Summer Program Rundown - August 16

The following is a rundown of Windsor summer programs for August 16: 

Knights Lights finished its 2018 camp with a rocket launch finale. STEM students became aeronautical engineers by building Alka Seltzer-and-water-fueled rockets. But the learning didn’t end after takeoff. Students met after to discuss what went well and what they would improve about the design. Among the suggestions: replace the water and Alka Seltzer with Coca Cola and Mentos, make the rocket smaller so it’s lighter and use a bigger plastic film canister to allow for more fuel. 
 
“It’s mostly applying the design process: design, build, test, evaluate. How did it fly? What would I improve? We’re really getting into critical thinking,” said teacher Eileen Mulcahy.
 
“I’m happy the kids were able to think about their design. I didn’t tell them, ‘put this here or do it like this.’ They built it off of what they’ve seen before,” said Binghamton University student Thomas Annesi, who has spent six weeks helping teach STEM lessons to Knight Lights campers. 
 
Annesi says the rocket launch lesson has been like many others this summer.
 
“A lot of the kids have thought about what we’ve looked at and they’ve thought about what it would mean in other parts of their lives. That’s been my favorite part about it,” said Annesi. 
 
Once again, the generous sponsorship from Visions Federal Credit Union helped make Knight Lights possible.

A handful of small children sitting on blacktop with cardboard rockets 
 
Fine arts camp finished its two-week run with a combined performance in the High School auditorium, including chorus, ukulele, drum solos, advanced band, and a screening of student-made Claymation videos. There was also a display of student-made paintings, mosaics and mixed media art outside of the auditorium.
 
“What a successful two weeks,” said music teacher Joel Carle. “It’s crazy how much skill students can develop in two weeks. It’s crazy how much you can establish a relationship with these kids in two weeks. I won’t have these kids (in high school) for a few years, but we’ve set the foundation for musicianship now.”
 
Before filing out of the auditorium at the end of the performance, music teacher Robert Morano had one final message.
 
“Don’t stop acting, drawing, singing and dancing over the summer. We’ll see you in a couple of weeks,” said Morano. 
 
One girl playing a trombone. A boy playing a tuba

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