Extreme Sports (Metaphorically)

One of the things we strive to model here at Mountain Vista is proper risk-taking behavior.  Now, we don’t mean the kind of risk that leaves you dangling on the end of a bungee cord.  Some of us (me) are deadly afraid of heights and speedy descents toward the hard ground.  No, I mean the kind of risk-taking that makes you leave your comfort zone.  The kind of risk-taking that makes you learn new things, and try out new ideas.

So, we teach seminars on crazy things, and we lead PAL groups in things we’ve always been interested in, and we run FLEX days that don’t always work out like we planned.  But, the only way to have great successes is to occasionally have a failure.  We try to express that idea to the students: through our example, and through open discussion about our teaching and planning processes.

The goal of all this, of course, is to encourage our students to become risk-takers.  A few years ago, I had a student who was waffling between attending a lovely in-state university or the Air Force Academy.  Both were options available to him, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to fly halfway across the country to engage in a program with academic and physical rigor well past what that lovely in-state school would require of him.  We had spent the last two years giving that young man the space to try new things and do well, and try new things and make mistakes.  We like to think that, in the end, learning to make a mistake and CORRECT YOUR COURSE helped him be confident enough to undertake the challenge of pursuing his Air Force dreams.

Too often, gifted and successful students are terrified of MAKING MISTAKES. Mistakes mean you got a question wrong; mistakes mean you flunked a test; mistakes mean you failed.  People whose goals revolve solely around avoiding mistakes never take chances.  But, people who don’t take chances seldom achieve greatness.

Giving our students a safe place to mess up for two years is one of our greatest goals.  We’re here to guide them, talk to them, and catch them when they fall.  It is our hope that after two years of leaping off of metaphorical buildings (not real buildings, the MVGS faculty does not suggest or condone base-jumping or any other kind of crazy parkour behavior) with us that they’ll have the confidence to boldly confront mistakes and take chances.

PAL Excitement

It seems to be unofficial guest speaker day here at MVGS Middletown. The Health and Fitness PAL group is working with a hula hoop professional. Mr. Burton is hosting Mr. Atwood, who works with the FAA. The Documentary Film group is working with Josh Wyckoff, who is teaching our students how to use film-editing software. The majority of today’s visitors were found and scheduled by members of the PAL groups, themselves. Part of the mission statement of PAL groups is that students would become leaders and would step up and show themselves capable of managing their own learning. It’s exciting to see that happening.

It’s a bird, It’s a plane…No, it’s the MVGS Antenna!!!!

Mr. Burton authored the following post; I will be contributing in a strictly comment-y fashion. My comments are in italics.

The Radio PAL group is one step closer to having a permanent station on the LFCC campus. Today, with the help of Phil from the Buildings and Ground staff of LFCC, Mr. Burton, Mr. Hess, and Mr. Dietrich scaled the perilous (a.k.a. sketchy) ladder to the summit of the science building in Middletown. Okay, Mr. Burton called it a sketchy ladder, but let’s go the photographic evidence, here.

Manly Hatch

Am I incorrect in pointing out that getting to climb a ladder like that in order to access a school building roof is every 12-year-old boy’s fantasy? Mr. Hess, Mr. Dietrich, and Mr. Burton all ran out of this office with glee to “go play on the roof” during this process. We love our jobs here at MVGS.

After negotiating the well-placed patch awaiting at the top of the ladder, the crew carefully assembled and raised the Cushcraft MA6V multi-band HF antenna. We were thankful to have Mr. Hess’s super-human strength to manhandle the approximately 20 feet of aluminum and galvanized steel and (using only testosterone) convince that antenna to make the top of the building its new home.

I should have been on the roof to take the pictures required for the blog. Dang.

After securing the antenna, the crew carefully fed feedline up to the antenna from the utility closet below. Mr. Burton particularly enjoyed having permission to bust a hole in the wall leading into the closet for the feedline to exit. He has the science teacher’s love of breaking things, it’s true. With the brunt of the work behind us, all that is left is to pull the feedline 100 feet to the physics room and put the finishing touches on the new KM4VV station. With the roof work mostly completed, student members of the PAL group will now get to enjoy participating in the final steps of assembling our station.

The antenna, before construction and manhandling.

We hope to be on the air before our next PAL group meeting.

Updated: First Contact (3/2/2011) Okay, it’s possible Mr. Burton sent me these posts quite some time ago, but I have…stuff to do. I’m not a blog-posting machine!

The Radio PAL group is on the air! Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Dietrich and Mr. Hess, Mr. Burton was able to make a quick contact with VE7BQM, an amateur radio operator located in Coquitlam, British Columbia. Thanks to the efforts of moi, you all get to read about it. Ahem.

FYI, British Columbia: in neither England nor Columbia.

The contact was made on the 20 meter band (14.200 MHz) at 1:45pm on March 3, 2011 under Mr. Burton;s call sign (KF4LAA). This first contact for our new HF radio and antenna system was made with relative ease, and our station received a 5 over 9 signal report from VE7BQM which indicates our signal was having no problem traversing the continent. This was an exciting day and means the KM4VV PAL group will begin to officially operate on the HF bands at our next meeting. Yay, Radio PAL Group!

