MASTER Newsletter July 23, 1998

LEADERS Group A Mr. Berlowitz Denise	NAMES The Governors	SCORES 220
Group B Ms. Ahern/Ms. Dinneen Taisha	The Electrolytes	430
Group C Mr. Chessler Petergail	Lyca	230
Group D Mr. Byrne Lilth	Radiation	270

Ms. McCabe, and Ms. Grossberg praised the preparation and academic performance of all teams and wished them luck as they enter the third round. MASTERITES were sent off to enjoy a safe and fun-filled weekend. (Of course remember to listen to the news and read the Times.)

Our final day of MASTER/NASA 1998 will take place on Thursday, July 30, 1998. Below is the schedule for our last day.

8:30-9:30First ClassFinish up activities
9:30-10:30Second ClassPrepare for Olympics
10:45-12:45Olympics
1:00-3:00Awards Luncheon

MASTERITES are reminded that successful completion of all course work and a copy of the social security card are mandated if a stipend is to be awarded.

Prizes for the Academic Olympics will be awarded at the luncheon. Ms. McCabe, and Ms. Grossberg hope all MASTERITES are enjoying the summer enrichment program and will want to continue participation in the fall and spring.

First impressions are a crucial part of what you feel about a person and how you act towards them. This impression can change with time and actions. When I first came into this program, the first teachers I had were Ms. Ahern and Ms. Dinneen. My first thoughts were that their class would be easy and boring. I thought it would be one of those situations where the students control the teachers. I was wrong and I’m glad. They turned out to be great teachers and I learned a lot in their class.
Jennifer Strickland

My Environmental Science and Internet class have been excellent so far. In both classes, I have learned about so many things. Ms. Dinneen and Ms. Ahern are great. They are funny, interesting and keep the working atmosphere calm and settled. This provides a good working place as well as a productive atmosphere.

Mr. Chessler’s computer class was excellent. I got use to using a computer. This is a real benefit for me because computers are the way of the world. I can’t wait for my next two classes because everybody is talking about how great they are. I was here last year and I have to say that the NASA program has improved a great deal. Thank you.
Saven Vann

Mr. Chessler with his jokes made me learn what I needed about the Internet. Because of Ms. Ahern and Ms. Dinneen, I introduced a recycling system in my building. Even though the lunch wasn’t good, the lunch lady is very nice.
Erwin Alberty

Mr. Bryne’s class was very exciting. We learned how to use the compass. We learned how to measure elevation with a ruler, a string and a coin. We learned trigonometry in order to measure the elevation. Mr. Byrne also taught us how to read an oriented map. We learned many things and we had fun while we were in the process of learning.
Sang Le

The MASTER/NASA Program has been a great experience for me because I have encountered many different aspects of educational activities. I’ve learned many things. The most exciting day was spent at Van Cortland Park orienteering. It was like a giant puzzle search for treasure. It was fun finding the papers in those trees. This helped us use maps, compasses and our new knowledge.

The physical flight class also fun because I’ve learned how to use those instruments in the cockpit.
Sheila Milanez

I have learned a great deal over the past two weeks. In Mr. Byrne’s class I learned how to use a compass and why it works. I also learned where the sun rises and sets each season. Also, I learned about Celestial Navigational Concepts. We went to Van Cortland Park and were given an assignment. It was fun and very interesting.

I also enjoyed Mr. Berlowitz’s class, Physics of Flight. I have flown in airplanes many times, but I never really understood how airplanes really work. We were taught how and why airplanes are able to fly. We were able to fly an airplane using a flight simulator. We learned how to take off, how to land, and how to read the instruments. I found this class very exciting.
Diane Shearer

From the two classes, orienteering and flight, I have learned a lot. I have learned some important things that I didn’t realize until the end. In the flight class, we were often put together in groups; one person would fly the plane and the other would make sure everything was going okay. What I didn’t realize until the end was that this was building my communication skills. I thought that this class was interesting because I like planes and at one time I wanted to be a pilot. Mr. Bryne’s orienteering class helped me build on the same skills. In this class we also worked in groups. I thought that this class was also very interesting. I liked the field trip in which we were able to use the information that we learned.
Brian Dupree

I liked the Environmental Science class because most of the experiments we do are practical to everyday life. I also thought the Internet class was good because it gave us practice in looking up topics.
Hadiya Hall

Mr. Byrne’s and Mr. Berlowitz’s classes were fun and interesting. I liked them both and I would like to learn more about each of these subjects if I had the opportunity.
Waajida Small

Ms. Ahern, a teacher at Mt. Vernon High School for six years, is a veteran teacher in the MASTER/NASA program.

Ms. Ahern was married last summer after the completion of the program. The marriage took place in Ireland. This summer she plans to spend the month of August in Ireland.

Ms. Nora Dinneen co-teaches the NASA/ MASTER course, Environmental Science, with Ms. Ahern. During the academic year, Ms. Dinneen teaches chemistry at Eastchester High School.

After the program’s completion, she too plans to visit Ireland where her parents reside. Who says teachers are not athletic? Ms. Ahern and Ms. Dinneen enjoy gaelic football, basketball, tennis, jogging, football, bike riding and most of all, soccer.

Mr. Byrne is a science teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School who specializes in Earth Science. This Fall, he is will begin teaching a new course, Planet Earth.

As a MASTER/NASA teacher now in his second year, Mr. Byrne has introduced a new course of study this summer. This course covers the topics of orienteering and robotic programming. "It was interesting watching the students find their way through the woods in Van Cortlandt Park with map and compass. I am confident I’ll be able to locate Le Sang (he is the only MIA) before the program ends," stated Mr. Byrne

Mr. Byrne is married and the father of four children: three boys and one girl. This family enjoys hockey, baseball and camping. Upon the completion of the program, he plans to drive his son to college in Ohio.