DECATS 2013 News

DeBusk Foundation is celebrating 25 Years of funding Gifted Programs!

Person of the Year Manuel DeBusk

OZ TIME

Commemorative Edition

1988-2013

DECATS at ST. LAURENCE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

2630 Austin Parkway Sugar Land, TX. 77479 281-980-0500

www.decats.net

OZ TIME DECATS at ST. LAURENCE CATHOLIC SCHOOL 2630 Austin Parkway Sugar Land, TX. 77479 281-980-0500 www.decats.net SUMMER 2013

OZ TIME REPORTERS Mrs. Williams Mrs. Gutierrez Olivia Green Deanna Venkatesan Jacob Hulvey Anna Katherine Meyer Caroline Kunkel Alexa Halim

DECATS RULES 1.

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COME PREPARED RESPECT YOUR RIGHTS AND THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS 4.

5.

BE ON TIME

WORK AT LEARNING

ASK FOR SUPPORT

Our 2013 theme: All Things Great and Powerful!

DeBusk Foundation is celebrating 25 Years of funding Gifted Programs!

Each summer, over 1,000 bright kids get together at host schools to learn Arts, Sciences, Mathematics, Robotics, Leadership, and more!

We are very grateful for everything DeBusk Foundation does every year to make DECATS possible and blessed with the opportunity to host DECATS at St. Laurence! THANK YOU, Mr. DeBusk!!!

About Manuel DeBusk Manuel DeBusk was educated in Texas public schools, attended Wayland Junior College, Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) and SMU Law School. He and his wife Edith established a law firm in Dallas specializing in Mortgage and Real Estate Law. He was active in Texas politics from 1936 through 1980.

His long standing interest in education and civic service led to his appointment as Chairman of the Board of Texas Technological College and Chairman of the Coordinating Board of all Texas colleges and universities. He was an International President of Cosmopolitan International, an international service club. As Chairman of the Board of the Association of Small Foundations in Washington, D.C., he promoted small foundations. He was also a Special Agent with the FBI during World War II. The death of his wife, Edith was followed by two marriages to Jean Shelley Henry and subsequently to Darlena Blackwell, both of whom preceded Manuel in death.

Manuel DeBusk passed away peacefully on October 24, 2011, at the age of 97. During the 30 years in which he actively participated as the President of the Board and then as a Director, more than 12,000 gifted and talented children were awarded scholarships for enrichment courses. Mr. DeBusk is missed by all of people whose he touched, and he is dearly remembered for his generosity, integrity, and wonderful sense of humor. There's no telling how many people will be enriched as a result of his and Edith's vision of doing something good for others!. I know he touched my life and made me a better person. He may have touched yours, too. He paid it forward in more ways than can possibly be counted. He said it would trickle down from where he started, so that our future leaders could some day do great things for others. Mr. DeBusk once referred to all of the gifted and talented children as "budding geniuses."

From DeBusk Foundation website

http://www.debuskfoundation.org

OZ TIME A Summer Blessing May you walk with God this summer, in whatever you do, wherever you go Walking with God means...

Walking with honesty and with courage; Walking with love and respect and concern for the feelings of others.

Thanks to Our Special Guests!

We feel very honored to be visited by some very special guests this summer! Dr. Marty Webb, Founder of DECATS in Houston and DeBusk Foundation Board Member, and Dr. Sue Francis, Board Member of DeBusk Foundation, and Mr. John Barone, DeBusk Foundation Coalition Director! Here you can find them with Mimi Klein, 4ht year scholar, and Mrs. Haney, our DECATS Director, while visiting one of our many awesome courses!

May you talk to God this summer, and every day and in every situation.

Talking with God means...

Praying words of praise for the beauty of creation, saying prayers of thanks, for friends and good times, asking God's help in all your decisions.

May you talk with God every day.

Amen.

- Author unknown

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OZ TIME Science, Science, and Even More Science

By Caroline Kunkel

Ms. Glaser teaches Discovering Science Secrets and The Cutting Edge.

