THE GAZETTE
Page A-12
Wednesday, November 20, 2013 d
SCHOOL LIFE VOICES IN EDUCATION n Age: 64.
Robert Thomas
n Job title: Freelance science writer and team leader, AAAS/SSE STEM Volunteer Program, Montgomery County. n Hometown: Bridgend, Glamorganshire, South Wales, U.K. n Education: Undergraduate degree in pure and applied chemistry and graduate degree in analytical chemistry, both at Gwent College, University of Wales, U.K. n Family: Wife, Donna Marie; two daughters in college: Deryn, 21 at Boston College, and Glenna, 18, at Colgate University. n Hobby/Favorite vacation spot: Making beer and wine/Swiss Alps. n Lesson to live by: Based on our knowledge, expertise and professional experience, we all have a duty to give something back to our local communities. This is the driving force behind my desire to give students a greater appreciation of science, by connecting it to the real world.
Robert Thomas is a science writer and team leader for the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Senior Scientists and Engineers STEM Volunteer Program in Montgomery County. He was interviewed Thursday. Please tell me about your organization and what you do in Montgomery County schools.
We are a group of retired scientists who wanted to give back [to the community]. We work with science teachers. We have a lot of experience and can bring a valuable world perspective on what science means. We support the teachers, we do not teach on our own. We rely on the teacher to dictate the tone of the class, what’s being taught. We are there to help and lend expertise, to bring activity to make science exciting for the students. What are your responsibilities?
There is no one typical volunteer because we are in high schools, middle school and a few elementary schools. The partnership is worked out between the volunteer and the teacher. It’s basically what the teacher needs and what the volunteer is comfortable with. How do you get teachers interested
ers. This is my fifth year. I am an analytic chemist. Since I’m in high school I give a lot of talks and make real-life applications, though a lot of our teachers do hands-on experiments, especially in the middle schools. I go one day each week and, this year, work with five classes, with three different teachers. With about 30 students per class, that is about 150 students. Over all, [in Montgomery County], we impact between 7,000 and 7,500 students per week. I just love working with the kids. I’m hoping to get the kids to know science can be fun. I have a whole pack of props that I demonstrate to them. I tend not to worry about the curriculum, I leave that to the teacher.
in your program and volunteers to work with them?
Every summer we get about 20 minutes to present [our program] before science teachers, mostly middle and high school, because most elementary schools don’t have dedicated science teachers. We make a pitch for our program and we get between 15 and 20 schools that sign up. In early September we have a new volunteer orientation meeting. Our program in the Washington, D.C., region has been going since 2005. I’ve been involved since 2008. There are about 120 volunteers total in the region. In Montgomery County there are about 50, a small group of whom are still working. This year we have doubled our recruitment efforts. I got invited to an elementary principals’ meeting in early October, there were about 600 people there. I had a table with information and we got 27 principals who signed up and asked for a volunteer. Now we have to place volunteers in the elementary schools who want our program and we don’t have the volunteers. That’s my dilemma.
How would an interested scientist or engineer get in touch with you about the program?
Visit our website: www.seniorscientist.org.
“Voices in Education” is a twicemonthly feature that highlights the men and women who are involved with the education of Montgomery County’s children. To suggest someone you would like to see featured e-mail Peggy McEwan at pmcewan@gazette.net.
What is your personal experience with the program?
I work at Sherwood High School, [Sandy Spring], with the chemistry teach-
EDUCATION NOTEBOOK Kennedy students cook up food and friendships
but also must submit a resume and complete a job interview and other activities that relate to SkillsUSA. Earning the statesman award were Eduardo Adum,
Chopping, mixing, stirring and pouring, students from the
John F. Kennedy High School
International Baccalaureate Program Cultures and Cuisine Club were busy one day last week creating an American Indian meal to celebrate Native American Heritage Month and Thanksgiving. “We meet one time a month and each month select a different country to learn about and make foods from,” said Stacy Wahrman, an International Baccalaureate resource teacher and club sponsor at the Silver Spring school. “I think a lot of the value is about helping [the students] understand cultural differences.” Wahrman said they discuss each country and talk about how food is connected to geography and history. “It’s a great way for kids to share their heritage,” she said. “Parents sometimes come in to talk about their culture.” On the Nov. 13 menu were buffalo-meat chili with fry bread, baked acorn squash with hazelnuts and honey, bean and corn salad, cranberry-apple juice and maple candy — which didn’t harden as it was supposed to, so some of the students poured it on their fry bread. Konrad Olson, a junior, said that made it taste like a funnel cake. “I really think this is an amazing opportunity. [International Baccalaureate] is all about raising our cultural consciousness and there is no better way than by cooking,” said senior Eseme Koge. It was also a time for having fun and getting to know the International Baccalaureate students from other grades. The 16 students at the gathering were working seriously but also having fun.
