Update:

Thanks to everyone who participated in our Starry Nights Quiz. From our five entrants, here are the three winners who will receive a free patch water bottle.

Liam J.
CJ C.
Dylante H.

Thanks again!

***

Recently, the Wolves of Mount Washington met Kitties in Space.

The meeting was not part of a galactic, inter-species conference inspired by Star Wars but a Science Assembly – the first event of a three-part Science Extravaganza at Mount Washington Elementary School that culminates this Friday, February 3^rd with a star party.

Expect celestial skies not celebrities.

Kitties in Space

MWE’s first assembly of the year was actually two assemblies presented by Bob Noss of Astronomical Journeys.  The assembly for K-2 students presented a narrative adventure about kitties who look through a telescope, decide to become "catstronaughts", and dream of visiting the planets and deep space.

After the presentation, Noss, who combines a lifelong passion for astronomy with a vaudevillian’s delivery, opened the floor up for questions.

One young scholar asked Noss if it was possible to drill clear through the ocean.

Another student asked if the sun could roast a marshmallow.

One, young, MWE “Wolf” commented “Wow, volcanoes on Venus...that's cool!”

If the kids were wowed by the presentation, Noss was equally wowed by the kids. "In my fifteen years of doing these assemblies,” he said, “I have never had such probing, thoughtful questions from first graders.  Usually, I get this type of questions from the upper grades."

Whoo-hoo, young wolves!

3-D Space

Students in Grades 3-6 didn’t have "catsronaught" guides to the galaxy.  Instead, they explored subjects such as the life cycle of stars, deep space, and black holes with the help of 3-D images, animations, and video insets.  Noss, who also discusses all planned future space missions including manned lunar stations and the planned manned mission to Mars, says his 3D school science assembly is the first in the country.

In addition to providing basic information like the largest planet and the hottest planet in the solar system (Jupiter and Venus, respectively), Noss constantly updates his programs with information gathered by interplanetary probes.

(See "Comments" below for details on the Science Assembly-inspired raffle for MWE student sponsored by Highland Park-Mount Washington Patch.com!)

Noss hopes the assemblies inspire kids to come up with creative solutions to problems ranging from science to business but his mission is to inspire kids about space, noting that “the pool for these expeditions will come from our elementary students of today, which makes it all the more important that they know and get excited about the opportunities that await them.”

The Excitement Continues….

Sharon Steele Herran shares an example of the excitement inspired by Noss’s assemblies.  At last week’s Family Science Night, the second event in the Science Extravaganza, which is chaired Gina Antestenise, a mom told Steele Herran that “her 5^th grade daughter came home and talked about science for two hours straight.”

Mr. Noss – mission accomplished.  

Steele Herran, PTA VP-Ways & Means, negotiated with Noss to bring the assembly to MWE and also approached the Friends of Mount Washington School support group about funding the Science Assemblies and the February 3rd Star-Gazing night.

She reports that almost two weeks after the assemblies, enthusiasm was still running so high that an unprecedented 30% of the student body attended the Family Science Night during which MWE teachers and guests provided science experiences at different stations and classrooms.  The PTA provided a $5 mac’n cheese dinner prior to the event so parents could bring their kids straight from work.

Further incentive for students?  Those who attended Family Science Night didn’t have to do homework thanks to a “homework pass” authorized by Principal Elizabeth Valentino.

Stare into the Stellar Nursery

Tomorrow night, Noss will return to MWE for Star-Gazing Night with six telescopes including his giant telescope, which he says is more powerful than the one at Griffith Observatory because it has 400% more light-gathering capability.  In addition to seeing the moon, Venus, and Jupiter, aspiring astronomers will be able to gaze into deep space at the “Orion Nebula”: a “stellar nursery where stars are being born," according to Noss.

To keep hunger at bay at Star-Gazing Night, which runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public, tacos will be available from La Estrella Taco Truck and MWE will provide baked goods.  Additionally, the 6^th grade class will raise funds for graduation events with the debut of the Beverage Bar featuring gourmet coffee, hot chocolate and tea.

No word on whether the Kitties in Space like sprinkles on their cocoa.

***

HOW TO ENTER THE HIGHLAND PARK-MOUNT WASHINGTON PATCH.com RAFFLE! 

Does your child(ren) attend Mount Washington Elementary School?

Have them answer the following question from Mr. Bob Noss of Astronomical Journeys for a chance to be entered in a raffle sponsored by Highland Park-Mount Washington Patch.com.

"What is the hottest planet in the solar system?"

HINT!   The answer is something students learned in the Science Assembly a few weeks ago; their memory might be jogged by reading the column.

Students should reply in the "Comments" section with their answer as well as:

a)  Their FIRST NAME and the FIRST LETTER of their middle and last names. (e.g. Kim A. O.)

b)  Their  ROOM NUMBER

c)  The NAME OF THEIR TEACHER

The raffle will close at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 3rd.

On February 3rd at 5:00 p.m., there will be an online video of Dave Fonseca, editor of Highland Park-Mount Washington Patch.com, picking three names from the entries submitted.

The prizes will be handed out on Monday, February 6th, at the before-school assembly.

Of course, you have to be a Mount Washington Elementary School student to enter the raffle.

Good luck and Happy Star-gazing!