Semester Two @ United Sciences Club

3/15/17

The Game is On. Welcome to Science Field Day 2017: Scientific Scavenger Hunt. To see the plot thicken faster than a bullet, compete in Science Field Day on March 18, 2017 at Mark Keppel High School.

3/04/17

Congratulations to Mark Keppel HS’s Science Olympiad team for placing sixth at the LA Regional Science Olympiad, held at Occidental College, and advancing to the Southern California Science Olympiad.

02/24/17

Good luck to Mark Keppel HS’s Oceans Bowl team, which will compete at JPL’s regional Oceans Bowl on Saturday, February 25, 2017.

02/14/17

Interviews

Board Positions

People interested in running for Board need to interview and hold a speech to be considered for the process. As devoted leaders of the club, Board members do not need to fulfill the 7.5 hours and 1 function point membership requirement. Instead, their role is more demanding–they are expected to fulfill the following expected roles:

President: The President, commonly referred to as POTUS, is the presiding leader in the United Sciences Club. He or she is expected to oversee all other officers and the club. The President may motion to appoint new unofficial officers, as need be, through the United Sciences Constitution’s policies (see ARTICLE IV 4.6). As a leading figure, the President must also be adequately vocal, impartial, and empowering, able to delegate able to delegate responsibilities fairly when needed; he or she must not be the only person managing the club. The President should set up regular Board meetings to discuss activities with the Board and collaborate on projects/events. Finally, the President must be dedicated to United Sciences, promote the club’s growth, and maintain a welcoming and passionate club environment.

 

Vice President: The Vice President fulfills the duties of the President when he or she is absent, or in the case that the President is incapable of holding office. The Vice President is expected to serve alongside the President in making club decisions and in promoting the club. Over the years, the Vice President has traditionally been responsible for maintaining the club hoursheet and membership records, although this is not mandated by the Constitution because any Board member may help. Finally, the Vice President should also plan General Meeting dates along with the President, ensuring that no scheduling conflicts occur for General Meetings.

 

Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for the club’s finances. United Sciences funds many competitions and services, including Science Field Day, Science Olympiad, Science Bowl, Oceans Bowl, Biology Olympiad, Chemistry Olympiad, Physics Olympiad, and Zero Robotics, and purchases equipment for club activities. Every month, the Treasurer will create a Monthly Financial  Report about the club’s financial activities. This report includes Current Balance, Upcoming Fundraisers, Projected Balance of the Month. In addition, the Treasurer should set up at least two fundraisers every semester, in order to keep the United Sciences account above a minimum of $1,000 for expected expenditures and provide Function Point opportunities.

 

Secretary:  The Secretary records the club’s activities by taking notes, known as Minutes. Before every Board meeting, the Secretary shall ask other Board members what they will like to discuss. During every Board meeting, the Secretary shall take Minutes regarding club activities, changes, etc. After every Board meeting, the Secretary and President shall sign the Minutes, and the Secretary shall store the Minutes in a secure folder. Before General Meetings, the Secretary shall inform General Members on the activities of the General Meeting. After the General Meeting, the Secretary shall post a re-cap of the General Meeting topics. Characteristics pertaining to the Secretary are being organized, being detailed, and having quick recording skills. Finally, the Secretary should help the Vice President with any paperwork that has to be handled.

 

Publicity/Public Relations Officer: The Publicity/Public Relation Officer(s) must not only promote and advocate for the United Sciences Club, but they must also be prepared to organize events that build mutually beneficial relationships between United Sciences and the public/rest of school, through various means, including but not limited to informative flyers, neat posters, digital banners, and icons. These officers are also responsible for taking pictures of club events and informing Yearbook and/or The Aztec Newspaper of upcoming events, or if need be, send pictures to Yearbook and/or The Aztec Newspaper.

 

Science Field Day Committee Co-Chairs: The Science Field Day Co-Chairs work to organize one of the club’s largest events: Science Field Day. Science Field Day Co-Chairs work alongside teachers, administration, and other students to plan Science Field Day.

Tutoring Committee Chair: The Tutoring Committee Chair is responsible for promoting United Sciences tutoring, a long-developed program that runs throughout the Science Department at Mark Keppel High School. At the beginning of the school year, the Tutoring Committee Chair creates a tutoring schedule by collaborating  and planning extensively with teachers. Every month, he or she hands the teachers a tutoring log, in which members record their hours tutored. At the end of the month, the chair collects all 15 or so of the tutoring logs, sends them to the Vice President to record, and gives teachers a new log. The Tutoring Committee Chair must promote tutoring within the club, and if needed, extend the opportunity to other clubs.

Biology Committee Chair: The Biology Committee Chair is responsible for leading members of the Biology Committee and introducing to them new and/or important topics in Biology. Every semester, the Biology Committee Chair will appoint an unofficial secretary, who may take notes on committee events. Additionally, the Biology Committee Chair plans interesting and fun Biology-related labs and organizes the Biology Olympiad practices.

