September 2011 Newsletter - Osceola County School District

O.S.M.O.S.I.S.
Osceola Science and Math
Organization to Support and
Inspire Students
September 2011
F.A.S.T. Grant
OSMOSIS is awarding grants to attend
the Florida Association of Science
Teachers conference in Orlando
October 20-22, 2011. Attendance at the
conference includes an annual
membership to FAST. Friday October
21 st is a Professional Study Day on our
district calendar so there is a great
opportunity to make the most of this
excellent conference if you are selected
to go. Current members in good
standing are eligible to apply. A few
lucky science teachers will be chosen so
complete the application (pgs. 10 & 11)
and forward to Dominique Shimizu at
Celebration High School by September
23, 2011. Winners will be notified after
the September 29, 2011 OSMOSIS
board meeting.
Ice Cream Social
Please join us for our Welcome Back Ice Cream
Social on Tuesday, September 20th at Zenith
from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Please R.S.V.P. to Amy
Rousch on First Class by September 13th. All
members will receive a ticket for a drawing.
Returning members, bring a new member and
receive two tickets for the drawing.
Membership services will be available at the
social.
Membership annual dues are $10. Check
should be made payable to O.S.M.O.S.I.S.
Please send dues to Lisa Greco in
Secondary Education at County Office.

OSMOSIS September 2011
2
OSMI Nominees
Math
Maria Barry – Celebration
Christina Bellar – Denn John
Sharon Buckner – Denn John
Tim Giger – Bellalago
Annamarie Greller – Neptune
Catherine Hiltunen – Horizon
Holly McHale – Harmony
Julia Owens – St. Cloud
Joann Parker-Dirling – Celebration
Linda Ridings – Denn John
David Saltsman – Discovery
Dale Schooley - Narcoossee
Math
Middle School
High School
Science
Elizabeth Colon – Denn John
Arlene Colon – Cuellar – Harmony
Jessica Ferris – Denn John
MeChelle Jones-Gaines – St. Cloud
Wendy Norton – Parkway
Odalys Perez – Celebration
Mary Pollock – Parkway
Shaleeza Razack – Discovery
Thiloshni Sewnath – Celebration
Laurie Smith – Denn John
Alissa Williams - Narcoossee
Science
Emily Glaser – Osceola
Mary Hayes – Gateway
Patty Hilla-Shoup – St. Cloud
Gordana Petrusic – Liberty
Robert Tritchel – Gateway
Darline Valcin – St. Cloud
Karen Clark – St. Cloud
Michael Kesten – Celebration
Heather Piper – Gateway
Eva Porter – Osceola
Jerry Ramjisingh – Poinciana
Michelle Rowland - Liberty

OSMOSIS September 2011
3
OSMI Awards
Math
First Place ($150):
Catherine Hiltunen – Horizon
Middle School
Science
First Place ($150):
Arlene Colon – Cuellar – Harmony
Second Place ($50):
Holly McHale – Harmony
Third Place ($25):
Maria Barry – Celebration
Math
High School
Second Place ($50):
Alissa Williams - Narcoossee
Third Place ($25):
Thiloshni Sewnath – Celebration
Science
First Place ($150):
Patty Hilla-Shoup – St. Cloud
Second Place ($50):
Mary Hayes – Gateway
Third Place ($25):
Gordana Petrusic – Liberty
First Place ($150):
Michael Kesten – Celebration
Second Place ($50):
Heather Piper – Gateway
Third Place ($25):
Eva Porter – Osceola
Sponsor Texas Instruments also awarded a $50 gift card to all
first place award recipients. Thank-You TI!

OSMOSIS September 2011
4
OSMI Recipients
Middle School
Math:
Catherine
Hiltunen
Horizon (Left)
Middle School
Science:
Arlene Colon-
Cuellar
Harmony
(Right)
High School
Math:
Patty Hilla-
Shoup
St. Cloud (Left)
High School
Science:
Michael Kesten
Celebration
(Right)

OSMOSIS September 2011
5
OSMI Overall Winner
OSMI Grand Winner, Michael Kesten with Principal Rhinehart
Additional $100 as a grand prize.