Discovering Science Secrets is a course that reveals weird things about science that you normally don’t learn in school, such as making an egg float in water. Something Ms. Glaser always says is, “Can’t is a four letter word that doesn’t belong in the science lab.” You do experiments every day you wouldn’t have thought you could do. Some experiments include making a lava lamp and pulling a table cloth out from underneath a textbook and the textbook stays there. It is really fun!!!

The Cutting Edge is a course where scholars dissect animals and animal parts each day. Things dissected were a crawfish, a fetal pig, a worm, a frog, a sheep brain, and a cow eyeball!!! Most people are grossed and weirded out by dissecting stuff, but it’s pretty cool. Consider taking this course next year!

Teamwork Ms. Walpole teaches Junior Apprentice. In Junior Apprentice, scholars learn how to be leaders by doing games, crafts and other challenging mind games that require scholars to work together.

She has been teaching Junior Apprentice for about seven years now. She is very good at teaching and has the hang of it.

Some lessons scholars learned in Junior Apprentice are how to be good leaders and how to appreciate others and themselves.

The reason why Ms. Walpole teaches Junior Apprentice is because she likes seeing kids have fun, and she loves seeing kids accomplish tasks in a group.

Whenever scholars leave DECATS, Mr. Walpole wants them to know that they are all special in different ways, and their gifts should be shared with everyone in many different ways.

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By Caroline Kunkel

OZ TIME Lets Make Sounds

By Olivia Green

This is Ms. Winski’s second year teaching at DECATS. She started at DECATS because a co-worker recommended that she become a mentor. She teaches Music To My Ears, Everybody Wants To Rule The World and Perspectives II. During the regular school year, Ms. Winski teaches fourth grade at St. Cecilia's Catholic School.

What is that I hear? Is it Ms. Winski’s Music to My Ears course? Ms. Winski said, “That it is very interesting seeing how science and sound go together.” Scholars make musical instruments that actually work such as harmonicas, maracas, rain sticks, and trumpets. You make instruments and see how they make sound and what you need to do to have it make sound.

Training Future Politicians

By Olivia Green

Calling all future politicians. If you’re a future politician, come and join Ms. Winski in Everybody Wants To Rule the World. In this course, scholars learn about different types of governments. Scholars also learn how the systems of government work. They also learn what kind of leaderships various governments have. It shows scholars the different ways societies run. If you’re a young politician, be sure to join Ms. Winski next year in Everybody Wants To Rule the World!

Rock Artist

By Caroline Kunkel

Art on the Rocks is one of Mrs. Arce-Verdugo’s three courses. She mentors this course because she loves to paint. It is her hobby.

In Art on Rocks, you get to express your inner artist on rocks! The first thing you do is trace the rock to see what form it has. The next thing you do is paint a white coat on the rock. If you don’t do this, and just start to paint the main background , the background won’t show up.

Then, you draw your design on the white paint. Another reason you need the white paint is because if you try to draw the design on the rock without white paint, it won’t show up, and if you don’t draw a design, it would be very, very, very bad.

After that, you paint the main color. Next, you paint the design. Which design are you going to do? There are a lot of choices, A smiley face, a narwhal, a fish, a bird, a BFF rock, a bearded dragon? There are so many choices. You have to have a lot of patience to dry the rock. It takes a long time, about a day! You can also make colors by mixing the paint. Red and white make pink, green and white make light green, red and yellow make orange, and so on and so forth.

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OZ TIME “Too Much is Given, Much is Expected” - DECATS in Action

By Alexa Halim

Mr. Masterson teaches middle school Religion and is the campus minister at St. Francis de Sales, and he started mentoring at DECATS three years ago. This year he mentors Perspectives I, DECATS in Action and co-teaches Iron Chef DECATS. He is looking forward to meeting new scholars and learning a lot from them.

Mr. Masterson has been mentoring DECATS in Action for two years now because he likes to serve the community.

Every week scholars work on one of three service projects. Scholars had two guest speakers come to talk to them.

