Robots "Warm Up" at UCHS

The gymnasium at University City High School buzzed with excitement Saturday morning October 5th, as 22 registered elementary and middle school robotics teams from across the area converged for the fourth annual U. City FLL Warm Up (formerly the "U. City Scramble").  FLL, which stands for FIRST LEGO League, is a component of the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics program started by inventor Dean Kamen in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. (Click here to read about our high school's FIRST Robotics Competition team). 

Teams crowd around the tables in the UCHS gymnasium
to observe practice matches.

In FLL, small teams of students aged 9 to 14 design, build, program, and test robots made from LEGO MINDSTORMS technology. At the beginning of each season (which lasts approximately 3 months) teams are issued a challenge with a series of obstacles that their robots must overcome, and research project ot complete and present. The 2013 challenge is called Nature's Fury, and  explores natural disasters and how technology can help us to prepare, stay safe, and rebuild.

At this year's Warm Up, teams had the opportunity to put their robots through their paces in the robot game, meet other teams and see their robots, and get a feel for what an actual competition might be like.  In addition, teams could meet with a panel of experts from the Red Cross and Washington University to ask questions and get help on this year's project.  Students and staff from Ranken Technical College were also on hand to provide programming assistance to the teams. 

A team from Flynn Park listens to a referee explain one of the
many "missions" they can complete in the robot game.

This event is typically the first chance the officials and referees have to see the robot game in action, and is used as a training event for them as well. One of the founding tenants of FIRST is the concept of Gracious Professionalism, which means that teams can compete fiercely but still treat each other with respect and kindness and help everyone to achieve their best game. The Warm Up is a great example of this in action, as teams learn from and help one another. 

Of the 22 teams participating this year, five were from University City schools,  including Flynn Park, Jackson Park, Barbara C. Jordan, and Brittany Woods Middle. Members of the UCHS Robolions FRC team assisted and served as referees. University City is proud to be one of the only local districts to have robotics teams at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. 

The "pit" areas are a hive of activity, as teams tweak and
troubleshoot their robots

In the weeks to come, teams will continue to hone their robots, research their project, and prepare presentations.  The competition season kicks off on October 26th with the first in a series of ten qualifiers, two of which will be held at Brittany Woods Middle School on November 9th and 10th.  The top teams from each qualifier will then go on to compete in the Eastern Missouri FLL Championship at Florissant Valley Community College on December 8th.  The winner of that event has the chance to compete against teams from around the world  in the FIRST World Championship, held April 23 - 26, 2014, at the America's Center right here in St. Louis!  For details and qualifier schedules visit the St. Louis FIRST website.

The Warm Up, brainchild of U. City parents Nicole Adewale, Celina McGinnis, and Ed Deitzler, has grown steadily since its inception in 2010.  The event started as a way to, "pull together resources to help University City's FLL teams prepare for the official qualifying events" says Adewale (UCHS Class of 1986), "but from the beginning we (and Superintendent Pruitt) felt it was important to share our resources with other teams in the area, which would in turn allow us to learn from other teams.  What we originally envisioned as an extended practice event has turned out to be a premier technical conference for elementary and middle school students and has also become a major training opportunity for referees."

The sponsoring organization for the Warm Up was U.City Robotics, founded by parents several years ago to promote FIRST programs in University City and introduce our students to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields through the excitement of competitive robotics. Kids who participate in FIRST are significantly more likely to attend college and major in science or engineering (in fact, all seven 2013 graduating seniors from the high school's robotics team, many of whom began robotics in middle school, are currently majoring in science or engineering.)

U. City Robotics is grateful to the Deitzler, McGinnis, Holahan and Adewale families for organizing and setting up the event and to members of the St. Louis FIRST Robotics FLL committee, Ranken, Wash U., Edwardsville Robotics, and the Red Cross for supplying nearly 30 volunteers who provided a stellar opportunity to the teams who participated.

All photos courtesy of Celina McGinnis

eScrip - It's Like Free Money!

No matter how honorable the cause, most parents don't enjoy fundraising. With three kids at three schools and in a multitude of activities, our friends and neighbors have been extremely generous over the years - whether it be purchasing car wash tickets, wrapping paper, or girl scout cookies. It's also the reason I never say "No" to a young person when ask to make a purchase.

Can't someone make fundraising easier? Someone did.

It was said, "nothing in life is free," but that was before Schnuck's eScrip program. Schnuck's will donate a percentage of your purchase to your designated organization(s) when you present your eScrip card at the register. How amazing is that - FREE money for school PTOs and student organizations using the eScrip program.

The best thing is it costs nothing to participate. Just pick up an eScrip card at the Customer Service desk at any Schnuck's, activate your card (on-line or by phone) by designating your preferred organization (you can designate up to three organizations on one card, and handing it to the check-out clerk when you make a purchase at Schnuck's. Free and easy.

It's so easy anyone who shops at Schnuck's can participate. So when you pick-up a card for yourself, don't forget grandma, aunts, uncles, neighbors, alumni - everyone can support our PTOs and student groups.

In fact, three of the U. City public schools were recently recognized for being in the Top Five eScrip money earners of the 75 organizations registered in the U. City area.

Flynn Park, Jackson Park, and UCHS were three of the
top five eScrip earners in U. City.

Start making money for a good cause today. Pick-up an eScrip card and remember to use it every time you shop.

