The Lowdown on the Captivating Kids and Cosmic Cultures Programs
By Jonathan Goodman
6th graders who have had a lot of fun participating in the Cosmic Cultures program last year have a new, different program to look forward to as 7th and 8th graders, Captivating Kids. This is because of Mrs. Vollono, who petitioned to get funding for this program, which is new to Meriden.
Both Captivating Kids and Cosmic Cultures are "inter - district grant program(s), which means that Meriden works with other districts," according to Mrs. Vollono. Middle schoolers from Meriden, Ansonia, Cheshire, Hamden, Derby, Milford, Seymour, New Haven, and Hartford are involved in these programs.
There are also many goals Mrs. Vollono and the other teachers involved in this program hope to achieve. There are social goals, such as students "getting to know each other and form[ing] bonds with students of different backgrounds." The teachers hope the students achieve certain academic goals as well, like leadership, teambuilding, and inquiry.
For 6th graders, this is done "through the study of culture and the cosmos," said Mrs. Vollono, "All cultures, Incas, Mayans, Africans, Babylonians, Europeans, (all) developed separately but all studied the stars." Astrology led to time, mythology, and constellations, which allowed them to travel using stars as guides. The various cultures connected with each other by traveling in this fashion.
"The idea behind this program was to get together kids from many backgrounds, from many family situations, [and] from many socioeconomic situations to realize all the similarities that they have," said Mrs. Vollono.
About 30 students from Washington participated in Cosmic Cultures now and about 15 participated in the new program, Captivating Kids. Many of the students in Captivating Kids had participated in Cosmic Cultures last year.
The students participating in the two programs this year met at Washington once a week and then rode the bus over to whatever place they were going that day. During some of those exchanges students participated in teambuilding activities, such as making a model of an Egyptian ship and building a tower over one meter high using only two sheets of paper and 30cm of tape. Some exchanges took place at other schools.
In addition to team building activities, participants in the two programs have had a party with a DJ, music, and pizza. They also have gone on many different field trips.
Students in Cosmic Cultures last year visited Mountain Mist in Meriden and went to the Pequot Museum, Central Connecticut State University, and the Renaissance Fair in Guilford. These field trips are a large part of the program and the kids have fun on them, but there are drawbacks.
"The kids really enjoy the trips [but the] budgets [were] cut twice, [we were] forced to cut trips out of state; no Boston Science Museum or NYC Museum of Natural History." said Mrs. Vollono. "It's a lot harder. Some of the appeals of the program are being able to do the bigger trips."
The 7th and 8th graders in Captivating Kids went to the ropes challenge course Pine Lake in Bristol. "There is a lot of enthusiasm in the kids that have [already] done it [as part of Captivating Kids]," said Mrs. Vollono.
Cosmic Cultures and Captivating Kids aren't the only way to have a fun educational experience while meeting kids from all over Connecticut. There is a free summer camp as a follow up for those who want to continue their experience or want to try out the program.
6th graders who have had a lot of fun participating in the Cosmic Cultures program last year have a new, different program to look forward to as 7th and 8th graders, Captivating Kids. This is because of Mrs. Vollono, who petitioned to get funding for this program, which is new to Meriden.
Both Captivating Kids and Cosmic Cultures are "inter - district grant program(s), which means that Meriden works with other districts," according to Mrs. Vollono. Middle schoolers from Meriden, Ansonia, Cheshire, Hamden, Derby, Milford, Seymour, New Haven, and Hartford are involved in these programs.
There are also many goals Mrs. Vollono and the other teachers involved in this program hope to achieve. There are social goals, such as students "getting to know each other and form[ing] bonds with students of different backgrounds." The teachers hope the students achieve certain academic goals as well, like leadership, teambuilding, and inquiry.
For 6th graders, this is done "through the study of culture and the cosmos," said Mrs. Vollono, "All cultures, Incas, Mayans, Africans, Babylonians, Europeans, (all) developed separately but all studied the stars." Astrology led to time, mythology, and constellations, which allowed them to travel using stars as guides. The various cultures connected with each other by traveling in this fashion.
"The idea behind this program was to get together kids from many backgrounds, from many family situations, [and] from many socioeconomic situations to realize all the similarities that they have," said Mrs. Vollono.
About 30 students from Washington participated in Cosmic Cultures now and about 15 participated in the new program, Captivating Kids. Many of the students in Captivating Kids had participated in Cosmic Cultures last year.
The students participating in the two programs this year met at Washington once a week and then rode the bus over to whatever place they were going that day. During some of those exchanges students participated in teambuilding activities, such as making a model of an Egyptian ship and building a tower over one meter high using only two sheets of paper and 30cm of tape. Some exchanges took place at other schools.
In addition to team building activities, participants in the two programs have had a party with a DJ, music, and pizza. They also have gone on many different field trips.
Students in Cosmic Cultures last year visited Mountain Mist in Meriden and went to the Pequot Museum, Central Connecticut State University, and the Renaissance Fair in Guilford. These field trips are a large part of the program and the kids have fun on them, but there are drawbacks.
"The kids really enjoy the trips [but the] budgets [were] cut twice, [we were] forced to cut trips out of state; no Boston Science Museum or NYC Museum of Natural History." said Mrs. Vollono. "It's a lot harder. Some of the appeals of the program are being able to do the bigger trips."
