Renaissance Space Academy's Intermediate Coders sent this picture to Santa after delivering a picture perfect Christmas.
Gloom spread over Santa's workshop the evening of December 22nd as word of the United States Government shutdown reached the North Pole by carrier penguin. Because of the shutdown, Santa wouldn't have access to information from the United States Space Command; information Santa relies on to track weather systems and potential midair hazards like jets, helicopters, blimps, and drones.
At an emergency meeting held around Santa's kitchen table over spiced eggnog and festive confections hot out of Mrs. Claus's oven, Santa and his chief elves brainstormed alternatives. Who could they trust to get them safely from home to home around the world? Who could they trust to reroute passenger, cargo, private, and military aircraft to avoid a tragic metal on reindeer encounter? The British? With Brexit on the horizon there was a fear of unstaffed facilities at the British Defense Office. The French wouldn't consider working overtime. The Germans didn't have the skills necessary for such a complex task. The Chinese don't believe in Santa and the Russians celebrate Christmas in January.
"All is lost, raise your hands if you vote to cancel Christmas." Santa's question dropped onto the table with a thud. There was pause followed by a small voice.
"Wait, I think I know a way to deliver Christmas safely." All eyes turned to the littlest elf. "What about the Space Academy?"
Santa shot out of his seat sending his chair flying back into Mrs. Claus's ironing board. "The Space Academy! Why didn't I think of that?"
The text asking for emergency assistance appeared on my phone late into the night on December 22nd from North Pole Telecommunications. "Be informed," it read, "that Santa is in need of the Academy's Young Coders to make Christmas a reality for the children worldwide." The rest of the text explained the situation.
By early morning, December 23rd, I had Renaissance Space Academy's Intermediate Young Coders Club in my classroom with computers on and ready for action. We had to be ready, knowing Santa would soon be on his way toward Australia and New Zealand. Christmas arrives in those countries first.
I gave each row its assignments:
• Rows one and two handled weather tracking.
• Rows three and four dealt with air traffic. Their coding skills were put to the test. Several nations were reluctant to turn over their air traffic computers to our young coders. No problem. Our intermediates hack straight in and accessed all the information Santa needed to navigate the skies safely.
• Rows 5 and 6 dealt with hackers. Every Christmas thousands of Grinchlike programmers attempt to hack into Santa's GPS to confuse the reindeer with inaccurate global positioning information. Row 5 and 6 handled them brilliantly. First they intercepted and disarmed the malware. Secondly they identified who it was who sent the malicious code, and lastly they accessed Santa's Naughty and Nice list and promptly removed the mischievous rascals name from the "Good" column.
Christmas was a success and you can thank the Space Academy's Intermediate Coders for it. They worked tirelessly for 48 straight hours living on soda and Smith's donuts so you and your family could enjoy the holiday. Isn't this what you expect?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of at the Space Academy!
The Space Academy's 6th Grade Phoenix Young Astronaut Squadron
Collaboration, teamwork, leadership skills, academics, and FUN are all a part of the Space Academy's Young Astronaut and Voyager Club programs at Renaissance Academy. The good old cup stacking activity is a great one for teaching the importance of effective communication to accomplish a seemingly simple task. Mission: Stack six cups using only a rubber band with four attached strings. Easier said than done.
The 6th grade Phoenix squadron, one of 19 squadrons at Renaissance, tacked the challenge last week. The team of David, Kaden, Marcus and Lincoln took top honors. To be fair it should be pointed out that one of the other team's strings broke part way. I explained that things like that happen in real life and told them to get on with it. Isn't life like that? Just when you think life is going your way, just when you think all your ducks are in a row, POP! there goes one of your support stings and you're left lurching about. Getting up, dusting yourself off, and dealing with the problems at hand is how you succeed where others fail.
A mighty find looking stack of cups if you ask me
Another way we teach our Young Astronauts and Voyagers the importance of leadership is by giving them opportunities to lead. The Space Academy Leadership Training (SALT) program directed by Mr. Vidinha gives our students those opportunities. In their first SALT training, our students take a survey to find out their own personal leadership style. Mr. Vidinha, a former US Army Major, takes the squad outside for their first lessons in both giving and taking orders.
Beginning Leadership Training 101. Leading a squadron in drills. Alex is giving it a go.
It's Kaden's turn. We're looking for clear and exact orders.
Military cadence is another tool to make following orders fun. Mr. Vidinha had the Phoenix squadron outside his classroom reciting cadence while marching. Cadence is one way to get kids to think. You tell them it will be their turn soon and to think of their own rhythms.
We are Phoenix, We're the Best,
We are better than the Rest.
While the others break and Run,
We're the ones who're having Fun.
Sound Off, One Two,
Sound Off, Thee Four.
The Phoenix Squadron and Cadence marching in the hallway
SALT training is essential for successful missions in the Starship Voyager. We teach these skills in the Academy's classrooms and expect to see the learning transfer into the Voyager simulator to be used in the Long Duration Missions. This method of combining classroom and simulator training has proven to be the best educational use of starship simulators. The cadets get both the practical and on the job training out in the cosmos. This is experiential education at its best. This is why you have starship simulators in your school.
The 6th Grade Tiger Squadron on the Bridge of the Starship Voyager. Renaissance Space Academy.