Adonis Corvoisier, Angelo DiPasquale and Joshua Thompson, network operations; Benjamin Connors and Pornpim Phorntavewat, restaurant management; Amanda Gamage, Zachary Hough and Vivi Lethanh, graphics; Michael Prebble and Jayvon Sneed, electricity; Alison Coyne, interior design; and Dari Diaz, cosmetology 3. PEGGY MCEWAN/THE GAZETTE
Students in the International Baccalaureate Program Cultures and Cuisine Club at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring cut acorn squash as they prepare a meal of American Indian foods Nov. 13. At left is International Baccalaureate resource teacher Stacy Wahrman, who coordinates the club. As the cooking progressed, several students quoted lines from Shakespeare, testing each other’s knowledge. Another group started singing winter holiday songs such as “Winter Wonderland” and another responded with their rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” “Every day they amaze me,” Wahrman said. While the chili simmered, students fried the bread dough and mixed the salad. Others washed the knives, bowls and cutting boards. Everyone seemed more than willing to pitch in and help. “I like it,” said senior Caitlin Deyto. “We get to learn about cultures but at the same time it brings us together, especially because we are all in one program and in high school people are wondering where they belong.” Finally it was time to sit down and enjoy the meal together. The singing and banter stopped. All was quiet. Was it good? “Yes, yes,” they nodded, not wanting to stop eating to talk. Next month: a cooking tour of Germany for holiday treats
to include potato latkes and a traditional holiday cake from Konrad’s family.
Tech students compete in state conference Fourteen students from
Thomas Edison High School of Technology in Silver Spring
participated in the Maryland SkillsUSA Fall Leadership Conference Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in Ocean City. Thirteen of them earned statesman awards and one, Sara Pugh of the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, earned the advanced statesman award. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working to ensure America has a skilled workforce. Its mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible citizens. For the statesman award, students must answer 25 questions orally about SkillsUSA, including questions related to the group’s pledge and shield. The advanced statesman candidate has questions to answer
The students also participated in a scarecrow-decorating competition. The Edison scarecrow, named Tom Eddy, represented the school’s programs. For example, the head was a light bulb; the eyes and mouth were car parts; the arms were metal tubes from heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; the hands were made from wood with fake fingernails; the shirt was designed by the graphics students last year; the feet were bricks cut to look like shoes; and the scarecrow was holding a tray with a blue print on it and fake fruit. Tom Eddy won first place. More than 400 students from around Maryland attended the conference.
Edison tech students donate computer lab The Montgomery County Students Information Technology Foundation’s network operations class at Thomas Edison High School in Silver Spring will hold its annual computer lab gifting ceremony at 9 a.m. Thursday at the school. This year’s recipient of the computer lab will be Rehabilitation Opportunities of Germantown. The nonprofit provides individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to do meaningful work and acquire the technical skills required by
many employers. It will use the lab to expand its clients’ skills and access to job opportunities. The Edison students reconditioned six computers with operating systems, monitors, keyboards, mice and a printer for the donation. The project provides an opportunity for the students to put into practice their computer skills, earn student service learning hours and develop a deeper appreciation for charity and community involvement. The nonprofit foundation was established cooperatively by the Montgomery County business community and school district. It provides hands-on training for high school students to earn computer certifications that will prepare them for higher education opportunities or entry into the information technology job market. More information about the foundation is at itfcareers.org and foundationsfb.org.
Rockville school plans open house St. Patrick’s School in Rock-
ville will hold an open house from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at the school, 4101 Norbeck Road. St. Patrick’s is an accredited, pre-kindergarten through grade eight Catholic school and is part of the Archdiocese of Washington. For more information call 301-929-9672, email office@ stpatrickadw.org or visit www. stpatrickadw.org.
High school musicals on stage this week County high schools will present several musicals this month. • Clarksburg High School: “A Year with Frog and Toad,” 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 22500 Wims Road. Tickets: $7, $5 for students. The 90-minute
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show is appropriate for all ages. To purchase tickets visit montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/ clarksburghs. • Walt Whitman High School: “Miss Saigon,” 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 7100 Whittier Blvd. Bethesda. Tickets: $10 for students, $15 for adults and $20 for reserved seating. They can be purchased online at whitmandrama. ticketleap.com or whitmandramatickets@gmail.com. Tickets are also for sale on show nights beginning at 5:30 p.m. Cash and checks only at box office, credit cards only accepted online. This show may not be suitable for children under 13. Proceeds will be donated to Team River Runners, a national, volunteer-supported adaptive and therapeutic adventurepaddling program that serves wounded and disabled veterans, and their families. Information: teamriverrunner.org. Information about the play: whitmandrama.com or Caroline Duffy at whitmandrama@ gmail.com.
Christian school students in spelling bee Students from Living Grace Christian School in Montgom-
ery Village participated in the Association of Christian Schools International District Spelling Bee on Nov. 5. Eighth-graders Vanessa Chavez and Kimberly Ruiz; seventh-graders Andrew Bolton and Dannette Vendeuvre; sixthgraders Eugenio Escalante and Liliana Gomez; and fifth-graders Aileen Navarrete and Emily Parr represented Living Grace. Liliana won third place for her grade and Vanessa won fourth place in hers. In the final spell-off with the winners from all grades, Vanessa won fourth place. She now advances to the regional bee in February in Lancaster County, Pa.