| Dec 02, 2010


BIOLOGY SENSORS AT SHS: Biology students at Sydenham High School (SHS) will be able to do a lot more hands-on science thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Limestone Learning Foundation (LLF).

The science department has a number of SPARKS mini-computers, which are electronic gathering devices that can have sensors attached to them through USB ports, but the only sensors that the school was able to purchase were applicable to the physics program.

Thanks to the grant, two new SPARKS will be purchased, along with a few sets of more extensive biology censors. “With the biology sensors, student will be able to instantly gather large amounts of data. In lakes, for example they can determine water temperature, levels of dissolved oxygen, acidity and more at various depths in an instant. So for Sydenham Lake, where a lot of our students live, we can come up with baseline data for the state of the environment that the students can then spend time analysing,” said Gary Rasmussen, the head of the Science Department at SHS.

Until now biology students have spent most of their time gathering data, but with the new equipment data collection will be easy and the data can be easily converted to spreadsheet or graphing programs. “Students will spend much more time analysing and working with data, which is what science is all about,” Rasmussen said.

Another aspect of the new technology is the possibility of sharing it with community groups and lake associations, Rasmussen added, to help them with lake planning and other activities.

UKULELE PROJECT AT LAND O’LAKES

Ukulele master James Hill gave a concert and workshop at Land O’ Lakes Public School last year, with assistance from Blue Skies in the Community, and ever since the students and parents have been interested in playing the ukulele and learning to read music.

With a $4,700 Learning Foundation grant, the ukulele program at the school will continue to grow this year.

There is now a beginners’ and a more advanced group at the school, with ukuleles for all, as well as stands and other equipment. According to teacher Norm Guntensperger, the LLF grant will cover equipment costs, freeing up other money to bring in some Queen’s music students to help with instruction. “The after school classes that we are planning this year are open to all students in grade 2 and above and to parents and community members as well,” said Guntensperger.

The ukulele program has already been running this fall, and the school Christmas concert this year will include a ukulele performance. Guntensperger is hoping to have James Hill back to the school some time to show him how far the project has progressed.

“He really was an inspiration to us. I think there is a resurgence of the ukulele, which he has started,” said Guntensperger, “and I’m pleased that the Learning Foundation has come through for us in such a big way, as have Queen’s and Blue Skies.”

THE DRUM AT SLHS – The Algonquin Drum has become a major part of the scene at Sharbot Lake High School over the past couple of years. Last year a number of students built their own drums and participated in a drum awakening ceremony late in the school year. The LLF has granted $1,900 to the SLHS Drum this year.

SCHOOL OF ROCK – Julia Schall of Hinchinbrooke Public School is no stranger to the Limestone Learning Foundation, This year is the fifth consecutive year that she has received funding support for the School of Rock program that she runs. The $835 that is coming will enable her to purchase a new guitar and amp and some much-needed stands and patch cords for the School of Rock, which will run after school from January to June this year. In addition to the grant, Lancaster Public School will be loaning a 16-track Yamaha digital recording studio to the School of Rock, which will enable Schall and her students to record live performances and prepare copies for the students.

Schall is pleased that one of her top School of Rock performers, Jordan Lowery, now a Sharbot Lake High School student, will be returning to Hinchinbrooke to help with the more advanced students.

“The School of Rock continues to grow,” she said.

 

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