TARC in Warrenton

Team America Rocketry Challenge has been an exciting edition to MVGS activities. Mr. Dietrich has primarily led teams on whichever campus he was working on at the time. So, right now, we have a flourishing team in Middletown. Recently, the students in Warrenton expressed interest in fielding a TARC team, as well, and Mrs. LaMonica stepped into the role of advisor.

Each TARC team needs to have a qualifying launch in order to move forward with the regional and national challenges. On February 12th, the Warrenton team attended a qualifying event. Mrs. LaMonica sent me this account of the events (FYI, Bruce is the rocket.):

The good news: Bruce proved the laws of physics- what goes up will come down.
The bad news: Bruce came straight down on the second launch and is now a crushed and broken corpse of a rocket. However, the officials at the meet said this was the best total failure they had ever seen. This did not cheer up the group noticeably.
Progress Report: Mr. Dietrich has overseen the ordering of new parts and the team is again planning to work on qualifying for the TARC challenge.

We have high hopes for Bruce and the Warrenton’s team rocketry success. Perhaps the Warrenton students could prepare cards or letters encouraging Bruce in his efforts. Every rocket needs positive feedback.

The Robotics PAL Group

So, as the humanities teacher, when I think “robotics,” I think…

ROOMBA!!!!!!!

And, I’m relatively certain that that is not the kind of robotics study Mr. Burton’s Robotics PAL Group is engaged in.

Before the holiday break, the Middletown Robotics PAL Group visited a regional VEX Robotics Tournament to get a better idea of how the competition works and what ideas other teams are coming up with.

The Robotics Group: In the World

The MVGS Team met early on a Saturday morning to trek down to Osborn Park High School in Manassas for the competition.  The team did not let the feeling that they were conducting industrial espionage stop them as they roamed the aisles of the pit areas taking note of what other teams were up to.

The teams must construct robots capable of negotiating complicated obstacle courses. Vacuuming is optional.

The day led to some great ideas for how to move forward with the team’s designs and ended with a well-deserved feast at IHOP.  The team is eager to make their debut in the February regional VEX competition.  Check out some pictures from our trip on www.mvista.smugmug.com.

In addition to all the espionage they’ve been engaged in (of the totally legit and above-board variety), the Robotics Team has been awarded a grant of $2000 and various tools by the Community Foundation of New Jersey.  Gratitude must be extended to Mr. Adriano for his work with the grant, and the Community Foundation of New Jersey for their generous gift.  The Robotics Team has already purchased some new equipment with the money, and they look forward to putting their purchases to good use as they work to create the perfect robot.

MVGS Community Service PAL Group

This post was authored by Warrenton student Patrick Kyle.  I, his mere editor, commend him.

MVGS students understand the following scene very well: you step out of the warm car, or off of the warm bus, and begin the frigid trek to the LFCC Warrenton Campus doors at 7:15 AM. You ponder what awaits you…

Fifteen sleepy minutes before a long first period with (Insert Strangely-Way-Too-Cheerful-for-7:30-AM-MVGS-Teacher Name Here).  Excellent.

Eyes still half shut, you miss the first half-hearted grab for the door handle.  It’s going to be a good day?

You muscle the ridiculously heavy door open to… whoa. What’s that smell? And why is everyone smiling so much? Then, without warning: the aroma of rich, warm, frothy hot chocolate (available with marshmallows and/or whipped cream upon request) is suddenly… overpowering. What an incredible discovery! You, a half-asleep governor’s school student, can purchase a conveniently-sized cup of chocolate-y morning delight for a bargain price, with all proceeds going to a noble cause! It’s so… steamy! And rich! It’s almost too good to be true! – No. It CAN’T be a dream. That would be too cruel…

Don’t worry. You really did get out of bed this morning.

The MVGS Warrenton Community Service Group has been busy.

With two official Smoothie Days, some impromptu cookie sales, and one (most recently) Hot Chocolate Day already under their metaphorical volunteer belt, the MVGS Warrenton PAL Community Service Group is constantly looking for creative ways to fundraise.

With proceeds from these sales going either to the Fauquier County SPCA or to the construction of a school for girls in Soroti, Uganda, the ambitious juniors pride themselves as much on the uniqueness of their fund-garnering methods, as they do their wide variety of selected causes. They look to help on a local level as well as a global one- which, although it may sound like an impossible task, is really not so hard to do. And, it’s not just about fundraising, either.

Food drives, marathons, the D.C. Walk for the Homeless, and events planned around Autism Awareness Month in April are all on the agenda, as well as a continuous Facebook/Email-driven correspondence with troops deployed overseas in order to put together personalized care packages. Running out of ideas just isn’t a problem for our group. Mandatory volunteer-hour requirements? They run in fear.