The 7th and 8th graders in Captivating Kids went to the ropes challenge course Pine Lake in Bristol. "There is a lot of enthusiasm in the kids that have [already] done it [as part of Captivating Kids]," said Mrs. Vollono.
Cosmic Cultures and Captivating Kids aren't the only way to have a fun educational experience while meeting kids from all over Connecticut. There is a free summer camp as a follow up for those who want to continue their experience or want to try out the program.
Sneakers Then and Now
By Omar Osorio, Jr.
Sneakers go back a long way. In the late 18th century, people wore rubber soled shoes called plimsolls, but they were pretty crude—for one thing, there was no right foot or left foot. Around 1892, the United States Rubber Company came up with more comfortable rubber sneakers with canvas tops, called Keds. By 1917, these sneakers began to be mass produced. (They got the nickname "sneakers" because they were so quiet, a person wearing them could sneak up on someone.)
One of the most popular brands today is the Nike Air Jordan 3 "Joker" Shoes. The shoes are not only for basketball, but can be worn with just about anything. These shoes come in many colors, including green, purple, and black.
Sneakers go back a long way. In the late 18th century, people wore rubber soled shoes called plimsolls, but they were pretty crude—for one thing, there was no right foot or left foot. Around 1892, the United States Rubber Company came up with more comfortable rubber sneakers with canvas tops, called Keds. By 1917, these sneakers began to be mass produced. (They got the nickname "sneakers" because they were so quiet, a person wearing them could sneak up on someone.)
One of the most popular brands today is the Nike Air Jordan 3 "Joker" Shoes. The shoes are not only for basketball, but can be worn with just about anything. These shoes come in many colors, including green, purple, and black.
Students Celebrate History with Pride
By Olivia Santos
Walking through the doors of New Haven's Wilbur Cross High School for 2013 Connecticut History Day, competitors were faced with other students flushed with excitement, dressed in their best, waiting in line to register. Light chattering filled the room of students who looked hopeful their countless hours of work paid off. About to be interviewed by judges who would ask questions about their projects, students reviewed in their heads their originally created documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances, or web sites relating to this year's theme: Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, and Events.
Students' countless work hours consisted of conducting research and looking for valuable primary and secondary sources. They were careful that their project complied with the rules. Although no medals were brought back this year for WMS, it was still a great experience for the competitors.
Seventh graders Julia Kudewicz and Lilliana Murdy, both second-year participants in History Day, said they enjoyed their experience and learned a lot, but didn't like the long wait for results. Murdy said she enjoyed seeing other kids' projects on downtime. Sixth grader Phoebe Charpentier was also glad she participated in History Day. "I had a lot of fun," she said.
This year WMS had many participants including, 6th graders, Jordan Dunham, Gustavo Martinez, Raul Calderon. 7th graders, Dominic Smith, Mark Nowak, Hector Cardona, Evan Adamowicz, Michael Powell, Julia Kudewicz, Jamal Bouajjaj, Lillian Murdy, Kiley Falis, Phoebe Charpentier, Israel Jimenez, Brianna Boulay, and Samantha Halpin. 8th graders, Olivia Santos, Emillie Adams, Nichole Houlberg and Erica Scott.
Special thanks to the teachers that helped make History Day possible for WMS students: Ms. Stolfi, Mr. Langlois, Mrs. Cavanaugh, Mr. Ferrara, and Mrs. Carr.
Come participate in History Day next year; its theme is Rights& Responsibilities in History.
Walking through the doors of New Haven's Wilbur Cross High School for 2013 Connecticut History Day, competitors were faced with other students flushed with excitement, dressed in their best, waiting in line to register. Light chattering filled the room of students who looked hopeful their countless hours of work paid off. About to be interviewed by judges who would ask questions about their projects, students reviewed in their heads their originally created documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances, or web sites relating to this year's theme: Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, and Events.
Students' countless work hours consisted of conducting research and looking for valuable primary and secondary sources. They were careful that their project complied with the rules. Although no medals were brought back this year for WMS, it was still a great experience for the competitors.
Seventh graders Julia Kudewicz and Lilliana Murdy, both second-year participants in History Day, said they enjoyed their experience and learned a lot, but didn't like the long wait for results. Murdy said she enjoyed seeing other kids' projects on downtime. Sixth grader Phoebe Charpentier was also glad she participated in History Day. "I had a lot of fun," she said.
This year WMS had many participants including, 6th graders, Jordan Dunham, Gustavo Martinez, Raul Calderon. 7th graders, Dominic Smith, Mark Nowak, Hector Cardona, Evan Adamowicz, Michael Powell, Julia Kudewicz, Jamal Bouajjaj, Lillian Murdy, Kiley Falis, Phoebe Charpentier, Israel Jimenez, Brianna Boulay, and Samantha Halpin. 8th graders, Olivia Santos, Emillie Adams, Nichole Houlberg and Erica Scott.
Special thanks to the teachers that helped make History Day possible for WMS students: Ms. Stolfi, Mr. Langlois, Mrs. Cavanaugh, Mr. Ferrara, and Mrs. Carr.
Come participate in History Day next year; its theme is Rights& Responsibilities in History.