From: Nicole Domingues <ndomingues@chemed.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2025 10:17 AM
Subject: Keeping Your Teams on Track for Video Submission

Dear Challenge Team Coordinators,

I hope this email finds you well! Whether your teams are gearing up for their Regional Challenge or have recently competed, now is the time to focus on their video submission. Here are some key tips to help keep them on track:

  1. Break It Down – There’s a great guide on how to divide the video creation process into manageable steps. Take a look at the right side of the Challenge Planning Calendar or Student Preparation Timeline. Feel free to adjust it to fit your needs.
  2. Storyboard Matters – The Storyboard is required for submission and is a valuable tool to structure the video with flow and timing recommendations.
  3. Cite Sources – Students must properly cite all sources. Direct them to the bibliography resources included on the Storyboard.
  4. Editing Options – There are plenty of free video editing platforms for students to explore. Check the end of our Video Training session for recommendations.
  5. Submission Requirements – Videos must be 5-7 minutes long, include opening and closing slides, and feature at least three careers, with one being a non-degreed position—otherwise, they won’t be scored. This is outlined in our Rules, Storyboard, and Rubric.
  6. Submitting Their Work – Students are welcomed to submit their own videos, but they will need to create a Submittable account (we recommend using a parent’s email) to submit their video and Storyboard in .mp4 or .mov format. You may ask them to send you a screenshot of their approved submission or forward their receipt email for your records.
  7. Due Date – March 21st by 11:59 pm EST through our Video Submission Form.

Thank you for your dedication and support. We can’t wait to see the amazing solutions these bright young minds create!

Good Luck!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Nicole Domingues <ndomingues@chemed.org>
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2025 1:51 PM
Subject: Video Training Recording & Helpful Links for Your Team

Dear Team Coordinators,

We had a fantastic Video Training session yesterday—thank you to everyone who joined! If you weren’t able to attend, you can watch the recording HERE.

As many of you requested, below are links to our YouTube channel and social media pages, where you can check out some of the incredible videos from past winners:

A reminder that videos are due by March 21st, but you’re welcome to submit them anytime whenever your team is ready.

Let us know if you have any questions—we’re here to help!

Kind Regards,

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Nicole Domingues <ndomingues@chemed.org>
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2025 2:23 PM
Subject: Important Reminder: Team Submission & Upcoming Video Training Session

Dear Challenge Team Coordinators,

This is a friendly reminder that in-person teams should have already submitted their Team Submission, and virtual teams have until this Friday to complete theirs.

Please note that Team Submission is different from your initial registration. This step is required to:
✔ Lock in your teams with our Team Composition Sheet
✔ Submit Participant Agreements
✔ Confirm your participation

If you have already completed your Team Submission but receive additional Participant Agreements, please email them directly to challenge@chemed.org.

We also invite you to join our Video Training Session (calendar invite attached)! This session will cover:

📌 This year’s theme
📌 Video guidelines
📌 Supporting resources
📌 Exciting tips & tricks

      📅 Thursday, January 30th at 4 PM EST

If you’re unable to attend live, don’t worry—we’ll send out a recording afterward.

Thank you for your participation, and we look forward to seeing you at the training!

Best,

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Nicole Domingues <ndomingues@chemed.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 2:16 PM
Subject: RE: Reminder: Team Submission Form Due by January 15th
Importance: High

Dear Team Coordinators,

We’re excited to see so many teams coming together for this year’s Challenge! To ensure everyone has the time they need, we’re extending the deadline for Team Submission by one week.

All Team Composition Sheets must now be submitted no later than 11:59 PM EST on January 22nd.

This extension gives you extra time to finalize your team details and complete the necessary forms. If you have any questions or run into any issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at challenge@chemed.org.

Thank you for your dedication and hard work in preparing your teams. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish!

Best regards,

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Nicole Domingues <ndomingues@chemed.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 9, 2025 1:53 PM
Subject: Reminder: Team Submission Form Due by January 15th
Importance: High

Dear Challenge Team Coordinators,

Happy New Year! We hope you’re as excited as we are for the upcoming You Be The Chemist Challenge®.

This is a friendly reminder that your Team Submission Form is due next Wednesday, January 15th. If you haven’t already submitted it, please do so as soon as possible.