A Place for Kids

One of the great aspects of University City Schools is its community partnerships. Kids’ Place was founded in 1998 by University United Methodist Church, in partnership with Delmar-Harvard Elementary School, as a community outreach program with 12 volunteers and $1,200 in donations from church members.

The mission of Kids’ Place is to provide academic, social and behavioral support to children struggling to overcome the achievement gap.  The Kids’ Place program focuses on developing literacy, along with civic and social responsibility.  Families are selected based on a variety of need-based factors and organizational capacity.  Students interact with positive adult role models, listen to stories, engage in fun and unique curriculum activities, and work one-on-one with tutors to complete their homework.

 

Initially, University United Methodist and its members provided Kids’ Place with financial support, in-kind services, space, and volunteers.  Despite this church connection, Kids’ Place has always been a program with no religious affiliation or agenda.  It is a good fit with the church building because it uses space used earlier in the day for the preschool, keeping this large building near the Loop busy serving the community’s children throughout the day.

The closing of Delmar-Harvard school presented a challenge to Kids’ Place, as the kids had been walking over after school, with the adult volunteers.  Fortunately, Kids’ Place had demonstrated its value, so that the School District agreed to provide buses enabling students from the more-distant Flynn Park school to attend.

Over time, Kids’ Place broadened its support and became a self-sustaining not-for-profit corporation. Kids’ Place now serves about 40 children and their families four afternoons each week, also offering a special Odyssey of the Mind program on Fridays that was initiated this year.  Odyssey of the Mind is an international program that provides students with the opportunity to develop skills in teamwork and creative problem solving.

Kids’ Place now has eight paid staff members and over 100 volunteers from nearby churches, synagogues, high schools and universities.  Students are well-supervised, with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio and a 2:1 student-volunteer ratio throughout a majority of programming, and a goal to reach a 1:1 ratio during individual tutoring sessions.

For further information on Kids’ Place, see the website at http://kidsplace-stl.wildapricot.org/ or contact Executive Director Lynda Wolpert, MSW, MBA, at lwolpert@kidsplace-stl.org or 314.853.7630.

A Trivia Night

Saturday April 13, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. (doors open 6:30), Kids’ Place, Inc., will hold a Trivia Night at Washington University's 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Avenue. Bring your own treats and drinks for your table.  Delicious desserts will be available for purchase; event also includes silent auction, games, and raffle.

Individual admission is $20, or $150 for a table of eight.  Tickets are available at http://kidsplace-stl.wildapricot.org/Default.aspx?pageId=1275345, at the door, or by mailing check or money order payable to Kids' Place, Inc., to:

Kids' Place
Attn: Trivia Night 2013
6901 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63130

Donations are also accepted.

Dimensions Dance Company

Many people may not be aware of all the amazing things our students do when they aren't in one of our school buildings. There's martial arts, music lessons, swimming, archery and many others. Our kids excel in a plethora of different activities every single day.

I bet you didn't know that three of our own Brittany Woods students, Linsey, Nicole and Samantha, are incredible dancers!

When I say incredible that's exactly what I mean. Not only do they take dance classes at a great dance studio, but they are considered to be a part of the "best of the best" at Dimensions Dance Center. In 1990, Sandy Morgan (a University City Public Schools graduate) founded the Dimensions Dance Company for advanced level dancers. Every year this dance company presents a production of The Nutcracker as well as many smaller productions throughout the year.

If you want to know what is so special about DDC look no further than their website. It's all spelled out...

"Dimensions Dance Center is a unique, non-profit dance organization. Our belief is that the discipline of dance develops self- esteem, coordination, and self confidence and that these benefits can be achieved in a fun, positive, and professional atmosphere.

Our Mission:
To train and educate developing artists in the art and discipline of dance. To provide performance opportunities for these artists and to give back to the community through performances, educational demonstrations, workshops, recitals, and dance classes. To provide scholarships for dancers who demonstrate financial need and show promise as dancers. We work to encourage students of all ages and abilities to develop a love for dance whether they aspire to become professionals or simply enjoy dance as a part of their lives."

On Friday March 1, 2013 (along with the rest of the Dimensions Dance Company) Linsey, Nicole and Samantha will go on the annual school tour. These girls give up an entire day to travel around the metropolitan St Louis area bringing dance to young people who may not have been exposed to a live show before. This year the dance company is dedicating their entire tour to University City by visiting the University City Children's Center, Barbara C Jordan and Flynn Park.

The school tour is meant for one reason and one reason only -- bringing the Dimensions Dance Center experience to the masses. Each year the dance company produces a benefit concert to raise money for the Dennis Buege Memorial Scholarship Program. The program supports many talented young dancers that may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend dance classes and further their dance education.

These dancers work very hard for months and months preparing for the annual benefit concert. The spend most of their Saturdays rehearsing and preparing to give their audience the most enjoyable and exciting show they can. They put their sweat, tears and (sometimes) blood into each and every move. They really are dedicated, hard working young women who truly love what they do.

If you would be interested in supporting these hard working dancers at their annual benefit concert feel free to join us at Clayton High School Friday March 8th at 7:00 or Saturday March 9th at 2:00 in the auditorium. Tickets are $10.00 each and all proceeds benefit the scholarship program.

And don't forget -- if you have a student at the University City Children's Center, Barbara C Jordan or Flynn Park -- talk to them after school on Friday March 1st about the program that was brought to them at school. I'm sure they'll have lots to tell you!