OUR MISSION

The NexGen STEM Program at Salisbury Middle seeks to build the next generation of leaders that are inspired to assess and solve community and global problems collaboratively through curiosity, creativity, and innovation.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

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Robotics Club- FIRST Lego League
Our program consists of students that are team-oriented problem-solvers, creative- thinkers, willing to take risks and learn from failures, while also possessing an increased interest in science and technology. Student interest in STEM is crucial for student success.
PictureCohort #1: 2018-2019
Starting with the 2018-2019 school year, 50 eligible selected students entering 6th grade from all Wicomico County Schools will take the core courses of Natural Sciences, Social and Geographical Sciences, Mathematics (6 EX, 7 Transitional Algebra, and 8 Honors Algebra I), English/Language Arts,  and Project Lead the Way- Gateway Engineering and Computer Sciences. These courses are all taught at the EX/advanced levels, and are taught as year-long courses.
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NexGen Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment (NLAE)
Each course is taught using a STEM approach that utilizes rigorous project/problem-based learning, lessons that require inquiry, problem solving, decision making, discovery, technology, and cooperative learning with a high degree of interactive hands-on involvement.
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3D Printing in the NeXus Lab (NexGen Hub for Innovation)
The STEM academy is an inclusive "school within a school," where students loop with the STEM teachers and their classmates for all three years of middle school. In addition to these courses, students take electives of their choosing, and have crucial access to our NeXus lab during the instructional day each week as part of their schedule outside of their traditional course load to utilize the equipment and materials for not only program based projects, but for maker type passion projects of their own.

MORE INFORMATION

Click to learn more about what our program has to offer.
Click to learn more about the NexGen STEM Program educators.
Click to see an example research project our students experience.

ACADEMY NEWS AND UPDATES

NexGen Garden- 6.12.24

If you are visiting Salisbury Middle this summer, and are able to visit the garden, please feel free to pick some weeds, and harvest some vegetables that are ready.  Students and parents should contact a NexGen teacher before visiting, as we must be in the building. [email protected]

This student created guide may help you with your visit, as it shares general information about each plant, how to care for them, location of plants, how to harvest, and sample recipes you can make with the ingredients.  www.smsnexgenstem.org/GardenGuide

Interest Meeting Recording- 5.7.24

Thank you to those that attended our interest meeting for incoming eligible 6th grade students this evening. If you were not able to make it, or would like to review the recording of our session, please visit the following links:
- Interest Meeting Recording- 5/7/24: https://youtu.be/0FP4j6BoEBU?si=q9VzjefRDQlYSEfe
- Downloadable PDF of Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ab8XoySaHFVaaldtKT6bkIvqqReAsOtK/view?usp=drive_link
- Former Student Success Video: https://youtu.be/tzO68AkQbsE?si=S190Iu6j-AVyKCEx
- Portraits of Success (former students): www.smsnexgenstem.org/PortraitsofSuccess

Portraits of Success- 3.18.24

Are you a former student of the NexGen STEM Academy, Salisbury Middle Innovators, or the Salisbury Middle STEM Academy and currently working in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics field, or plan to enter a STEM field in the future? If so, we want to hear from you!

Please complete this form to help us showcase your success and the impact of our program both through social media, as well as through a portrait project on the Salisbury Middle/NexGen STEM Academy campus.
https://forms.gle/PQ9DWx4SAxm9uGDb6

 FIRST LEGO League Eastern Shore Qualifier Results- 2024- 1.27.24

The judges award recognizes a team that the judges thought earned recognition based on their performance.
The Robot Design Award celebrates the team who uses outstanding programming principles and solid engineering practices to develop a robot that is mechanically sound, durable, efficient and highly capable of performing challenge missions.

Upcoming Event!
The Great STEM(+) Expo- 1.30.24

An event for all ages from all schools to engage in STEM+ activities through hands-on exploration. Guest speakers, demonstrations of cool technology and the chance to play and learn all while having fun!
Click here to learn more!

6th Capstone Night- 2.29.24

On Thursday, February 29th, the NexGen STEM Academy presented “A Seminar on the Plausibility of Cryptids… Unexplained Mysteries of Science and Nature” to over 200 guests.
Cryptozoology is considered by most in the scientific arena as a “fringe" or even a pseudoscience, yet the general public is still fascinated with the tales of strange creatures that loom in the shadows that appear to be real but haven't yet been documented enough to consider their existence. This event provided an opportunity for 6th NexGen students to present their findings based on research to determine the validity of the existence of these creatures. This culminating capstone event showcased the team’s work and highlighted the different skills and practices developed over the course of several weeks. This event also provided an opportunity to hear from local author, Andy Nunez, in his quest to explain the mysteries of the Eastern Shore, as well as presentations by Melissa Savage, author of Lemons, and Nessie Quest, as well as Laura Krantz, author of The Search for Sasquatch.
A special thank you to our parents for supporting our students, our custodial staff for helping to setup and take down our event, our student volunteers aka “The Cryptid Crew,” and our school system leadership in attendance for supporting our students research efforts.
- Dr. Micah Stauffer, Superintendent of Schools
- Mrs. Bonnie Ennis, Board of Education Member
- Mrs. Melissa Lasinski, SMS Dean of Students
More information and pictures from our event can be downloaded at the following links: www.smsnexgenstem.org/cryptid

 The Great STEM(+) Expo- 5.20.2023

A Preview from Delmarva Life!
Here is a snapshot from The Great STEM(+) Expo held at Salisbury Middle today as part of RemakeLearningDays and the Remake Learning organization! Over 200 visitors enjoyed exploring many aspects of STEM, from 3-D printing, building robots, electricity, astronomy, chemistry, neurobiology, environmental action, creativity, and more.

Thank you to our community partners who sponsored a booth to share all of the great STEM opportunities within our community or provided donations. They include:
- Remake Learning
- DelmarvaLife
- 47 ABC - WMDT
- Salisbury University- Henson School of Science and Technology - Salisbury University
- Salisbury University- Departments of Chemistry and Biology
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore- Department of Engineering & Aviation Sciences
- Wor-Wic Community College- Summer Scholars and Math/Science Department
- McCrone Hartwell Engineering
- Mad Pinball
- NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Wallops Island- Sounding Rocket Program and Balloon Office
- Minds in Motion Children's Museum
- TEC Tigers - Wicomico County Robotics Club
- Wicomico County Public Schools- Elementary Science/STEM Initiatives
- Wicomico County Public Schools
- Salisbury Middle
Thank you to our many students, parents, teachers, administration, custodians, and intern volunteers for their hours of dedication for setup, operating, and cleaning up.

To access event pictures for download, please visit the following link: https://drive.google.com/.../1WeXeVnk6AzJU1PjuXKZocwA6TxR... (as pictures are sent from our partners, the folder will be updated)
Here is a follow-up segment from 47 ABC-WMDT on the event: https://www.wmdt.com/2023/05/great-stem-expo-exposes-local-middle-school-students-to-various-gadgets-future-career-opportunities/?fbclid=IwAR04kUow3rtlj3rmGMVHJ2l0lOmJ5O8v9Ry8ToaB4VP6xGzBuAipKRo0Oe8

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