Math and science program offered to middle school girls
Knogl starts second year as coordinator of program
The program provides middle school girls the chance attend a science and technology conference at Lewis and Clark Community College on March 21, 2009, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Knogl, a retired Wood River School teacher, and McDonnell, a retired Granite City school teacher, spent the first day of school on Wednesday handing out flyers on the math and science program to teachers at Coolidge and Grigsby middle schools.
"We really like to team up with the teachers," Knogl said. "They'll let the girls know about what Linda (McDonnell) and I are doing."Knogl said that seven girls from Coolidge, Grigsby, and Holy Family and St. Elizabeth, both private Catholic schools, attended the GEMS Conference at Lewis and Clark last year. She hopes more girls will attend this year.
In past years, the program, which incorporates mostly hands-on training, featured female instructors from the fields of nursing, dentistry, the airline industry, web design, genetics and pharmacy.
"What we are trying to do is provide positive role models for young girls in traditional and non-traditional fields," she said.
Knogl also said last year the girls in the program benefitted from demonstrations from a female park ranger from the National Great Rivers Museum in Alton on how the Melvin Price Locks and Dam filled and a demonstration from a female police officer on how technology affected the field of law enforcement. She said the girls also participated in a demonstration called "Welcome to the Real World' which provided a chance for participants to become acquainted with finances. The demonstration allowed the participants to pay rent, buy groceries and the other necessities of life.
"It was a really neat experience," Knogl said. "The girls were very happy and excited to participate in 'Welcome to the Real World.'"
There's a $15 fee to participate in the conference. Registration forms are delivered to the school in the first week of February. Knogl said teachers and parents can also participate in the conference. All students and adults must pick up registration forms. Interested parties can contact the steering committee at 254-6596.