However, the members of the MVGS Warrenton Community Service PAL Group are always open to new ideas. If you have one, or feel like you are just plain missing out, feel free to contact their PAL leader, Dr. Felts at afelts@lfcc.edu.

Thanks!

MVGS Radio PAL Group (alternate title: Baby, Did you ever wonder?)

Mountain Vista Governor’s School now has an official Amateur Radio call sign issued by the FCC. The group of students in the Radio PAL group recently applied for a club license to use in various activities and contests. After six students earned their individual Technician Class license, the application was sent to the FCC. Now when you hear KJ4YQG on the airwaves, you will know it is our students transmitting. Students got some use out of the call sign on Wednesday when we participated in the ARRL Fall School Round-up in which schools across the country will be competing to make as many contacts around the world as possible. This was our club’s first time to jump on the HF bands and try for long distance contacts. Congratulate a Radio Group member on their amateur broadcaster status!

Update on Mr. Dietrich’s PAL Groups and Seminar

(editor’s note: Mr. Dietrich is the author of the following blog post, and your intrepid blog author simply edited it for formatting.)

Update: TARC (Team America Rocketry Challenge)

MVGS Middletown will have two TARC teams registered for this year’s challenge. Team Alpha has finished with the Rocksim Software, and they have decided on their rocket’s characteristics. This includes: fin shape and size, nose cone shape, cargo bay, and engine size. The team will hopefully begin preliminary test launches within the next several weeks. Team Bravo has been introduced to the Rocksim and are currently designing their competition rocket. Every member has been very influential during each PAL group session.  I look forward to their final products.

Update: Health and Nutrition

During the last PAL group session, students were fortunate to have a nutritional expert from Valley Health visit.  During the next session, students will spend time studying with an expert in Yoga.

Update: STK Seminar

Today’s seminar using the AGI STK software involve using the modules: “Where Is the Space Station, Now?” and “Can I Detect a Rum Runner in Route from Havana to Cape Canaveral?”  Students have to set many different parameters incorporating satellites, radar, locations, time, and several other factors in order to set the module in 2D/3D motion. Today we learned that after the seminar is complete and students have had much practice, that they will be able to enroll for certification in order to become an official AGI Rocket Scientist. Students will have 30 days to complete the test for certification and if they have enough correct answers, they will qualify. In addition to receiving a certificate, they will receive a polo shirt signifying that they have reached AGI Rocket Scientist status. VERY COOL!

Desperately Seeking Certification

On Sunday, four MVGS students from the Radio Communication and Astronomy PAL group met Mr. Burton at the Winchester City Police building to take their FCC Amateur Radio licensing exams.  Students met the three Volunteer Examiners (VE’s), who were excited to see high school students working to obtain their amateur radio licenses. 

There are three classes of amateur radio licenses issued by the FCC which must be obtained in order: Technician Class, General Class, and Extra Class.  All four students passed their exams and will be issued their Technician Class license along with their amateur radio call sign by the FCC in the next week or so. 

Mr. Burton also tested and upgraded his license to an Extra Class license.  Several other PAL group members plan on sitting for the exam next month.  MVGS is now ready to apply for a club call sign and begin transmitting.

Editor’s Note: Perhaps they’ll transmit on air waves that make it all the way to…Cincinnati? 

PAL Group Kick-Off!!!!!!!!!!!

This Flex Day was the official start of the Prestige, Achievement and Learning (PAL) Group program.  Students met with their groups and advisors for the first time and began to construct goals, team spirit, and in at least one instance, robots.  PAL groups do contain a grade component for students (10% of the research grade), but there were no discussions of grades and requirements, that would have interfered with the excitement and planning.  The enthusiasm and excitement was palpable as each group began planning for success. 

• The documentary film group chose a theme and will begin constructing a detailed plan in the coming weeks.
• The writing for scholarships and awards group began researching contests and have already decided to send Jacob Schuster to prom dressed entirely in a duct tape tuxedo (there’s a contest for the best duct tape formal wear). 
• The health and fitness group has decided to work with the PTO on the MVGS Leprechaun Leap 5K race this spring.
• The robotics group began furiously designing and building.
• The Team America Rocketry Challenge Group was dismayed that they couldn’t begin launching rockets IMMEDIATELY.
• The computer science group was taken in hand by a few knowledgable students and will be running Microsoft no later than Friday.
• The radio astronomy group have all decided to sit for the exam they must pass to obtain their amateur radio licenses.
• The creative arts blog group chose a content style, selected a hosting service and decided on a title for their blog.
• The computer programming group began their investigation into the Java programming language.
• The community service group has some great fund-raising ideas!
• The art group, led by guest instructor Nancy Brittle, began to plan their artistic focus for the year.
• The Science Olympiad group began registering themselves as an offical Olympiad team.
• The Mathemaginarium group is undertaking several projects, including preparing for the Rocket City Math League contest. 

The faculty, staff and students of MVGS are all excited to see what we can accomplish with our PAL groups, and we’ll be keeping you updated throughout the year!