January 8th. Lunch provided.

• Where: Tukwila Community Center: 12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila, WA 98168.

  • Epic Cohort (8th Grade): 9:30AM-1:00PM

  • Luminous Cohort (9th Grade): 9:30AM-1:00PM

  • Stellar Cohort (10th Grade): 1:00PM-4:30PM

  • 8th and 9th graders, feel free to arrive at 9:00AM for extra mentor-mentee hangout time.

Field Day #3 on January 29th. Light snacks provided.

• Epic Cohort (8th Grade), 9:30AM-11:30AM: Hutch United - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Virtual)

• Luminous Cohort (9th Grade), 9:30AM-12:30PM: @ MacDonald Miller

• Stellar Cohort (10th Grade), 1:30PM-4:30PM: @ TomboyX

SPIN GIRLS FELLOWS

Students who graduate from SPIN Girls are invited to apply for SPIN Girls Fellows in the Spring of their 10th grade year. 15 Fellows are accepted based on their commitment to SPIN Girls and their interest in pursuing a STEM career.

The goal of SPIN Girls Fellows is to empower SPIN Girls students to feel confident in pursuing STEM college majors & careers. The vision is to grow a strong alumni community, supported by SPIN Girls mentors, staff, and other alumni. SPIN Girls Fellows breaks down the barriers that girls* of color face when exploring and pursuing STEM careers and shapes a more inclusive future.

For more information visit our website: https://www.stempaths.org/spin-girls-fellows

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Goodbye 2021!

2021 has been a year filled with change for all of us, but it's almost over! And despite everything this year has thrown at us, you all have continually shown up and participated in SPIN Girls events, which is INCREDIBLE. I admire and am so grateful for your dedication to this program. 

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in November and what your students can look forward to in December. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Jaira

November RECAP

Field Day #1:
The Epic Cohort (8th Grade) and the Luminous Cohort (9th Grade) cohort virtually visited the UW Arboretum and created their own Super Plants!

The Stellar Cohort (10th Grade) visited the Museum of Flight and listened to a panel on Women in Aviation.

RESOURCES

The Youth Bill of Rights (YBOR) is officially happening! We are excited to kickstart this youth-led project and share how young people across King County can participate and directly support the well-being, health, and happiness of their peers and communities. Follow along to learn more!

The Youth Digital Stewards Program - We're working to train students to build community-based internet that improves technology access in the Kent and Seattle areas. This is a FREE program with a $1200 stipend.

theWashBoard.org - Search and Apply for Scholarships. Private scholarships are one tool to help make college or training after high school more affordable. Businesses, organizations, and colleges award scholarships to students for community service, good grades, athletic ability, or a variety of other qualities or activities. Students in Washington can create a profile on theWashBoard.org to be matched with potential scholarship opportunities. The site is spam-free and will never sell your information.  

Covid-19 Financial Support - City of Tacoma

Community Health Professions Academy - Are you interested in a career in Healthcare? Community Health Professions Academy (CHPA) a multi-session program at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. CHPA is aimed towards students from minority or underrepresented/rural communities interested in dentistry, medicine, public health and other healthcare related careers.
Visit our Facebook page: fb.com/UWOEPD
Priority deadline is December 5th, 2021 11:59PM PST 
APPY HERE

The Federal Communications Commission has launched a temporary program to help families and households struggling to afford Internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.

LOOKING FORWARD

SPIN students and mentors will need to bring proof of vaccination or a negative test result to all future SPIN events. Visit our website for an update on our COVID-19 protocols.

Field Day #2 on December 4th 2021. Light snacks provided to those in person.

• Epic Cohort (8th Grade), 9:30am-11:00am: Virtual Field Day with Blue Origin

• Luminous Cohort (9th Grade), 9:30AM-11:00AM: Virtual Field Day with The Allen Institute

• Stellar Cohort (10th Grade), 1:30PM-4:30PM: UW Makerspace - McCarty Innovation & Learning Lab (The MILL)

SPIN GIRLS FELLOWS

Our 2021-2022 SPIN Girls Fellows program is off to a wonderful start! This highly individualized two-year program is offered to 11th and 12th graders who have graduated from our SPIN Girls program. This year, the Fellows will explore different STEM professions, make personal and professional connections, receive extensive career and college advice, take on an independent project, apply to internships, and much more! Additionally, we offer monthly and bimonthly 1-on-1 check-ins with the program manager that are specifically catered to each Fellow and their post-secondary education needs.

