Below are some suggestions for building a presence for science at your school. If you've tried other ideas, please share them by posting them on the nsta.org/bap California Message Board, and/or sending them to Libby (lrognier@wested.org) for posting here.

Sharing information at your school site:

• Create a bulletin board in the Teacher's lounge specifically for science updates. Post information about resources, "Science in the News" articles, and updates you receive through CABAP.
• Bookmark websites such as ENC and CABAP on a computer available to staff, and encourage teachers to go through them. (Do a demo at a staff meeting.)
• Set up a Resource table for teachers with the Strategic Science Teaching book, Dr. Art's Guide to Planet Earth, and other resources including ENC Focus. (Encourage teachers to sign up for a FREE subscription.) Borrow Science materials from your District Instructional Materials Center, to let teachers know what's available to use.
• When you get a relevant email, forward it to others at your school, or print and post the information.

Involving your principal:

• Make sure s/he is in the loop on all information you disseminate at your school site.
• Ask for a few minutes at staff meetings to do a "science update" and share some of the resources you're learning about through CABAP.
• Encourage your principal to browse through this website.
• Talk with your Key Leader about what's been done to inform the principals in your district about CABAP.

Involving parents and your community:

• Do a short presentation for your PTA about CABAP, or print and distribute the one-page description (PDF).
• Put short blurbs about science happenings at your school in the Parent Newsletter.
• Add a Science page to your school's website.
• Share information from the "Why Science Matters" website for parents: http://www.tryscience.org/parents/wsm_main.html
• Ask Parents to help collect materials for science activities, or to be a classroom volunteer during your science lessons.
• Host a Family Science night at your school with activities for parents and kids to do together.

  Here are some of places you can find ideas for Family Science Nights:
  http://www.union.edu/PUBLIC/KIDS/familyScience.htm
  http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/science/famsci/scinight/index.htm
  http://scienceforfamilies.allinfo-about.com/
  http://www.tomorrow.org/csnews_guides.html
  http://www.sandia.gov/ciim/FSN/index.html
  http://www.tsbkm.com/prod_detail/2

• Ask your PTA to help develop a list of working scientists (parents and friends) who would volunteer to be classroom resources (either in person of via an email "Ask a Scientist" program.)

Sharing with other POCs:

• Use the NSTA online network to share strategies with other POCs about what you're doing at your school.
• Post ideas on the California Message Board on http://www.nsta.org/bap/.

Advocating for Science:

• Share ENC resources and set up a website demo at your school.
• Initiate a "Family Science Night" at your school.
• Submit an article for your school newsletter about science activities at your school.