CURRENT NEWS AND ACTIVITIES

1.  After-school science clubs and activities.

• This year we have three after school science clubs.  The first is the continuation of the program at Harrison Middle School (Yarmouth).  Each year we have a new group of students, in addition to some repeats who were in the 6th grade the prior year.  We are reusing some of the modules from past years, plus some new ones.  A large part of the success of this program must be credited to Molly Smith, the gifted student program coordinator at Harrison who coordinates the activity for the school.

• We have also started a program at Freeport Middle School, which is coordinated for the school by Kathleen Brown.  The program is off to a very successful start.  The modules used so far are drawn from the list developed for other schools, but we will introduce at least one new module this year.

2.  A new and different program started this year with the Portland area Girl Scouts.

• Since this program involves girls from several different schools and a wider difference in ages than we normally see, these programs require a great deal of planning.  So far one 3-hour program was presented in Topsham, where we presented two modules from the after school module list.

• Another series is being planned for the Portland area.

3.  Give-away of Spectrograph

• We are still trying to donate an Ocean Optics visual range CCD spectrograph and its support computer and accessories.  This instrument is fully operational.  We are no longer using it in the high school programs for which it was acquired.  It is free to any school that will use it.  For more information, contact Edmond Pelta.