Patricia Gremlin was from the Mamie George Foundation, which is a Catholic charity that helps with adoption, food, housing, and counseling with families. The ARC helps with individuals with autism. The DECATS in Action scholars have gone to Chuck E Cheese to eat pizza and talk with the autistic kids. The Human Needs Ministry is privately funded, volunteer-based organization that makes sure that people’s basic needs are meet.

Mr. Masterson has been co-teaching Iron Chef DECATS for three years now. He is teaching this course because he loves to cook. The scholars have a daily competition, and if their team wins, they get points to add up to get the golden spatula. Scholars in that course have made a salads, omelets, and a menu.

Mr. Masterson wants his scholars to leave DECATS with more of a sense of who they are. He teaches the scholars teamwork. Also, he is overwhelmed with the generosity of the DECATS community. Mr. Masterson is a very kind mentor that gives back to the community.

“DECATS means creativity, individuality, and expression of one’s self. It also means educational fellowships. It is something I look forward to every year.”

- Mrs. D. Thompson

“I think DECATS is a great place for scholars of all ages to discover our God given talents.”

-Ms. Konecny

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OZ TIME From Symposiums to Cyberspace

By Alexa Halim

Ms. Corte is an interesting mentor that I would love to have.

She is an 8th grade English and Literature teacher at St. Laurence, and she started teaching at DECATS four years ago. This year at DECATS she teaches Perspectives II, Blogging, and It’s Greek to Me. Ms. Corte has been teaching Blogging for two years. She is teaching this course because she is a writer and loves to write.

Every week she assigns scholars different writing assignments, and then scholars workshop them. When they workshop, scholars talk about their writings. Scholars learn to improve their writing and learn how to offer and accept criticism.

Ms. Corte has been teaching It’s Greek to Me for three years.

She is teaching this course because she loves ancient Greek mythology and thinks it is interesting. The scholars are writing a hero story and reading their presentations. Ms. Corte’s favorite project is Symposium. In that project, the scholars pretend they are Greeks. They eat Greek food such as grapes, hummus, and pita bread. They wear laurel wreathes and sit in a circle eating and talk, just like it was done in ancient Greece.

She wants her scholars to leave DECATS with confidence and the ability to be proud of their gifts and talents. Ms. Corte likes teaching at DECATS because she likes to teach about writing and history and because the students are very excited to learn. She says it is an experience to teach here because all the students are excited and eager to come to DECATS. Ms. Corte is an amazing, inspiring mentor.

Can You Sweat?

By Jacob Hulvey

The course “Can You Sport?” was taught by Mr. Rodrigues this year at DECATS. In “Can You Sport?”, the scholars learned different sport techniques associated with dribbling and kicking a ball. The scholars also practiced running different lengths like one mile, one half mile, and one quarter mile. By using different sports props such as bases, soccer goals, and bats, they were able to improve their sports skills. At the end of the DECATS program, the scholars invented a sport, using the techniques and styles the scholars learned during the course.

DECATS is the joining of gifted kids, who came together and learn about leadership and teamwork. These gifted kids do well in the society and make our future brighter. I am a scholar aide now and DECATS gives me the opportunity to help fellow scholars. - Lucia Eade Page 7

OZ TIME Calling all Chocolate Lovers

By Caroline Kunkel

Mrs. L. Thompson doesn't have a favorite course. She likes all of them!!! In Coco Motion, you make lots of tasty goodies such as chocolate truffles, fudge, candy bars, chocolate covered pretzels, and pudding. Yummy!!!

Scholars saw how chocolate was made in the Hershey Factory in Houston and viewed the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Scholars also made their own chocolate by taking a wafer cookie and spreading melted chocolate chips on to it. They also made the truffles out of Chocolate icing and a “special ingredient.” For a final activity, scholars worked in teams to create fantastic chocolate sculptures. Scholars love Coco Motion!!! I hear scholars talking about how they want to be in Coco Motion next year!

FASHIONISTAS AT HEART

By Deanna Venkatesan

Ms. Share has been teaching at DECATS for twelve years. In general, she has been teaching for twenty– nine years. She started as a mentor at DECATS in 2001. DECATS was held at John Paul II then. During the school year, she teaches first grade at St. Edwards. She likes to teach because she likes to teach children and to be around kids. Ms. Share also teaches Perspectives I.