To help you prepare, you can check our Challenge Location Page for all the details about your in-person event. If your event details are still being finalized, don’t worry—submit your form to confirm your attendance, and we’ll share updates as soon as they are available.

Here’s what you’ll need to include with your submission:

For assistance merging documents, here are a few helpful tools:

Merge PDF – Combine PDF files        Merge PDF – Merge your PDF        Merge Image To PDF | Convert

⭐ If you’re still waiting on some Participant Agreement forms, don’t worry! Go ahead and submit the rest of your materials by the deadline, and you can send any late forms via email to challenge@chemed.org as soon as you receive them. ⭐

Additionally, we’ve extended registration to January 15th, so if you know any colleagues still on the fence, now is the perfect time to encourage them to register!

Thank you for your attention to this deadline, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Wishing you a fantastic start to the new year!

Best regards,

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Nicole Domingues <ndomingues@chemed.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2024 3:22 PM
Subject: Wishing You a Restful Winter Break

Dear Team Coordinators,

As the year comes to a close, we want to wish you a peaceful and restful winter break filled with quality time with your loved ones.

Due to popular demand, we recorded Tuesday’s Q&A session. You can find the link to the recording here.

From all of us at CEF, we wish you the happiest of holidays and look forward to seeing your students compete and succeed in 2025!

Warm regards,

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Nicole Domingues <ndomingues@chemed.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2024 8:52 AM
Subject: Keep Your Team on Track Over Winter Break

Dear Challenge Team Coordinators,

Happy Holidays! We hope this season brings you joy and relaxation as we approach the end of the year.

Training Session:

We’d like to invite you to this year’s final Team Coordinator Training on December 17th at 4 PM EST. This session will be a live Q&A, offering an opportunity to address any questions as you prepare for the Challenge.

Looking ahead, we’ll also be hosting additional training sessions in 2025 to help you and your team get ready for the Regional Challenges—whether in person or virtual—as well as for the Video Submission. These sessions will provide valuable tips, resources, and support to ensure your team is set up for success every step of the way.

Interactive Study Guides:

As winter break approaches, don’t forget about the Interactive Study Modules, a fantastic tool for your students to stay engaged and make progress independently while they’re away. These modules break the study guide content into smaller, visually engaging sections, making the material easier to digest. With built-in assessments, students can track their progress and focus on the areas they need to improve, helping them feel confident and prepared for the Challenge.

The best part? Students can work through the modules at their own pace, knowing they are being guided through the content step-by-step. This allows you, as their Team Coordinator, to take a much-needed break while still ensuring your team is making strides toward success. It’s a win-win that keeps everyone on track and excited for what’s to come!

Registration Closes December 20th:

If you have friends or colleagues still interested in joining the Challenge, there’s 1.5 weeks left to register! Teams that register by the deadline will also be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card.

Thank you for all the incredible work you’ve done so far, and we look forward to seeing you on December 17th!

Best wishes,

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Nicole Domingues <ndomingues@chemed.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 10:56 AM
Subject: Team Coordinator Training Recording & Student Prep Resources

Dear Team Coordinators,

As we approach Thanksgiving, we want to take a moment to thank you for your dedication to your students and their journey in the You Be The Chemist Challenge®. Your commitment to supporting their STEM growth is something we’re truly grateful for!

To help you and your team prepare, we’re sharing the recording from last week’s Team Coordinator Training. Whether you attended live or couldn’t make it, this will serve as a valuable guide as you move forward: Watch the Training Recording Here

Additionally, we’d like to remind you about the Student Preparation Timeline. This step-by-step guide is designed to help you stay on track and outlines what to complete each month. If you’re just getting started, don’t worry! Many topics repeat, so there’s plenty of time to catch up.

To further support you, our website features a full page of Additional Resources to enhance student engagement. From interactive simulations to engaging content, there are countless ways to help your students apply their knowledge and build confidence.

We’re so thankful to have you as part of the Challenge community and wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with joy, family, and gratitude.

Best regards,

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Nicole Domingues <ndomingues@chemed.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2024 1:16 PM
Subject: Reminder of Training and Study Guide Updates

Dear Challenge Team Coordinators,

This is a reminder that our Team Coordinator Training is scheduled for November 19 at 4 pm EST. We’ll cover everything you need to help your team prepare for the Regional Challenge.

