Students Learn from WHOI Scientists
On September 6, students had the amazing opportunity to interact with scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The Sturgis ROVers, the underwater robotics club at Sturgis East, hosted the event. Over a livestream, students heard from the WHOI scientists who are currently researching methane bubbles in the Pacific Ocean and saw live footage aboard the R/V Falkor research vessel. From the technology used during the voyage to daily life at sea, everyone learned a lot about WHOI’s work.
Additionally, this event gave students insight into the various paths of science careers. The team aboard the R/V Falkor includes chemists, physicists, computer programmers and biologists. This allowed students to hear from multiple perspectives. The scientists answered students’ questions about how they first became interested in this field and gave advice in pursuing a science career.
Many thanks to the ROVers club and WHOI for providing Sturgis students with a great forum to explore science careers!
New Teacher Spotlight: Ms. McClorey Timoh
This year, Sturgis East would like to welcome Ms. McClorey Timoh, our newest TOK teacher, to the Sturgis community! I was able to catch up with Ms. McClorey Timoh to ask her a few questions about what she has enjoyed about Sturgis East this year and her hopes for the rest of the year.
1. Can you tell us a little bit about your background and where you came from?
I grew up in Massachusetts, north of Boston. After college I was a teacher in Guyana (which is not in Africa - a popular misunderstanding). It is the only English speaking country in South America. After teaching there, I earned my masters in education and my license to teach history and English as a Second Language (ESL). I taught for three years in the Bronx, NYC and four years in Washington, D.C. before moving to the Cape. I taught middle school humanities at both of the schools.
2. How did you first hear about Sturgis?
I heard about Sturgis by google search! I was looking for schools on the Cape because I was moving here with my husband who was offered a job at the hospital. I liked the international focus of the school, and I was intrigued by the IB curriculum.
3. What inspired you to teach TOK?
When I found out about Theory of Knowledge as a course, I learned that it focuses on critical thinking and questioning what we know and believe. I think that these skills are incredibly relevant and timely in an age when we have so much information and we need to discern what is valuable and credible, and how our own biases and perspectives influence our knowledge. TOK can seem very abstract, but using real life situations helps to balance the theoretical with more concrete topics and issues.
4. Do you have any unique hobbies outside of school?
I run a non-profit organization with some of my friends called SAGE (Scholarship for Advanced Global Education). We provide fully funded scholarships to the University for young people living in Guyana. We are the only scholarship program there besides the government.
5. What are you looking forward to the most this year?
I am eager to get to know my students better and work with them to figure out TOK. I am also looking forward to practicing skills in class like discussion, listening, presenting, and writing.
6. Is there anything else you would like to mention?
I also coordinate the English Learner Program at Sturgis, which means I support English Learners and students who were former English learners. I also coordinate translation and interpretation for any families who would like information in a language other than English. There are more languages represented at Sturgis than one might initially think.
The Sturgis StormWatch staff would like to thank Ms. McClorey Timoh for her thoughtful responses and wish her the best in her endeavors here at Sturgis East.
New Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Stanford
This year, Sturgis East would like to welcome Ms. Stanford, our newest math teacher, to the Sturgis community! I was able to catch up with Ms. Stanford to ask her a few questions about what she has enjoyed about Sturgis East this year and her hopes for the rest of the year.
1. Have you ever been involved in an IB school before?
Yes, I taught at IB schools in Chicago (Illinois), Manila (Philippines) and Casablanca (Morocco).
2. How did you first hear about Sturgis?
I had heard about the school from a friend I worked with in Morocco who came here (Ms. Selim).
3. What inspired you to teach math?
I come from a mathematical family and grew up appreciating the patterns and connections within mathematics. I chose teaching because I want to share that interest with others. I like seeing students make progress and grow as mathematicians.
4. What are your hobbies outside of school?
I enjoy reading, traveling with my husband and playing with my cats.
5. What are you looking forward to the most this year?
I am looking forward to getting to know the Sturgis students and exploring the Cape (and the rest of New England).
The Sturgis StormWatch staff wishes Ms. Stanford the best as she continues her first year here at Sturgis East!