We had our kick-off in the beginning of November and continue to meet every other Tuesday. For November and December, we will be focusing on the college application timeline and building a college list. With differences in the needs and interests of each Fellow, each cohort's focus topics will vary accordingly.

I hope to see you all apply for the SPIN Girls Fellows Program in the future! - Natalie

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Happy Fall Season!

It was so nice to see all of you beautiful people in person at the first Lab Day! I hope you all had a wonderful October and managed to celebrate Halloween in some way even with COVID. In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in October and what your students can look forward to in November. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Jaira

OCTOBER RECAP

Lab Day #1:
The Epic Cohort (8th Grade) learned about biomimicry and constructed some awesome animal shelters.

The Luminous Cohort (9th Grade) began to build and program their own LEGO robots.

The Stellar Cohort (10th Grade) chose and started collecting research for their climate change projects.

RESOURCES

King County Vaccine Mandate Verification: Beginning October 25, people ages 12 and older will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result to enter certain indoor and outdoor events and establishments in King County.

MyIR Mobile is an internet-based service that gives people access to their official Washington state vaccination records including COVID-19 vaccination certificates.

17 Tips to Steer Kids of All Ages Through the Political Season, along with some tips from Headspace for relieving election anxiety.

Map of Ballot Drop Boxes in King County: Ballots must be returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day (11/2).

Health Professions Week (HPW) is an exciting and FREE week-long event for high school and college students interested in learning more about careers in the health professions. You will have the opportunity to explore 20+ diverse and rewarding health professions throughout a week of virtual activities 11/4-11/11.

Cal Poly's Engineering Possibilities in College is hosting a Summer program (virtual and in-person dates available). EPIC is open to all rising 6th-12th graders. The program’s primary goals are to attract more female, first-generation and low-income students to the field of engineering and inspire them to choose it as a career path. Application opens in January 2022.

LOOKING FORWARD

SPIN students and mentors will need to bring proof of vaccination or a negative test result within 72 hours to all future SPIN events. Visit our website for an update on our COVID-19 protocols.
Field Day #1 on November 6th. Light Snacks will be provided.

• Epic (8th Grade) and Luminous Cohort (9th Grade), 9:30AM-12:30PM: UW Botanic Gardens at the Washington Park Arboretum - 2300 Arboretum Drive East, Seattle WA 98112

  • There is a UW home game at Husky Stadium on Nov 6th. This means traffic will be pretty bonkers around the park! Leave lots of extra time (especially if you are driving or busing) to get here so that you arrive on time!

• Stellar Cohort (10th Grade), 1:30PM-4:30PM: Museum of Flight - 9404 E Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108

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Welcome New SPIN Girls!

If you just joined SPIN Girls this year, welcome to the SPIN Girls newsletter! You'll receive this newsletter once a month. In it, you'll learn about what we did the month before and what we have to look forward to this month. We'll also provide resources to help you with schooling, mentoring, and life. If you ever have any questions about the newsletter, feel free to reach out to me!

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in September and what your students can look forward to in October. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Jaira

SEPTEMBER RECAP

Orientation/Welcome Back: Students, mentors, & families had the opportunity to meet virtually, learn more about the program, and start getting to know their mentor and fellow mentees.

RESOURCES

The application for the ’21-’22 Henry Teen Art Collective can be found here and will be due by October 14, 2021.- The Henry Teen Art Collective is a group of young people who collaborate on art projects, meet local and exhibiting artists, and gain behind the scenes access to the museum. We are a youth-led art collective that prioritizes community building, collaboration,  youth leadership, and creative expression. 

The deadline to apply is October 25th at 5:00 p.m. Youth can learn more and apply at tinyurl.com/SeaSJYouthGrant.  The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is thrilled to announce that applications are open now for the Youth-Led Social Justice Mini-Grant! DEEL is proud to support our City’s brilliant, passionate young people who are advocating for anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and positive change. 

Youth Mental Health First Aid Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth. 

Teen Mental Health First Aid Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in Teens.  

LOOKING FORWARD

• Lab Day #1 on October 16th at Tukwila Community Center: 12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila, WA 98168

• Breakfast snacks and lunch provided.

  • Epic Cohort (8th Grade): 9:30AM-1:30PM

  • Luminous Cohort (9th Grade): 9:30AM-1:30PM

  • Stellar Cohort (10th Grade): 12:30PM-4:30PM

*8th and 9th graders, feel free to arrive at 9:00AM for extra mentor-mentee hangout time.

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Happy Back to School!

As most of you prepare for in-person learning, I hope you have an amazing start to the school year! Please let me know if there's anything SPIN can do to help you with your in-person or virtual learning experience.