During this training, we’ll dive into:

  • Resource Navigation: A walkthrough of where to find essential materials.
  • Regional Challenge Prep: Key steps to get your team ready.
  • SPARK Kit Review: An overview of this year’s kit.
  • Submission Requirements: A checklist of paperwork and forms you’ll need for your Team Submission.

Challenge Tip:

Don’t forget to check out our new Sustainability section in this year’s Study Guide that introduces students to select UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the diverse career paths linked to sustainability. While not all 17 SDGs are covered in this section, students are encouraged to explore any SDG that resonates with them for their video project. This content, now testable at the Regional Challenges, offers valuable context on how sustainability issues connect to real-world career opportunities. The section is designed to inspire students to think beyond traditional roles and to see the value in a wide range of careers that contribute to sustainability goals.

In addition to exploring sustainability careers, the section also provides insights into educational paths students may pursue after high school. By presenting potential future educational requirements, we aim to help students envision the steps they can take to build their skills for sustainability-focused roles. This new content supports students in identifying relevant careers for the Challenge, where they must feature at least three distinct roles in their startup company proposal. One of these roles must be a position that does not require a college degree, broadening their perspective on the variety of contributions necessary in the workforce.

We look forward to seeing you at the training and supporting your success in this Challenge journey!

Warm regards,

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Nicole Domingues <ndomingues@chemed.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 4:55 PM
Subject: Tips for Customizing Your Challenge Resources

Hi Challenge Team Coordinators,

We’re excited to see your team’s participation in this year’s You Be The Chemist Challenge®!

To help you better tailor the Challenge to your students’ needs, we wanted to share a few tips on customizing our resources:

  1. Recruit More Students:
    • Create a Digital Form: Use a tool like Microsoft Forms or Google Forms to create a simple form for students to fill out their information.
    • Expand Your Reach: Share this form with other teachers, grade levels, or announcements to recruit more students.
    • Include in Available Resources: Add the form to the Recruitment PPT or Classroom poster and allow other people to share it.
  1. Customize the Challenge Planning Calendar(sample of an old calendar I used when I was a Team Coordinator below):
    • Account for School Holidays: Adjust the Challenge planning calendar to accommodate your school’s holiday schedule.
    • Plan After-School Sessions: If you plan to host after-school sessions, add these dates to the calendar.
    • Modify the Study Topics or Timeline: Tailor the study topics or video preparation timeline to align with your students’ interests and abilities.

By customizing these resources, you can create a more personalized and engaging Challenge experience for your students.

Please let us know if you have any questions or need further assistance. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Best of luck to your team! We can’t wait to see your success!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Nicole Domingues <ndomingues@chemed.org>
To: Nicole Domingues <ndomingues@chemed.org>
Subject: Team Coordinator Training Recap & Teacher-Parent Partnership

Hello, Challenge Team Coordinators-

Thank you to those who were about to attend last week’s Team Coordinator training! We’ve attached the slide deck from the session, as well as a link to the recording for those who couldn’t join live or would like to review it. You can access the training recording here: https://youtu.be/NUZ0pvmFi9A.

In addition to the resources, we also want to highlight the Teacher-Parent Partnership Initiative. This initiative is designed to help overcome the challenges teachers often face in supporting their students, while leveraging the enthusiasm and support parents are eager to provide. Below is a summary of the initiative:

The Teacher-Parent Partnership Initiative

The Teacher-Parent Partnership is a collaborative model that encourages varying levels of parental involvement to support student success in the You Be The Chemist Challenge.

Awareness Level: Simple Support

Teachers can encourage parents to stay informed about the Challenge by sharing updates through newsletters, emails, or school websites. Simple actions, like discussing the Challenge at home or creating a study-friendly environment, can greatly benefit students.

Engagement Level: Active Participation

Parents can actively assist in their child’s preparation using resources from CEF, such as study guides and practice questions. Teachers can suggest forming study groups to promote collaboration among students.

Leadership Level: Hands-On Involvement

Parents with a background in science or education can volunteer as mentors, conduct mock quizzes, or lead study sessions. This hands-on support can greatly enhance students’ learning experiences and boost their performance.

This partnership helps alleviate some of the burden on teachers while giving parents a chance to engage more deeply with their children’s STEM education. Together, we can create a strong support system around students, empowering them to succeed in the Challenge.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance. We’re here to support you every step of the way!

Best regards,

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