OSMOSIS September 2011
6
Osceola
Octagon
On Friday, May 13 th , Valencia Community College hosted the
High School Math Competition, Osceola Octagon.
Team Results:
1 st Place Gateway High School
2 nd Place Celebration High School
3 rd Place Harmony High School
Individual Results:
1 st Place Christopher Delgado, Poinciana
2 nd Place Nithin Sankar, Celebration
3 rd Place Dominique Berry, Celebration
4 th Place Louis Penagos, Celebration
5 th Place Robin Schiro, Gateway
6 th Place KimAvetisyan, Gateway

OSMOSIS September 2011
7
What We
Are
About…
What is OSMOSIS? It stands for the Osceola Science and Math Organization to
Support and Inspire Students. The group was formed during the IMUST workshops
several years ago.
Why should you join OSMOSIS? It gives you great opportunities to meet and share
ideas with fellow math and science teachers outside the classroom. Annual activities
include Tri-County Tech conference, the Christmas Cookie Exchange, Sea World Spring
Workshop, and the OSMI Awards Dinner in May.
What special activities are available for students? Elementary, Middle and High School
teachers are all welcome. OSMOSIS sponsors and supports annual Math and Science
team competitions at all levels.
What about FCTM? OSMOSIS is an official part of FCTM. In the fall of 2010, OSMOSIS
was the Hospitality Committee for the Florida State Convention at Champions Gate.
We also sponsored a FCTM teacher grant to cover expenses to attend FCTM.
How much does it cost? Annual dues are only $10. No application is necessary. Just
make the check out to OSMOSIS and send it in the courier to the OSMOSIS treasurer,
Lisa Greco, at Secondary Education. OSMOSIS is a non-profit organization that offers
support and recognition of great work done in Math and Science throughout Osceola
County. These achievements are also highlighted in a quarterly newsletter. The dues
are used to sponsor the competitions and provide the OSMI award dinner.

OSMOSIS September 2011
8
Free Resource for
Science Teachers
OSMOSIS Supports
Science Fair
As our students are busy
selecting topics, designing
experiments, and filling out
paper work, your OSMOSIS
leadership recognizes the
amazing student work that goes
into the annual science fair
activities throughout Osceola
County. OSMOSIS is proud to
announce a set of special awards
for two excellent student projects
at the upcoming Osceola County
Regional Science Fair.
OSMOSIS will recognize a
middle and high school student
project displaying excellence in
math and science. All projects
on display at the regional fair
will be considered for these two
new awards. The selected
projects will be recognized with
a special award consisting of a
certificate and cash award.
OSMOSIS is partnering with Orange
Audubon Society
(http://www.orangeaudubonfl.org/) to
bring a few lucky OSMOSIS members
classroom subscriptions to the award
winning Audubon Adventures materials
for grades 3 - 5. The materials
incorporate language arts, science and
environmental education. Audubon
Adventures
(http://education.audubon.org/audubonadventures-school-faq)
includes class sets
of several full-color student issues
provided in one kit for use at the
teacher’s own pace throughout the school
year. It comes with a spiral bound
teacher guide full of activities and
reproducible worksheets to go with the
material in the student readers. The kits
are aligned with Florida science and
language arts standards
(http://education.audubon.org/statestandards-alignments).
Subscriptions are
available on a first come, first served
basis since limited numbers of
subscriptions are available. OSMOSIS
members who have renewed for the new
school year are eligible. Interested
OSMOSIS members can contact
Dominique Shimizu at Celebration High
School on First Class.

OSMOSIS September 2011
What’s ahead for us…
Welcome Back Ice Cream Social – September 20, 2011, 4:00-6:00 p.m. @ Zenith
F.A.S.T. Conference Scholarship Applications – Due September 23, 2011
Florida Association of Science Teachers Conference – October 20-22; Orlando Sun Resort
& Convention Center, Kissimmee
FCTM Conference (Jacksonville) – October 13-15, Hyatt Regency Riverfront
Holiday Cookie Party – December
O.S.M.O.S.I.S. Sponsored Student Events & Awards: Science Fair, S.M.A.C.K. down,
Middle School Math Competition (MC 2 ) – February 8, 2012, Osceola High School
High School Math Competition (Octagon) – May 11, 2012
Sea World Workshop (Manatees or Whales) – April
OSMI Awards - May
Board of Directors
2011-2012
Carol Wienrich, President
Dominique Shimizu, Secretary & Reporter
Elisa Greco, Treasurer
Cathy Barton
Lynda Crafton
Valerie Rivera
Amy Rousch
Lisa Tindall
Byron Wong

OSMOSIS September 2011
OSMOSIS – FAST CONFERENCE MINI-GRANT
Deadline for submission: September 23, 2011
Send application via courier or email (First Class) to Dominique Shimizu at Celebration High
School.
Name:
School:
Course(s):
Years Experience:
10

OSMOSIS September 2011
Please describe why you would like to attend FAST this fall.
How will you share what you have learned with others?
11