Sew What?

Ms. Share mentors Sew What, a course where scholars learn how to sew, cut fabric, measure fabric, and learn parts of a sewing machine.

In this course, scholars take a trip to Joann’s Fabric Store to pick out fabric. With this fabric they make pillows, treasure pouches, and tote bags. When leaving this course, the scholars will know how to sew with sewing machines , measure fabric, cut fabric, sew with a needle, and use their own creativity.

“DECATS means that I have done a good job in my education and I am very proud of myself that I have gotten this far. I also get to meet new people.”

-Katherine Crockett

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OZ TIME

By Olivia Green

Calling Future Mathematicians

Do you love math? Do you want to learn algebra and be ahead in math? If you do, you should take Mrs. Garcia’s Mathematical Juggling course next year. In this course you learn how to do more complicated math problems, such as algebra. The scholars in this course learn how to use manipulative that represent all the parts of equations. During the course of DECATS, the equations got more difficult, and by the end of DECATS, scholars should be able to do some very difficult math equations. After scholars leave this course, Mrs. Garcia hopes, “That scholars will move up a level in learning and open up to new things.”

So, future mathematicians, if you want to sharpen your skills in math, this course is great for you!

Let’s Go Under The Sea

By Olivia Green

Do you like going to the beach? Do you ever wonder what lives under the ocean? If you want to get informed about the ocean habitats, Mrs. Garcia’s Lets Dive-In course is a great course to take. Scholars learn about ocean life and ocean habitats. The scholars in this course got to do some hands on experimental activities that simulate lives under the ocean. They also created different habitats for creatures in the ocean to learn. Mrs. Garcia hopes that her scholars in this course act more like oceanographers. She also hopes they take the characteristics of determination and skill.

By Jacob Hulvey

Going for the Spatula

“Iron Chef DECATS” is a course mentored by Mrs. Santos and Mr. Masterson. The goal of this course is to win the Golden Spatula. Scholars are put into four groups, and then they compete against each other on a daily challenge. Scholars use regular kitchen material, and the food is bought from Kroger grocery store. All creations must be made from scratch. Scholars do not just open a jar and heat it up. Every day, the scholar aides judge the competition to see which team cooked the best dish. In one of the challenges, the scholars have only $20 to make a meal (appetizer and entry).

The teams have to focus on teamwork and creativity to win the daily challenge. The Golden Spatula will go to the scholar with the most wins.

“DECATS means spending more time with my friends from other schools.”

-Abby Milam

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OZ TIME I’m Roman and I Know It

By Olivia Green

Do you like to learn about Roman history? If so, Roman Through History, mentored by Miss Ranalli, is the course for you. In this course, scholars learn about the Roman Empire. They also learn how to speak conversational Latin. They look at how the Roman Empire came to be and how it has influence on the world today. A lot of the words we have today come from Latin Roots, such as the example “tim” which means to be afraid, and an English word from that root is timid. The scholars also learn about the Roman version of mythology, such as the gods Juno and Minerva. Roman architecture, which inspired some of the architecture we have in Washington D.C., was studied. The Romans are pretty much the base of a lot of things today such as government, language, and architecture. If you want to learn all of this and much more, come and join Roman Through History next year.

Take a Stroll Down Creative Thinkers Avenue

By Olivia Green

Calling all creative thinkers! If you’re a creative thinker, Outside the Box, mentored by Miss Ranalli, is a great course for you. You don’t just do math problems, you do riddles, such as “You Hold Right .I Hold Left. What Am I?” A mirror, if you were wondering, is the answer. Miss Ranalli also said that developing strategies that help solve problems is very important . This course is very interactive, and Miss Ranalli stated that if scholars have hands on learning, it helps them complete a task. If scholars learn different learning strategies, they can pass them along to other students at their school, and it could possibly help them. Scholars also learn about creative thinkers throughout history such as Albert Einstein. This course also sharpens the mind. When the scholars return to school, their minds will be razorsharp, and their thinking strategies on target.

