Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island is participating in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP; full details at http://ssep.ncesse.org) overseen by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE). The program is allowing us to conduct an experiment design competition for our grade 5-8 students. Our student teams will be vying for use of an experiment slot reserved specifically for YKLI in a mini-laboratory to fly aboard STS-135, the final flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis, currently scheduled for June 28, 2011. This website is our SSEP Community Blog, detailing our participation in SSEP.
We have 
developed a rigorous and unique program of STEM education emphasizing the core areas of mathematics and science with an infusion of technology and engineering. Our guiding principles for STEM include extensive laboratory experiences with diverse technological applications, intensive communication assignments designed to refine verbal and visual communication abilities, and an environment of intellectual and technical exchange with local business and industry mentors.
The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) will provide our students with an unprecedented, authentic challenge to design a real experiment to fly in space. Our STEM guiding principles – Rigor, Relevance, Understanding and Application – are all exemplified by the SSEP project.
