Mentoring program: Creative Project

JMU mentor and Waynesboro High School student worked on a creative project during their time together. Here is what they did:

1. They picked the way the colors were arranged

2. Hot glued crayons to the canvas.

 3. used a blow drier to melt the crayons...

FINISHED PROJECT

Frontier Culture Museum Field Trip

Students in Mrs. Ruldolph class attended the Frontier Culture Museum. 

 

Note: pictures taken with a phone

Saturday for Science- Telescopes

Telescopes: Portals of Discovery, Prof. Anca Constantin

February 11, 2012

September 14, 2011, the news are just in: the United States Senate has decided to fully fund the James Webb Space Telescope, and it should be set to launch in 2018. This is a huge victory for astrophysics in this country. It is great to see that we are still committed to "going big, not going home." But how much do we need this telescope, and how far we've come already in building it? Why are we planning to build even greater telescopes, and which are those? Where and why did we start? We will learn in this session about the discovery voyage that led us to these questions and their answers, mainly from the passion for basic scientific discovery about the universe we live in. You'll see that the greatest telescopes we are building not only offer us spectacular images revealing dramatic episodes of star birth and death, shocking phases in evolution of new (to us) solar systems and galaxies, and thus unique insight into the universe coming into being, but also independent proof for the physical laws that govern the excitement of our daily life (or lack thereof). We will see things in light invisible to human eyes too. We will see clearer, further, and deeper. We will have the sight beyond sight. Because we build telescopes.

Group of Waynesboro High School students

Prof. Anca Constantin

"Physic is Fun" demonstrations

Duke dog came to visit Saturday Morning Physics

Other information:

1. Powerpoint of lecture

2.Quiz after the lecture

3.Podcast will be available on the Meet the Scientist: Saturday Morning Physics website

3.Photos taken by JMU

Open House/Family Night (January 2012)

What happens when you bring together Waynesboro High School students, their family, school staff, some refreshments, a new set of JMU mentors, and PIR with Purple & Gold efforts?  An amazing evening of games for students and informational exchange for family members!  Special thanks for everyone's participation.

Meet the JMU students who will serve as mentors with WHS students.  They commit to spend at least 35 hours over the term setting academic and personal goals, developing positive relationships and helping with plans for life after school.

Purple and Gold Connections staffer, Luisa Henao (Bilingual Family Worker) shares with family members some of the benefits of having students involved, upcoming learning opportunities and how she might be helpful to family members in the upcoming term.  Forefront is Dr. Tom Benzing, Professor-in-Residence Program sharing information about his role at WHS.  Working with seniors and juniors to have college plans he supports student efforts though conversations, planning events such as the recent financial aid workshop and helping students write their college essays.

Mrs. Helen Schurz, WHS Guidance Office, shares with family members information regarding the availability of services through the Guidance Office.  Heather Haney, Guidance Office staff was also present to share information with family members.

Cindy Hunter, faculty in the Department of Social Work at JMU shares basic information with families regarding launching students into college.  Not only is she part of the Purple & Gold Connections Program faculty component, she is a parent of teenagers and a college freshman. Professor Hunter was instrumental in hiring our Bilingual Family Worker.

WHS students become acquainted with JMU students through games before they are matched with a mentor.  While mentors are matched, there are many opportunities to work with other WHS students. Building positive group relationships is a program goal.

Purple and Gold Connections is always appreciative of support from Principal Teachey who spoke with students and family members during the night. We look forward to a fun term!

Next Family Night scheduled April 24 - March your calendar!

Saturday for Saturday- Radioactivity

Radioactivity - Alchemy of an Atom, Prof. Adriana Banu

January 28, 2012

This section addresses the 1896 discovery of invisible Uranium rays that dramatically changed physics and chemistry as well as the lives of future generations. We will learn about the early history of this remarkable episode in modern science through the works of radioactivity's pioneers like Antoine-Henry Becquerel (who first discovered it), Marie Sklodowska Curie (the most iconic of women scientists who coined the word "radioactivity" and discovered the radioactive isotopes of Polonium and Radium) or Ernest Rutherford (considered the "father" of nuclear physics who proved that radioactivity involved the transmutation of one chemical element to another). On the footsteps of these prominent scientific figures that pursued the ultimate goal of understanding radioactivity, we will ask, among other questions, the two most fundamental questions - What causes certain atoms to give off invisible, penetrating rays? Where does the atom's energy come from?

Waynesboro High school student participating in a demonstration

 Prof. Adriana Banu explaining how to take the quiz

 Students entering their answers and waiting for the correct response

Other Information:

1. PowerPoint Prof. Banu used during her lecture 

2. The JMUtube podcast- The actual lecture

3. Pictures taken of the day by JMU