District News: Week of 2/12/18

BULLDOG BRILLIANCE
Eighth Graders Design and Build Robot Drag Race Cars

Eighth graders – who had been learning about robots, coding and how mechanical systems work in Diana Cassidy’s Technology 8/Automation and Robotics classes – recently designed and built their own drag race cars as a culminating project.
 
Having spent the semester learning how to make an automated system by combining the mechanical systems with coding, the students were challenged to build a car that had no more than four wheels and two motors and at least one mechanism. Another requirement was for the car to start at the activation of a sensor and travel to a specified square in the hallway that was a couple of feet wide and approximately 19 feet from the starting line.
 
“The students assumed the responsibilities of a mechanical engineer, electrical engineer or computer engineer,” Cassidy said. “But they had to work together to get all elements of the project put together. Once the project was built, wired and programmed, they gave their cars test runs and modified their code or design as necessary.”
 
Throughout the learning experience, the students followed the design process of defining a problem, generating concepts, developing a solution, constructing and testing, evaluating the solution and presenting. They also had the opportunity to think critically, collaborate with their peers and solve problems.

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KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Kindergarten Registration is coming up!
 
Dates:
Tuesday, February 13, 7:15am - 11:00am 
Wednesday, February 14, 9am - 11am
Thursday, February 15 1:30pm - 4pm
Tuesday, February 27, 6pm - 8pm
 
For more information, and for registration forms, click on: http://www.irvingtonschools.org/pages/Irvington_UFSD/Students___Parents/Kindergarten_Registration_Info

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USED BOOK SALE
Book Collection Begins Monday, February 26

​Please donate your used books! Books for all ages are welcome especially CHAPTER BOOKS!
 
Book collection boxes can be found in the Dows Lane lobby; outside the office at Main Street School; in the upper lobby at Irvington Middle School; and in the main office at Irvington High School, starting on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26th.
 
We will happily accept empty cardboard boxes (book moving size/Fresh Direct size/Wine size) and shopping bags, which are always needed for the sale. Please deliver to the Dows Lane lobby.
 
If you wish to volunteer your time or learn more about the sale, please contact Karen Arnett at karnett1007@gmail.com.
 
Please tell your friends and neighbors and don’t forget to mark your calendars with the dates the Used Book Sale is open to the public: May 10th & 12th.

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PARENT BOWLING NIGHT
Friday, March 2

Who says the kids get all the fun? Join us for a night out for the grown-ups!
 
Date: Friday March 2, 2018
Time: 8pm-10pm (check-in at 7:45pm)
Where: Bowlmor Lanes, 47 Tarrytown Road, White Plains
Cost: $65 per person (Cost includes hot and cold finger foods, drink tickets, bowling shoes and 2 hours of bowling.)
 
Click HERE for Tickets. 
 
Sign up deadline is TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27!
Sorry, tickets will not be sold at the door. ONLINE ONLY
 
If you have any questions, please contact  Melissa Stein at melissa.stein19@gmail.com

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​SCIENCE FAIR
Saturday, March 24

The Science Fair is Coming!
 
Irvington School District (K-12) Science Fair
 
 
Saturday, March 24, 2018
12pm - 3pm
Gina Maher Gym at the IMS/IHS Campus
 
Sign up to participate, to mentor participants, or to help out: http://www.irvingtonnyptsa.org/science-fair-2018.html

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RIVERTOWN PARENTS PRESENTATIONS
Save the Dates

MINDFULNESS
Wednesday, May 2
Hastings-on-Hudson
A presentation by Dr. Christopher Willard.  Dr. Willard teaches at Harvard Medical School and has presented at TEDx conferences.
He is the author of Child’s Mind (2010) Growing Up Mindful (2016) and Raising Resilience (2017)
 
 
FAMILY TINKER NIGHT
Friday, May 18
Irvington
TINKER, THINK, AND EXPLORE your way through an evening of hands-on STEAM! (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) See and experience innovative, inquiry-based learning in action on a night where everyone gets to be a kid again!
 
For more information, please see: RIVERTOWN PARENTS MAY 2018 SAVE THE DATES or visit: Rivertown Parents

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