Construction has Started on the New Space Center and Central School. Bookmark The Troubadour for Weekly Updates, Pictures, and Historical Photos of Central School Over the Ages. Volunteering the Core of the Experience. Space Tech Theatrical Makeup. Meet the First Canine Mascot and Volunteer

     Construction of the new Christa McAuliffe Space Center and Central Elementary School started Thursday, April 4, 2019.  The heavy machinery was on the playground before the keep out fencing went up. First to go were the big trees which lined the east side of the playground.  

Left: this empty lot is where the old LDS church sat until it was tore down around ten years ago. The district bought the lot as a site for a future Space Center.  Right: Down goes the first basketball standard.

     I took the picture above in March 1983.  My class of sixth graders were at recess.  Danny Turner and a friend were arguing (friendly) over a call in their baseball game.  You can see the back of the old church and the trees.  The basketball standards in the top picture sit right where Danny and his friend were wrestling. 

     I went back to the school for an update on Friday, April 5.  Construction fencing was up and the heavy machinery was at work removing trees, shrubs, and the lawn.  

March 1983

     The afternoon recess baseball game. Chad Mills is up to bat. Aaron Hilton is catching. The big CAT bulldozer in the photo above is sitting a bit behind the old baseball field backstop.  

     From May 1984. My 6th graders are in the race of their lives for the school's Field Day festivities.  Jody Carr was the fastest kid in the school. You can see the large gap between Jody and Chad Jacob who came in second.  This picture was taken years before the new addition was built on the north side of the school. 

     Central Elementary School's playground will be closed to the public for one year during construction.  The students will use the school's parking lot to play.  Parking will be limited to the streets and of course, just maybe, the Baptist Church will let the teachers park there during the school day.  
     The Troubadour will give you weekly updates on construction mixed with pictures from the school's history. Stay tuned; the countdown is running. One Year To Go!

Mr. Williamson

Volunteering: The Core of the Space EdVentures Experience

     From the moment I first envisioned the Space Center I knew I needed a strong volunteering program in place or the Center wouldn't survive.  The Center's first volunteers were members of my sixth grade class my great students from the 1990/91 school year. I taught half day and ran the Center half day for that first year.  
     Good volunteers continue to be staffing core of all Space EdVenture centers:  Christa McAuliffe Space Center, Reality's Edge, Space Academy, Telos Discovery Space Center, and the Lion's Gate Center.
     Mr. James Porter from the Christa McAuliffe Space Center recently talked with BYUradio host Rachel Wadham (Worlds Awaiting) about volunteering. You can listen to the interview through this link.

To Volunteer at any of the local Space EdVenture Centers please contact:
     
     •  The Christa McAuliffe Space Center:  https://spacecenter.alpineschools.org/volunteer
     •  The Space Academy (Renaissance Academy, Lehi):  Director@SpaceCampUtah.org
     •  Telos Discovery Space Center (Orem): ryananderson@telosu.com
     •  Reality's Edge (Canyon Grove Academy, Pleasant Grove).  
              Sydney.brown@canyongrove.com
     •  The Lion's Gate Center (Saratoga Springs). nrayking@gmail.com

Space Tech: The Space EdVenturing Class at Renaissance Space Academy Learns Theatrical Makeup.

     Renaissance Academy is home to the Space Academy.  The Space Academy offers a four level experiential learning program to RA's students:

•      Tier One:  InfiniD Missions.  All RA students fly InfiniD missions during the school day throughout the school year.
•      Tier Two:  Space Tech.  Students in the 6-8th grades may enroll in Space Tech, an elective course taught during the school day in the Voyager simulator and its classroom. Space Tech is taught by Mr. Robinson and Mr. Funk. 
•      Tier Three:  Young Astronauts / Voyagers.  Students who wish to take the experience further may join the after school Young Astronauts and Voyager Clubs.  Two hundred students are members this school year. 
•      Tier Four: Space Academy Leadership Training (SALT). Students wanting to go the full distance may also join the SALT program. Think of SALT as a Starfleet Junior ROTC program for students in the 4th - 8th grades.  

     Theatrical makeup is one of several units taught to the Space Tech students. Myles was the guinea pig last week. The task, how to create nearly believable injuries. I'm guessing Myles didn't follow the ship's standard protocols for purging the ship's jump engine from plasma overflow.  Wanting to shortcut the procedure, Myles didn't wear the required protective headgear. He learned his lesson the hard way.  

The Jump Ship Voyager has an Official Mascot. Think of Opie as our Staff and Volunteer Support Animal in Addition to his Duties as a Really Good Alien Detector 

      

The Staff with Opie on Saturday's 5 Hour Voyager Mission
Front: Megan Warner, Opie, Ethan, Ammon, and Dylan.
Back: Bracken Funk, Logan Pederson, Camden Robinson

     What a good dog.  Opie is the best and so say we all.  I met Opie on Saturday at the start of the Voyager's five hour private mission.  He's a big dog so at first sight you must conquer your fear and not run for your life.  Opie came right over and we made friends. 

     Camden Robinson is Opie's master. Mr. Robinson is Renaissance Academy's middle school history and debate teacher in addition to his duties with Bracken as the Space Tech class teacher. Camden is also on the Space Academy's staff.  He teaches special historical units as part of the Academy's after school programs. He'll soon be a flight director.

     Opie is quiet and isn't bothered by the simulator's loud noises.  He keeps the staff occupied during those long waits between scenes and goes out if needed to play any role required. 

     Three cheers for Opie, the first Space EdVenture's mascot and canine volunteer.    

Imaginarium Theater
The Best Videoettes From Around the World Edited for Gentler Audience