Movie Making 101

By Jacob Hulvey

The course “Picture This” is taught by Mrs. Santos. In this course, scholars learn about movie making and photography. Scholars learned how to use programs like Movie Maker Live. Scholars worked on stop action films, short films, music videos, and greeting cards.

They also worked together on a project that included everyone that took the course. The film was about a girl getting lost in DECATS. The film was viewed and enjoyed by all scholars and parents on the last day of DECATS 2013.

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OZ TIME Acting in a Show

By Alexa Halim

Ms. Hernandez is a caring mentor that teaches fun courses.

She is a 2nd grade teacher at Kilpatrick Elementary school in Katy ISD, and she started teaching at DECATS 5 years ago.

This year at DECATS Ms. Hernandez teaches Let’s Put on a Show, Dance Through the Decades, and Perspectives I. She enjoys being with scholars and mentors.

Ms. Hernandez has been teaching Let’s Put on a Show for five years. She is teaching this course because she has done theatre since she was little. In this course scholars learn about auditioning, acting skills, improvisation, and theatre etiquette. Scholars made their own costumes and props. They are performing a big show called Live! Fairy Tale News which is a news station with reporters that are with fairy tale characters such as Sleeping Beauty, The Three Little Pigs, and Jack and the Beanstalk.

Ms. Hernandez has been teaching Dance Through the Decades for two years. She is teaching this course because she started dance since she was three and because she loves dancing. Each week scholars learn popular dances from the twenties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties, and some popular dances now. In the twenties they learned the Charleston and in the fifties scholars learned the Stroll and the Madison. In the sixties they learned the Twist, Swim, Jerk, and the Monkey and in the seventies they learned the Hustle, and Electric Slide. In the eighties they learn Michael Jackson’s Thriller and they also learn Gangham Style, Cupid Shuffle, and the Cha Cha Slide.

Ms. Hernandez wants her scholars to leave DECATS with confidence and courage. She likes teaching at DECATS because she gets to teach something she enjoys and because it is different. She says it is different because. Ms. Hernandez is a great mentor that teaches fun classes.

Going with God

By Jacob Hulvey Mr. Earl taught the course “God Rocks”. Scholars were able to learn about some Bible stories, as well as how to read the Bible. They even were able to find the answer to “Did Jesus wear a diaper?” among other fun questions. The scholars had to use creativity and critical thinking throughout the duration of the course. The scholars touched upon many parts of the Bible, from the creation of time to Jesus’s life, from his birth to his death on the cross.

They also discussed the Bible stories and their relationship to the Church today.

Religions Around the World

By Jacob Hulvey

The course “All Roads Lead to Rome” was taught by Mr. Earl. In the course, the scholars learned about religions around the world. Some of what they learned included what Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism believe and what or who they worship. The scholars were able to identify what religions are present in different countries.

Teamwork and communication skills were used by the scholars in this course. The scholars also talked to people that practice different religions.

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OZ TIME Things to Do in Nature

By Jacob Hulvey

Mr. D’ Andrea thinks the DECATS class The Great Outdoors will be the most successful course that he teaches because, not only is it a good learning experience, but it is an unique opportunity for some scholars. The Great Outdoors is about appreciating the environment and learning about the wonders of nature. Scholars caught fish and got away from the every day routine. This class went to a fishing area at the Memorial Park of Sugar Land. Hodge Carter, a scholar, caught a fish on this field trip. The scholars learned about fishing equipment, different hooks, bait, and taking care of the environment. In this class, they also learned bicycle safety and the unique components that make up a bicycle. They also biked around Memorial Park of Sugar Land.

From Hieroglyphics to Paper Mache

By Alexa Halim

Mrs. Smith is a creative mentor that I love having. She teaches Pre-K at St. Edwards Catholic School, and she started teaching at DECATS in 1998.

This year at DECATS she is mentoring Raiders of the Lost Nile, It’s Alive, It’s Alive, and A Cut Above. She is looking forward to meeting new scholars this year.