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a summary of program changes, the schedule for September, a welcome to our new cohort, and some resources to help you out. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

- Jaira

AUGUST RECAP

Welcome 2021-2024 Epic Cohort! We will be meeting all of the newest and returning members of SPIN Girls (from all cohorts) at the Orientation/Welcome back event.

Student Feedback. Here's a summary of feedback we received from students during the 2021 Summer Retreat and our response:

• Students acknowledged that their mentors did the best they could with the virtual circumstances. In addition, students would like more mentor hangouts outside of SPIN and more opportunities to job shadow. To facilitate this, we are encouraging more mentor-mentee hangout scheduling (can be in-person as long as guardians/students/mentors permit). We are also emphasizing the importance of offering job shadow opportunities to potential mentors before they commit to the program.

• Students expressed that the zoom lab days were hard. In response, we have planned for the 2021-2022 program year to be mostly in-person. However, if things change and we have to go virtual again, we will plan for more simplified yet interactive zoom sessions.

• Students enjoyed most of the curricula but wanted something a little bit more challenging than the App Development curriculum. So, instead Luminous will be learning a new Robotics curriculum (if the students like it, we will keep it for future cohorts).

RESOURCES

Seattle Public Schools Fall 2021 Resources Includes resources on health/wellness and important information regarding the transition back to in-person instruction.

King County Free COVID-19 Test Sites and Rite-Aid Free Test Sites includes a list of free test sites (including sites with language interpretation available)

Smithsonian Magazine is announcing Museum Day on September 18, 2021. Check it out for FREE tickets.

LOOKING FORWARD

• I have sent out registration links for Connect to our new students. The email was sent from "STEM Paths Innovation Network" with the subject "Online Connect Access". Please use the link to make an account and fill out the assigned paperwork before the start of our program, September 25th 2021. If you are having trouble accessing these documents please let me know.

• Orientation/Welcome Back on September 25th. More information will be emailed within the next few weeks.

• Lab Day #1 on October 16th in-person at Tukwila Community Center.

  • Epic Cohort (8th grade): 9:30AM-1:30PM

  • Luminous Cohort (9th grade): 9:30AM-1:30PM

  • Stellar Cohort (10th grade): 12:30PM-4:30PM

• For the entire schedule, visit https://www.stempaths.org/spin-girls under the Frequently Asked Questions section.

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Big Changes Coming to SPIN Girls!

SPIN Girls funding is up for renewal on the ballot tomorrow, so vote YES on Prop. 1! You can learn more about Best Starts for Kids in the resources section below. 

In case you missed the email, this will be my last week at SPIN. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you all and I'm excited to see what you all do next!

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a recap of our activities in July. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. - Nell

MONTHLY RECAP

Summer Retreat The students solved the case of Jurassic Bark during summer retreat in July. They learned how to analyze handwriting, fingerprints and hair and how to apply deductive reasoning to a set of information.

RESOURCES

Learn more about KC Prop 1 - Best Starts for Kids! Every kid deserves a strong start in life. We can help by renewing Best Starts for Kids– maintaining and expanding programs that support kids as they grow, with high quality childcare, homelessness prevention, and social and emotional youth development programs. We know that prevention and early engagement is the most effective, and least expensive way, to ensure positive outcomes for our kids and community. We also must support children and youth of color to overcome racial injustice and have the best opportunity to thrive. That’s why voters adopted the Best Starts for Kids Levy in 2015, to invest in healthy pregnancies, positive development for children and youth, assistance for at-risk youth, and school and community-based programs to support kids as they grow into adulthood. Now it’s time to renew these proven investments in King County’s kids. Vote YES on KC Prop. 1 to renew the Best Starts for Kids Levy and promote happy, healthy, safe, and thriving kids, families, and communities.

How should funding support Black youth in Seattle? Youth ages 10 to 21 are invited to fill out this quick and easy survey to inform future programs benefitting Black girls, young women, and Black queer and transgender youth. Youth who complete the survey will get free pizza! This survey closes on August 5th at 10:00pm.

DEEL's Youth Survey for Future Projects on Social Justice: Youth ages 12 to 24 are invited to fill out a survey to help develop a mini-grant that funds youth-led projects - by youth, for youth - that speak out against racism and other forms of bias and hate. Up to $8K will be available for each project funded! This survey closes on Friday, August 6 at 6:00pm. 

COVID Masking Guidance for King County: Given the CDC’s recent recommendations, King County recommends everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask when indoors. Please stay safe!

LOOKING FORWARD

Enjoy your month off in August. We look forward to seeing you in September!