Energy Whiz Olympics
by Deborah Broach on 05/16/12
By Jessica LaBerge
The Broach School’s West Campus’ 4-H Technology Club competed in the Energy Whiz Olympics on Saturday, May 5, 2012 in Cocoa, Florida. Thanks to their hard work, the club won 2nd place in the Energy Innovations Design High School Division for their project “Disaster Relief.”
The Energy Whiz Olympics is about clean energy and creative kids, according to the Energy Whiz Olympic’s website. Energy Innovation is a real world design competition developed to help middle and high school students an opportunity to explore the growing technology of photovolatics, the ability to generate a current or voltage when exposed to visible light or other electromagnetic radiation.
The club members are Gloria Bazzell, Deion Green, Kyle Joyce, Austin Martin, Demetrius Smith, and Latorya Thomas. Mr. Joseph Woods and Mr. Reed accompanied them to help out when needed.
“The performance of these young students was superb,” Woods said. “They showed leadership, communication, knowledge, and developmental skills of their project; and were well prepared for any questions thrown their way.”
The students are looking forward to attending the competition next year.
Find out more information about the Energy Whiz Olympics at http://www.energywhiz.com/energywhiz_olympics/index.htm
A great gift idea for Mom!
by Deborah Broach on 05/11/12
By: Jessica LaBerge
Materials needed: Flower pot (4”), ribbon, paper (wallpaper, scrapbook paper, etc.), Mod Podge (Gloss-Luster)
Steps:
1. Wash the pot.
2. Pick out your paper and rip it up into pieces. (Smaller pieces will be more intricate, but will also be more work.)
3. Take a sponge brush and paint a section of the pot.
4. Stick the pieces of paper on the Mod Podged section.
5. Use your finger to put more Mod Podge on top of the paper and smooth the paper down. Don’t be afraid to use too much Mod Podge. It will dry clear.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 until the entire pot is covered.
7. Cover the pot with another layer of Mod Podge and make sure all of the paper is smoothed down.
8. Measure the ribbon around the rim of the pot.
9. Use Mod Podge to glue the ribbon to the rim of the pot.
10. Cover the ribbon with Mod Podge and smooth it down.
Now it's time for dessert!
Materials needed: Pound cake, ice cream, Oreo cookies, a straw, a flower, and the pot you just decorated.
1. Use the bottom of the flower pot to draw a circle on a thin piece of foam. Cut out the circle and place it at the bottom of the pot. (This will prevent the food from coming out the drainage hole.)
2. Cut the pound cake in a circle that will fit into the bottom of the pot and place it in there.
3. Fill the pot with ice cream, leaving about an inch of room at the top.
4. Stick a short straw in the ice cream.
5. Crush up Oreo cookies and cover the top of the ice cream.
6. Put a flower in the straw and give it to Mom!
Broach Orange Park PFA
by Deborah Broach on 04/23/12
By: Jessica LaBerge
The Broach Orange Park Campus has a Parent-Faculty Association for the first time this year, which has become a great asset to the campus. The PFA hosted a Fall Festival on Halloween, a Valentine’s Day dance, a spring dance, equipment for recess, and a pizza party for those children who made honor roll. They also recently contributed to the bus fare that allowed some of the high school students to attend a field trip to Whitney Labs in St. Augustine. This allowed for a lower cost so more children could attend the field trip.
Michelle Wirth, PFA president, said these events are the best thing the PFA has done this year because it allowed the kids to have fun. “We’ve been able to provide them with dances, honor roll, and other fun things that they have in public schools,” Wirth said. It allows the kids to “break-free” from their academic work and have some fun.
Wirth said the most rewarding part of being the PFA president is being able to interact with different students in different grade levels, as well as with different members of the community. “I’ve met some really nice, interesting people,” she said.
All of the PFA members have donated their time, money and resources to help make the school a better place. Wirth would like to see more parent involvement next year. She’d also like to be able to host more events for the children.
The PFA will be hosting a Car Wash at the Orange Park Campus, 772 Foxridge Center Dr. (behind Heritage Bank on Blanding Blvd.), on Saturday, April 28 from 12-3.Come out, get your car washed, and support the kids!
Also, don’t forget to “Like” The Broach Schools of Jacksonville on Facebook!