In Raiders of the Lost Nile the scholars learn all about Egypt and the gods and goddesses they honor. A guest speaker named Linda Jordan came to talk to the scholars. She lived in Egypt and brought artifacts and a replica of the Rosetta Stone. Scholars learned Arabic words and made lotus flowers, papyrus, a map of Egypt and more.

In It’s Alive, It’s Alive scholars make art with things we live around such as food, pasta, and beans. Everyone made a portrait of an animal from a zoo with dried beans, and someone made a sunset with some types of dry pasta.

In A Cut Above scholars create art by tearing, cutting, or shredding. The scholars will make strip sculptures and line symmetrical. They will also make their biggest project, paper mache, which always is a memorable experience for Mrs. Smith.

Mrs. Smith loves teaching at DECATS because she loves teaching. She also likes coming here because she teaches a fun class and because all the scholars want to be in the class. She says teaching at DECATS is different than teaching at her home school because the projects are messy, more fun, and involve more creativity. Mrs. Smith is a wonder-

OZ TIME Like Plants? Then You’ll Love This!

By Anna Katherine Meyer

Gardening is one of Mrs. Feagin’s favorite hobbies. She loves the outdoors! She also loves her Urban Gardeners Grow Here course! In Urban Gardeners Grow Here, she takes you outdoors, and you get to plant kalanchoes, vegetable seeds, cosmos, and possibly even herbs! The scholars also planted a special flower to contribute to Helen’s Garden, a memorial garden here at St. Laurence. Scholars have had two great guest speakers, Miss Juice and Mrs. Oxley, to give them great gardening tips for their future gardens.

Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are!

By Anna Katherine Meyer

Mrs. Feagin loves to teach Archeology, Can You Dig It? because learning archeology and history is what this course is all about! You even get to go on a field trip to the Texas Archeological Society Laboratory! She believes that it is interesting to find clues about the past. Mrs. Feagin has even been on digs before!

Mrs. Feagin loves teaching at DECATS! She loves gardening and Archeology. You’ll love her courses!

Wood Hew?

By Jacob Hulvey

Mr. Rodrigues mentored “Would You Hew Wood?” at DECATS this year. Would You Hew Wood” is a course that scholars learned about wood-working tools. Scholars were able to use a variety of tools including: hammers, saws, and screwdrivers. They started off the course by taking a field trip to the local Lowes store to learn about different types of wood, materials, and tools available for wood working projects.

Back in the classroom, the scholars built unique bird houses that they all got to take home at the end of the DECATS experience.

I really enjoy working at DECATS! I have the chance to meet so many scholars from around Houston and work with such wonderful mentors. It has been a great experience for me! –Ms. Breton Page 13

OZ TIME Recycling Toys By Us

By Olivia Green

Are you into crafts? Are you into recycling? If so, Mrs. Dodson’s course Recycling Toys By Us is perfect for you. In this course you take old materials that a lot of people might throw away and turn them into something new. This is a course that is very outside the box. She chose to do this course because she is really big on recycling, being eco-friendly, and good to the Earth. So if you’re an eco-friendly person and enjoy crafts, you should take this awesome course next year!

Sweet Providers Of The Future

By Olivia Green

Calling all bakers! If you like hanging out in the kitchen, the course, Baking Buddies Bonanza, mentored by Mrs. Dodson, is something to look at. In this course scholars learn how to bake things such as cookies and cakes. They also made a lot of creative desserts such as Monkey Bread, Soda Bread, and cupcakes.

Hopefully, they will make their delicious desserts for us to buy on the last day of DECATS. Have fun future DECATS bakers!

Games by D’ Andrea

By Jacob Hulvey

Mr. D’ Andrea teaches Games People Play.

Games People Play is a set of games you usually do not play. Scholars have fun while staying fit. Scholars will practice using teamwork, eye-hand coordination, passing skills, base running, and cooperating with people different ages and skill levels. Scholars will use unusual objects to play games like rubber chickens, pool noodles, giant dice, paper plates, bowling pins, and plastic bags from the super market. One of the games the Scholars will play is Bulldozer and Cranes. The goal is to lift up and put down cones faster then the other groups. You will have fun learning games with unusual items.

