All teams came well prepared and ready to compete on both subject matter and current events. The competition was very lively and the Hackers moved into 1^st place in the final round. Roenice Gonzalez’s (Group C) successful challenge of a Group D answer sparked her team’s movement into 1^st place.

Ms. McCabe stated that the competition still has 3 more matches and anything could happen. Good Luck to all four teams.

Ah, Van Cortlandt Park! There was excitement in the air and bugs all around. Mr. Byrne and his class were to learn orienteering which is the use of math and compass to navigate.

Adrian Martinez protects the environment

The class was divided into five competitive groups and they were given maps and compasses and a set of specifications to follow. The object was to locate "controls," also known as markers, located throughout the park. Each control had a code and was worth a certain number of points. Students climbed hills, followed foot paths, periodically got lost and eventually time was up.

The groups returned to Mr. Byrne who verified codes and tallied the points. One group of students,

Finding a marker

Group B, (Seyi Betancourt, Aissata Diaby, Adrian Martinez, Sonia Pinzon) achieved the highest score in MASTER history. Another MASTER competition takes place in two weeks. Will the record be broken? Rudy Valentin, B’s Group Leader, stated, "Do they have what it takes? I think not!"

Spotlight on: Douglas Weisman

Mr. Weisman is the newest faculty member with the MASTER program. During the school year, he teaches Chemistry, Physical Science and AP Psychology at Eastchester High School. He has been teaching for nine years, four of which he has spent at Eastchester.

A graduate of Edgemont High School in Westchester County, Mr. Weisman states that he had great science teachers who motivated his interest in science. He is an alumnus of SUNY Purchase and remembers "having great fun, but doing my work."

Mr. Weisman with DNA

Mr. Weisman co-teaches the MASTER Environmental science course with Ms. Dinneen. Their class provides students with an awareness of how our lifestyle alters the environment.

In his spare time Mr. Weisman is a volunteer EMS worker, which he states provides relief from stress. He also enjoys swimming, and sand volleyball.

He has 20 month old triplet boys, and yes, they are identical. Their names are Don, Nick and Alex (DNA). Mr. Weisman’s comment on this is, "Hey, I’m a science teacher." Upon completion of the MASTER Program he plans to fix the house he recently purchased. Mr. Weisman will not have much time for a vacation this summer.

Do you know:

•Which students in Ms. Dinneen’s and Mr. Weisman’s class fell into the water during their trip to Tibbett’s Brook?

•Which teachers compete to design the longest question for the Academic Olympics?

•Which students have won the "NASA Daily" more than once?

•Which teacher used brute strength to release Melinda William’s pretzels from the vending machines?

•Which group leader turned eighteen this week?

www.clas.ufl.edu/CLAS/american-universities.html This site links to all American Universities that have a web site. Use this to get information on colleges you might want to attend.

www.collegeboard.org In addition to providing useful information about colleges, this site allows you to do research on financial aid and scholarships. This site also provides current information on the SAT I and the SAT II.

www.collegenet.com This site allows the user to do a college search and find out which scholarships and financial aid are available.

www.si.edu/newstart.htm This site provides information on the Smithsonian Museum, a great resource for information on history, sciences, etc.

www.ipl.org The Internet Public Library site is extremely useful if you need to do research. This site has a collection of links to web-based daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, texts, books, reference exhibits, etc.

•A copy of your Social Security card must be submitted in order to receive your stipend.

•Breakfast is served from 8:00 - 8:30 daily. Please join us!

1. Dean Folk from SUNY, Albany discovered that men’s brains on average are 4 ounces larger than those of women. He hypothesizes that the extra neurons of the larger brain are dedicated to visual-spatial skills such as map reading and that is why men out perform women on tests of these skills.

2. Age is related to the amount of reading a person does according to a recent study by a market research group. The older the age group, the more people are reading. What does this mean for schools?

3. Students in the state of Louisiana’s public schools must now address their teachers as "Sir" or "Madam" or "Mr." or "Ms." or face disciplinary action. (note: Mr. Chessler has applied to teach in Louisiana.)

4. Dolphins are killers! What? The myth of the friendly, smiling dolphin has been shattered by research and videos of adult dolphins killing their young by repeatedly biting and slamming them.

Dolphin lovers either attack the research or claim that pollution of the sea may be causing this aberrant behavior.

CONGRATULATIONS!