Renaissance Academy in Lehi is the only school in the world using the Young Astronauts and Voyager SALT training program. We are pioneering this form of experiential education. You're welcome to join us. Renaissance Academy enrolls students year round (as long as there are openings in your grade level). It is a free public charter school (K-8) which sits across the Timp Highway from IM Flash. Renaissance also specializes in languages. Student may choose between Chinese immersion, Spanish, or Arabic. Visit the school's website to learn more: renacademy.org. To learn more about Young Astronauts or the Voyager Club visit: YoungAstronautsClub.org or VoyagerClub.org. To contact me email:
Director@SpaceCampUtah.org.
Mr. Williamson
Meet the Young Astronauts
Introducing the Space Academy's 3rd Grade Young Astronaut Tiger Squadron. Who knows, any one of them could end up living on Mars one day. We dream big at the Space Academy. Here they are on the Starship Voyager getting ready to embark on a dangerous mission to explore the arrival of an alien spacecraft and in addition, solve a perplexing mystery.
The 3rd Grade Lion Squadron
This is their interpretation of "Let's have a fun picture".
Jake Hadfield Returns from His LDS Mission Only to Have His Reactivation Clause Enforced
Jake once again wearing his Supervisor Blues on the Bridge of the Magellan
Jake Hadfield was always one of those quiet guys that got the job done and done right. Ever since he was a young volunteer getting him to speak was the challenge.
He is proof positive that quiet people can succeed at the many space centers. Usually it's the loud ones who've fallen in love with their own voices who are attracted to this kind of work. I should know, right?
Jake as a young volunteer before being promoted to dizzying heights.
Jake recently return from his mission only to find Mr. James Porter at his doorstep with a balloon in one hand and his original employment contract with the reactivation clause highlighted in yellow in the other. Jake accepted his fate and was back in the Magellan the next day, or the day after, or maybe a few days afterwards. I should get all the facts before I write a post....
Jake is is very popular with the Space Center staff. You'll find his picture in every simulator. How do you figure that? I'm the founder of the place and you'd be hard pressed to find a photo of me anywhere. What has Jake got that I haven't? Don't answer that. I learned a long time ago NOT to ask questions when you don't really want to know the answer.
Jake, so happy to have you back with us in your Supervisor Blues. Soon you'll be a flight director then you'll really have to talk.
Mr. Williamson
From the Historical Archives. The LongTrek Space Center Opens with the USS Glory, the Newest Ship in the Fleet
The USS Glory Bridge at Matt Long's LongTrek Space Center
2002-2005
From the Space Center's Historical Archives
February 4, 2003
Hello Troops, I haven't have a chance to write about my visit to the USS Glory, one of our sister simulators. The Glory was built by Matt Long in his basement right off his family room. The control room takes up a part of his bedroom.
Matt had an Open House a few weeks ago. His house was a bit of a challenge to find, especially in the dark. The Open House started at 7:00 P.M. I arrived just after 7:00. I'm glad I arrived early because the place filled up very quickly. Matt was going from person to person answering questions and doing demonstrations.
Matt has done a fantastic job building the Glory! It looks fantastic. He has some ideas I would like to implement for the Voyager and our other ships.
The Glory can hold 5 or 6 people. It also has a little engineering section. Matt is one step ahead of us in visuals. He has introduced DVD's into operation instead of the VCR. His pauses are crystal clear and will not unpause at the worst time during the mission.
I'm amazed at what he has done. A ship of his own and all his own props. He is currently putting together a better selection of costumes then we have!
Good Job Matt!
I've asked Matt to demo the Glory to any of our Pioneers, Voyagers, and Rangers that would like to take her for a test drive. I'm also willing to give class hours for the visit if Matt throws in a 30 minute presentation on the story of the Glory after the mission. The presentation will cover how it was built and how it is run. I know some of you have tried to build you own ships or may be in the first stages of designing one. Look for more information on this class opportunity in the next couple of days.
Thanks Troops, Mr. Williamson Imaginarium Theater The Best Gifs From Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience
Even our three future engineers of American, known for their ability to get to the guts of any device in a matter of seconds, were thwarted by the durability and quality of the new exhibits. I could walk away and not worry one bit.
Clark Planetarium's Cool New Exhibits
Our sixth grade from Renaissance Academy visited Clark Planetarium last Friday. I was concerned. Don't get me wrong, we have a great group of younglings; 93 in fact. They can be good and they can be rambunctious depending on the barometric pressure and moon phase. I worried if the Imax movie and planetarium exhibits would be enough to keep them engaged. That concern was a waste of of emotion. The new exhibits were fantastic!
We arrived, we unloaded. we descended into the lobby and had the official greeting from the planetarium's staff. So far so good. I had my stern teacher face on when she let go of the leash and let them scatter. In a matter of seconds RA students were dispersed on all three floors.
My concern was quickly put to rest when I saw our students engaged with natural curiosity. They were moving from exhibit to exhibit taking time to read, try out, and learn. I shouldn't have worried, after all, half the students are members of the school's Space Academy Young Astronauts Club. Space is something they're familiar with. They came already curious about the infinite cosmos.
I was a member of Clark Planetarium's Advisory Board a few years ago. During my tenure on the board I recall discussing exhibit replacements during our monthly meetings. The cost was an issue along with durability and educational value. Now that the exhibits are in, I have nothing but praise to give the planetarium's staff. They are the best I've seen. The kids loved them and were disappointed when I ordered them to the bus for the return trip home.
Please visit the Clark Planetarium located in the Gateway Center. Spend time with the exhibits with your kids, students, or grandchildren. See what true imagineering looks like. Thank you Clark Planetarium and Salt Lake County for bringing the world's best to Utah.
Imaginarium Theater The Best Gifs of the Week Edited for a Gentler Audience