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Joy of Comics

By: Jacob Hulvey

Sketch Industries, mentored by Mrs. Santos, is a course where scholars use their creativity to make comic strips.

Some scholars made one page comics while others worked on full length comic strips. Scholars were partnered up where one wrote the comic captions while the other did the illustrations. At the end of the DECATS experience, a comic book will be published with the comic strips that were designed by the scholars.

OZ TIME Sign Language in Song Form

By Olivia Green

Are you interested in learning sign language? If so, Sign Sign a Song, mentored by Ms. Bonno, is an awesome course for you. In this course, scholars learn confidence and sensibility. Scholars get to learn sign language in an unique way, through music. Scholars use songs that are popular and add sign language to them. They also learned by playing musical charades. This is when scholars pick a verse of a song out of a hat and act it out. Then the other scholars have to guess what it is. Ms. Bonno hopes that her scholars leave her course with a better appreciation for music and a new skill, sign language.

Music Your Style

By Olivia Green

Do you like to write music? Do you like to have fun while doing it? If that applies to you, Compose Yourself is a great course for you.

Scholars, in this course, learn how to use instruments to compose rhythmic and tone pieces. They also worked on writing their own full length song. Scholars should also leave this course with creativity, confidence, and musical skills.

Cooking’s Sweet!

By Anna Katherine Meyer

Mrs. Thompson loves to cook. She gets to teach scholars how to cook in Cooking, Chew With Your Mouth Closed! Scholars cook foods such as taco soup, cherry limeade, candy brownies, cake batter dip, baked potato casserole. Mrs. Thompson’s favorites are the desserts. You also learn to chew with your mouth closed and other outstanding manners.

Leaders Learn Here!

By Anna Katherine Meyer

Mrs. Thompson feels so happy to teach Leading By Example! She believes that all scholars need good leadership skills to lead by example. She knows that everyone has leadership qualities; they just have to work at bringing them out. The scholars do trust activities, practice speeches with two support chairs, and make collages using magazines to cut out words that describe themselves. Katherine Crockett says, “Mrs. Thompson is awesome.”

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OZ TIME Let’s Design!

By Anna Katherine Meyer

Mrs. Vainstein teaches Design With The Times twice a day. This course is the best for artists and craftsmen (or craftswomen.) This course makes many crafts such as coasters made out of kitchen tiles, sillouettes, paper beads, watermark T-shirts, a magnet board, and more! Mrs. Vainstein’s classroom is even on tour on the last day of DECATS, so you can get the chance to show off your creations! “Design With The Times is fun because you get to be creative,” says Jessica Forthumber, a Design With The Times scholar.

SLEUTHS IN TRAINING

By Deanna Venkatesan

Ms. Powell is a mentor at DECATS, Debusk Enrichment Center for Academically Talented Scholars! Ms. Powell also is a very good teacher. She says, “I love to teach because I love to be around kids. And I help the kids and the kids help me as well. ” She learned about DECATS by another mentor, Ms. Williams. She wanted to do it because she thought it would be really fun. Ms. Powell and her very close friend, Ms. Williams, also said it was fun too. She has been a mentor at DECATS for 6 years.

During the school year, Ms Powell teaches at Grace school . She teaches 7th grade math , Pre– algebra, and this past year , 6th grade science.

She created DECATS Detectives with Ms. Williams, and they mentor this course together.

It is a very fun course about learning about the ins-and-outs of being a detective. Scholars learn about how to recognize different types of fingerprints. Learning how to lift fingerprints, dental impressions, chromo logy, and many other exciting forensic science activities are covered during this course. Scholars are able to solve various crimes committed during DECATS. It is a very good course if you want to be a detective when you grow up .

JUST SCRAP IT!!

By Deanna Venkatesan

Creativity is the key to Just Scrap It. Scholars spend time creating their own scrapbooks, learning various scrapbooking techniques from Ms. Powell, saving memories along the way.

“DECATS makes me and my friends feel special.”