Chemistry Committee Chair: The Chemistry Committee Chair is responsible for leading members of the Chemistry Committee and introducing to them new and/or important topics in Chemistry. Additionally, the Chemistry Committee head is in charge of organizing the Chemistry Olympiad. Typically, he or she selects two to three Chemistry Olympiad Captains to help teach topics in chemistry.

Physics Committee Chair: The Physics Committee Chair is responsible for leading members of the Physics Committee and introducing to them new and/or important topics in Physics. In addition, he or she organizes and holds practices for the Physics Olympiad.

Computer Science Committee Chair: The Computer Science Committee Chair is responsible for leading members of the Computer Science Committee and introducing to them new and/or important topics in Computer Science. In addition, he or she organizes and holds practices for the Zero Robotics, a competition for around fifteen talented students with knowledge in programming and physics.

Unofficial Roles in Club

The following positions do not need to interview or hold a speech, and are appointed by the President in order to promote scientific learning online.

Biomedical Officer – responsible for posting about new medical studies and good medical careers or schools

Engineering Officer – responsible for posting about new inventions and good engineering careers or schools

Geologic Officer – responsible for posting about new data about possible seismic activity and why it happens

01/05/17

 

The following message is about membership in our club and Board interviews.

Membership

 

Semester Two hoursheet: https://goo.gl/xwhSA4

If you see your name on the Semester Two hoursheet, then this confirms that you were active Semester One. If you know were not active Semester One or know any friends who want to join, please fill out this form by January 31:

https://goo.gl/forms/C7JjqBe21TPtrEM32

The benefits of being an active member are as follows:

• Possible extra credit from science teachers
• Tutor or be tutored in science, possibly gain more extra credit
• Join science teams to learn more about science
• Funding for Science Olympiad, Science Bowl, Oceans Bowl, Biology Olympiad, Physics Olympiad, and Chemistry Olympiad*
• Work on Science Field Day
• Join a community of students who are passionate in STEM
• Experience intriguing labs
• Watch exclusive presentations
• Able to run for Board

 

Board Interviews

As like last year, Board selection will be through Interviews. This year’s Board may not necessarily be next year’s Board. Because we do not have many graduating seniors to conduct interviews or have enough lunches, and our Constitution requires us to conduct interviews, interviews will be conducted as follows:

• Similar to the College Admissions process, so you get first-hand experience
• Interviews will be conducted at Starbucks from March 1 to April 20, as per request.
• A spreadsheet will be uploaded some time this month, where you can select your time to interview. Half of the interviewees will be interviewed by Jason Xian, the other half by Bonnie Woo.
• Interviews will be from 20 minutes to 45 minutes each. Do not be late.
• After Interviews, during some time in April/May, we will hold speeches. The speech should be less than 2 minutes. This speech process is to ensure that no favoritism comes into play from the interview process.Only those who interview will be allowed to partake in the speech process.

To start preparing for Interviews, the following is suggested:

• Start looking for activities/UniSci events that will make you stand out as an individual.
• Start putting together a resume of all the activities you have participated in and the achievements you have earned throughout high school.

01/04/17
United Sciences held its first general meeting of Semester Two on January 4, 2017. Science Field Day committee head Lyan Ly announced that Science Field Day planning will begin next week and that the hoursheet for Semester Two will be frozen on January 4 11:59 p.m. Additionally, President Jason Xian held a special presentation about summer programs. To see the PowerPoint presentation for General Meeting #5, click here.

Stamp cards for Semester Two were also passed out today. If a member did not receive one, please contact a Board member as soon as possible. A message from Science Field Day committee heads:

“Please join the SFD committee FB page if you are not already in it and you are in the committee or if you would like to actively participate in the organization of the event. Thanks! Click here.“

 

 

09/13/16

Today was the first general meeting for the United Sciences Club. President Jason Xian welcomed members with business/stamp cards to keep track of meeting dates and attendance, and presented general information about the club. He then shared the floor with Subject Committee Heads and others, who showcased details about Tutoring Committee, Physics Committee, Chemistry Committee, Biology Committee, and Science Field Day Committee. The PowerPoint presentation for General Meeting #1 is here.

Science Olympiad Tryouts Part 1 will be held on September 14, 2016 during the collaboration period (1:45 to 2:45 p.m.) at B116. Part 1 will be an individual test.

Science Olympiad Tryouts Part 2 will be held on September 28, 2016 during the collaboration period (1:45 to 2:45 p.m.) at B116. A panel of science teachers, Board members, and Science Olympiad captains will overview Part 2, which is an interview. Additionally, Science Bowl and Oceans Bowl tryouts are interview-based on the same day and time as Science Olympiad Tryouts Part 2.  A sign up sheet will be posted on B116 to assign times for interviews.

Caitlyn Yang, Public Relations, designed a the following logo for the United Sciences Club.

Congratulations to Public Relations, Caitlyn Yang, for winning the vote for the new United Sciences Club logo!

06/27/16

Tryouts for Science Bowl have begun. We are hosting tryouts at Bruggemeyer Library from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. this week on Tuesday and Thursday. Please read the National Science Bowl Rules and watch the video below.

Congratulations to Public Relations Assistant, Lauren Jian, for winning the Banner design contest!