STEM Alliance of Larchmont - Mamaroneck Preps for May Science/Math Event

The following release is from the Mamaroneck Union Free School District:

The STEM Alliance of Larchmont-Mamaroneck is busy preparing for an unprecedented grassroots half day festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), Stem-tastic Saturday, to be held on Saturday, May 3, 2014, at Hommocks Middle School.  Each of Mamaroneck’s six schools -- including students and staff members -- will be involved in one way or another with this hands-on community-wide collaboration featuring local STEM experts, workshops, professional attractions, a community exhibit hall, STEM vendors, and Cool Career Roundtables lead by experts from various disciplines.    

Among the highlights for all ages: A traveling BioBus equipped as a self-contained, mobile laboratory with state-of-the-art microscopes; a 10,000 piece Keva plank building area; the Nerdy Derby from the World Maker Faire; complimentary scratch programming lessons; a rocket blast-off area, and more.  The anchor exhibits/key attractions have been made possible by a grant from the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation.  

“We’re thrilled that Hommocks Middle School has the privilege of hosting this first STEM-tastic Saturday and are so fortunate to have community members as our partners in providing students with STEM education and enrichment opportunities,” said Mamaroneck Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps.  “I’m pleased to see so many of our talented teachers and students coming on board with the STEM Alliance to participate in this exciting day.” 

Students at all age levels are getting involved.  From Original Science Research students who have projects based upon strict scientific methods, to simple and equally intriguing projects from younger students, the Community Exhibit Hall will showcase “big ideas” in a science fair style exhibit hall.  Groups and individuals are working to show off how ideas can be tested, studied, re-evaluated, sketched, modeled and presented.  Students can still register to participate in the Community Exhibit Hall through April 11th. 

Additionally, high school volunteers are assisting in areas such as a “Take Apart Zone” that will allow attendees to deconstruct, hack and disassemble various types of electronics.  Members of the Future Business Leaders of America club will bring app building and website design sample.  The Hommocks Technology Club -- spearheaded by Hommocks technology teacher Ron Nobles -- will exhibit some of its sophisticated 3D printing efforts with Makerbot Replicators (of which they have 4) based upon original designs created in RhinoCad software.

Central Elementary School students will showcase how they used computer drawing software in March to enter the 2014 Doodle 4 Google challenge, using design solutions to make the world a better place.  And, at Chatsworth Avenue School, the whole school is creating a school-wide project that they will bring to STEM-tastic Saturday.  CHAT Science parents Jill Bock and Jo Anna Noble described Marble-Palooza as a way to “get kids jazzed up about physics, trajectories and balance” as they use recycled materials to create segments for a large scale adjustable marble track that is mounted on a magnetic board. 

Other district students are finding unique ways to get involved, such as MHS photography students Dori Jacobson and Joseph Yalowitz, who have signed on as photographers to capture the essence of the day in pictures. Dori conceded that several photographers would be needed to capture it all on film. “I want to shoot the STEM event because I can relate to these aspiring scientists. They put all of their hard work and efforts into science, as I put mine into photography. Having community members champion their talents is really important,” Dori said.  Photography teacher, Gwynne Bettencourt added, “It's an exciting opportunity for photography students to develop their skills in a real-world setting and be a part of this innovative event.”

Across several schools, the district’s K-8 art educators, led by Central School’s Michelle Burton, will be offering an interactive art workshop using recycled bottles to create a piece of furniture.  Elementary school technology assistants James Cunningham and Henry Smith will be leading everything from traditional programming classes to experiences that teach programming basics without a computer!  Look for Central School kindergarten teacher, Renee Coscia, also a STEM advocate and educator with the Girl Scouts, to help attendees build Geodesic Domes, enabling everyone to wonder about the geometry that allows a paper structure to be so stable. 

Parents with various skills and backgrounds have already stepped forward to lead workshops across a wide variety of disciplines such as Google Glass, STEM aspects of fire fighting, women in STEM disciplines, and veterinary science.  

Given the unending influence of STEM learning on our lives, this event has also captured the interest of various community groups.  One lead STEM-tastic volunteer is Harmon McAllister.  A vibrant Larchmont resident, Harmon not only holds a PhD in Biochemistry and worked as a Scientific Director for a biomedical research grant agency, but he is also an educator with the Westchester Children’s Museum, which will bring a wind tunnel exhibit and magnet exhibit to the festival.  Harmon speaks with experience when he says that students are naturally drawn to the “touch, feel and do” style of STEM learning, but that they are most compelled to pursue STEM disciplines when they meet professionals who work in those fields.  He noted that a pre-K student recently looked at a poster of a female chemist working in a lab and said, with amazement, “Could I be her someday?”  

STEM-tastic Saturday is being produced by the STEM Alliance of Larchmont-Mamaroneck with generous support from the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation and Cognizant, and other partners, including: Westchester Children's Museum Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, Padres Unidos for Education, Larchmont Public Library, Larchmont Committee on the Environment, Sheldrake Environmental Center and The Marine Education Center at Harbor Island Park.

STEM Alliance President, Cecilia Absher said, “This event really grew out the hopes shared by community members at a STEM Alliance meeting last year.  Part of our mission is to actualize the types of experiences that families are seeking.  We believe that showcasing some of the vast array of interdisciplinary STEM educational and career opportunities through STEM-tastic Saturday will spark inspiration.  STEM affects us all – every day – from our transportation to our communication and to our modern conveniences.  We all benefit from looking at the STEM innovations behind these everyday items on which we are so dependent.”