-Sophia Louis

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Mrs. Powell and Mrs. Williams

OZ TIME All Around the World

By Deanna Venkatesan

Ms. Breton is a mentor for Let’s Go International. It is a course about Spanish cultures. Scholars learn about all different things that the Spanish use. For example, the scholars will learn about tools, and how the Spanish use them. You also will make crafts that will teach you about this Spanish culture, like maracas. Scholars are introduced to a variety of Latin cuisine. Scholars have tried empanadas and quesadillas. The scholars in this course have also had a guacamole making contest. They have also made chicken tacos. One of the highlights of the courses was the special luncheon for all scholars and a guest.

TALENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY WITH MR. MAKLARY

By Deanna Venkatesan

Digital Jam is a course where scholars create music on iPads. In this course, scholars also learn how to use their own creativity to create their own music. Scholars also learn how to use technology, like learning how to use certain apps on the iPad. In Get Your Game On, scholars create games that tell stories, and learn how to work together. They also learn how solve problems and think on their own.

A BIG THANK YOU! THANK YOU to our Scholar Aides this summer: Jason Ancheta, Genevieve Boatwright, Zach Burns, Lucia Eade, Kristin Fogt, Kimberly Jimenez.

They worked hard since DECATS started, helping mentors and working in the office. After being scholars at DECATS for four years, they came this one last time to volunteer for the program, and we are excited and grateful for the help!

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OZ TIME Science Bonanza

By Anna Katherine Meyer

Mrs. McLaughlin teaches Weird Science, It’s All In The Stars, and The Cutting Edge.

In Weird Science you do a lot of unusual experiments, such as extracting DNA from strawberries, growing bacterial cultures from all around the school, air pressure experiments, chromatography, and even making slime! It’s a combination of life science, physical science, and earth science. Lucia Brown, a scholar, says, “ Weird Science is the best place to find educational and outstanding things to do.”

Travel towards space in It’s All In The Stars! Scholars learn the basic principles of chemistry and physics. You also get to learn about different objects in space and about space travel. Scholars also distinguish myths from science. Many types of models are created by the scholars.

Some interesting examples are comets made out of dry ice, a scale model of the solar system, an atom, and more!

If you can stand dissections, you can stand The Cutting Edge. You dissect worms, crayfish, perch, frogs, cow eyes, hearts, brains, and fetal pigs (pigs that have not been born yet!) That’s the whole thing about The Cutting Edge!

Life Skills

By Anna Katherine Meyer

Do you like your real life or would you rather have a virtual life? Well, in Mrs. Gutierrez's Virtual Reality course you get that chance! This course was not just about having fun, it was also about the responsibility to get on the right track to the future. During the three weeks, the scholars used computer technology to create certain situations. In the game, the scholars lived in an apartment, pursued a higher education, got a job, worked with a budget, paid bills, bought insurance, got robbed, got sick, and socially attended or hosted a party. They “virtually lived’ interesting lives while watching their personal finances come and go. They learned about managing time wisely, understanding the importance of sleep, choosing healthy foods and learning to strike a balance with work, education, play and rest. They understood the difference between a job and a career, created a resume, discovered the process of finding a job, and maintained a successful on-the-job attitude. They also learned that budgeting and saving were the cornerstones of money management.

Scholars estimated their monthly income and expenses, and they also developed a budget and set up a basic savings account. Choosing and living in an apartment was a big financial commitment and they needed to understand all of the different costs involved in order to make a wise selection. The scholars learned that a checking account was the way you paid bills and saved money, and they learned the advantages and disadvantages of using credit and online banking which lets you keep track of your money all the time. Scholars really enjoyed their course and learning about the real world!!

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DECATS MENTORS TEAM 2013

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OZ TIME To read the DECATS 2013 newspaper, Oz Time, please visit the DECATS website at www.decats.net.

FUTURE JOURNALISTS

Mrs. Williams Mrs. Gutierrez Olivia Green Deanna Venkatesan Jacob Hulvey Anna Katherine Meyer Caroline Kunkel Alexa Halim

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DECATS ST. LAURENCE