"OLD TIMERS" SURPRISED

Mr. Chessler’s face says it all.

The first meet of the 11^th annual Academic Olympics Competition took place on Wednesday, July 3, 2002. This year, two teachers who are new to the NASA/MASTER program led their groups to 1^st and 2^nd place respectively. Ms. Colon and Ms. Roman appear to have learned the game very quickly. Mr. Chessler, the leader of the team that won last year’s competition, found his team in last place. The Bronx Mafia scored no points in the first game. (All teams entered the competition with points accumulated prior to the game.)

The longest answer

Kyvaughn Henry of Group C kept the audience in suspense when she gave the longest and most involved response to a question. And her answer was correct!

BE PROUD!

An article in the Sunday, July 7^th edition of the New York Times stated that since September 11^th teenagers are spending their summers in more serious ways. This summer ninety-one MASTERITES are learning physics, biology, use of presentation software, and chemistry. The reward for our students is not only in what they are learning, but also in what this program will provide in the college admission process for competitive and selective schools. Lee Stetson, dean of admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, stated, "I think a preparatory summer experience is something that stretches you a bit...." Katherine Cohen, who provides wealthy students with college admission assistance, agreed, and stated, "Colleges are looking at the level of commitment and involvement of your summer activity."

Our students are focused and on target!

Source: New York Times, "High School on Wheels is losing appeal for Teenagers" by Deborah Netbuion, July 7, 2002, Section 9, Page 7.

"NASA DAILY" Posts Winners

Congratulations to Adnan Rosario (Group A). He completed the New York Times Learning Network crossword puzzle on computer jargon in 19 minutes. His prize was a stuffed animal.

Nancy Roman

Nancy Roman

One of the new teachers in the Master Program this year is Ms. Roman. She has just finished her third year at DeWitt Clinton High School, where she teaches Earth Science. She is a graduate of Lehman College, where she majored in Biology and pre-med. She also attended NYU School of Dentistry for one year, which she put on hold until further notice. She is teaching the principles of physics in the Master Program. Her students are building race cars out of household items to test motion and friction. Her students are also building hotair balloons to test the correlation between density and temperature. Her plan for the remainder of the summer is to go to Santa Domingo and to relax on the beach.

Zoraida Colon

Zoraida Colon

Ms. Colon, also new to the program, stated, "It is a very good program and I am enjoying myself." This program is a personal learning experience for Ms. Colon. "The students are in charge of learning and I step back and observe. The students are discovering many new things."

Ms. Colon has taught at DeWitt Clinton High School for sixteen years. This program is unique to her career because of its special characteristics, one being that it unites the sciences.

For the remainder of the summer, she plans to travel to parks, her hobby, and to relax. Her message to the students is that she hopes to see them choose forensic science as a career.

Do you know:

• Which two male students in Group B caused Ms. Roman to cover up the TV set?

• What Jennifer Rodriguez was doing inside the balloon while Kyvaughn Henry and Jennifer Rios watched?

• A copy of your Social Security card must be submitted in order to receive a stipend.
• Breakfast is served from 8:00 to 8:30 daily. Please join us!

The Carman Hall cafeteria has been taken over by MASTERITES. They are cutting, gluing, framing, and decorating papier de soie coulant (tissue paper) into seven- foot hotair balloons.

On Wednesday, July 10, the students proceeded to the field to test their creations. All watched as the first two students held their balloon above the propane tanks. Was the balloon airtight? Would it fly? The wind was strong, too strong. The disappointed students regrouped to repair their wind-damaged balloons.

The experiment was postponed until Thursday. Results are coming in too late for this edition of the newsletter.

Back to Nasa Program Description Page

Last Updated July 15, 2002 by Roz Krakowsky
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