10/22/2016, Newburgh, NY
It was a cold, blustery Saturday morning as Dr. Paul Feffer and several members of The Storm King School boys and girls varsity soccer teams ventured out to complete a few of their required community service hours. For some, it was their first trip to the Armory Unity Center, located in Newburgh, New York. They didn’t know what to expect. As the rain came down, our students couldn’t help thinking it was a perfect day to sleep late, stay at home and watch movies.
Once they arrived, the young athletes took their places in the “Kitchen Chemistry” room. This room, in the airy brick building that was once a real armory, is used by The Storm King School every Saturday morning to help local children develop a love for science through fun, simple experiments. Who knew that for some, what began as a mundane trip, would soon turn into an uplifting morning filled with fun, happiness and learning.
SKS’s Dr. Feffer huddles with the soccer team to discuss the lesson plan
THE FEFFER HUDDLE
As local K – 6 boys and girls arrived, the SKS athletes gathered around Dr. Feffer for a pre-session huddle. The subject for the day was the solar system. In the lesson, students would have the chance to learn interesting facts about their planet, present their favorite facts, build the solar system and make model rockets! Once the SKS student mentors were prepped about the game plan, they split up and began to get to know the kids.
SKS Boys Varsity Soccer team member Igor Zelenko (back) talking about Jupiter with his student
THE PLANETS CAME ALIVE
First, each child was allowed to choose a planet or the Sun. They were given a sheet with interesting facts about their planet such as its size, diameter, mass, composition and the date it was discovered. The SKS team members took charge and made the younger children feel right at home, discussing their planets and helping them prepare for their presentations.
SKS team captain Alex Conjic works one-on-one with his student
The groups engaged in lively discussions. Some of the SKS students articulated their lessons in Spanish to make sure their young students absorbed all they could. One young boy was so knowledgeable about the solar system that he actually taught his mentor a few facts. At times, it was hard to tell who was having more fun – the children or our soccer team!
SKS’ Aiden Sweeney lends a helping hand during his student’s presentation
Then it was time for each child to stand up before the group and present their favorite three facts. They also had the chance to paste a picture of their planet to the wall at its appropriate distance from the Sun. By the time the group reached the farthest planet, Neptune, the model of the solar system stretched all the way across the room.
Eduardo Pena, left, and Daniel Moreno, right, help their student build a rocket with straws
BUILDING ROCKETS FROM STRAWS
In the final part of the exercise, the young learners were given simple materials like straws, scissors and heavyweight paper to construct air-propelled mini rockets. Dr. Feffer showed them how to build them by cutting fins from heavy paper and attaching them to the straws, then sealing the open edges with Play-Doh. They finally learned how to blow into a second straw and sent their mini rockets flying through the air.
In a matter of minutes, the room became a shower of straw rockets arcing in all directions and children laughing out loud. Of course, our students, being athletes, urged the youngsters to compete, so the children got busy comparing the distances each rocket could fly.
By the end of the session, the children had a lot fun while they gained appreciation for science and the solar system. At the same time, Storm King students had the chance to mentor them. It was a win-win situation.
SKS Boys Soccer team members having fun while building rockets with their students
SKS COMMUNITY SERVICE and THE UNITY CENTER
Each Saturday morning, a group of students and a rotating faculty member from the SKS science department travel to the Unity Center to teach “Kitchen Chemistry” and other science-related experiments. The Storm King School is committed to a lasting contribution through a year-long plan of community service at the Unity Center, where our students attend three 12-week sessions per year. This year, two students from the SKS National Honor Society will also lead the sessions at the Center.
Community service is a requirement at SKS, where all students must complete 20 hours toward various causes throughout the school year. The Unity Center has become a favorite and several students have enjoyed the experience so much that they’ve gone above and beyond their 20 hours of required service.
SKS Girls Varsity Soccer player Catherine Pomeroy assisting her students during their presentation at The Unity Center
ABOUT THE ARMORY UNITY CENTER
The Newburgh Armory Unity Center (NAUC) is a place where community members of all ages come together for athletic, educational and civic opportunities, in order to engage with others and advance the community.
The Center aims to be an effective sign and instrument that embodies and promotes civic unity among people of diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds and conditions. NAUC enables participating organizations like The Storm King School to conduct their own programs with their own expertise, and collaborates with other programs, for the overall benefit of the community.
For more information about community service at The Storm King School, visit: https://sks.org/parent-page/student-life/community-service/