Penguin Coding School opens in Newton Centre

Opportunities

Penguin Coding School has arrived in Newton Centre (1223 Centre Street) and is now enrolling students for coding and robotics classes for Spring (April 24 -June 25) and Summer (June 26 – September 1) semesters. Topics include Scratch, Minecraft, Roblox, Python, Mobile App Development, Java, and Robotics. The company also has locations in Acton and Lexington and in Brooklyn, NY. For more information email info@penguincodingschool.com or call 617-608-4757

New England Weather Balloon Society at N E Sci-Tech

Opportunities

The New England Weather Balloon Society (NEWBS) has launched — hosted by New England Sci-Tech (NEST) STEM education center (16 Tech Circle, off Route 9 in Natick). NEWBS is dedicated to “the collaborative and iterative process of building and launching high altitude balloons to the edge of space to take instrumentation readings, record video footage, and conduct experiments.” It’s open to all ages. Use this form to inquire or express interest. The group meets online via Discord and in person at NE Sci-Tech. Current projects include:

  • HABGab 2023 will fly a repeater into the stratosphere and stream live video from the flight onto YouTube.
  • StratoScience Lab is a class for middle and high school students to design and launch a high altitude balloon full of scientific and engineering experiments.

Ligerbots compete in Rhode Island District FIRST Robotics Competition

Accomplishments

After six intensive weeks of designing and building its new robot, Atlas, Newton’s dual-high-school robotics team, the LigerBots, competed well at the Rhode Island District Competition this weekend. Through mistakes and victories, the LigerBots team was the first pick for the third-place alliance captain and won the event’s Sustainability Award, which places the team 33rd out of 227 teams across the district. Other well deserved accolades earned at the event:

  • Newton South HS junior Kevin Yang, the Ligerbots’ co-Chief Technical Officer, was named a District Championship Dean’s List Semi-Finalist for his impeccable leadership.
  • Greer Swiston, an eight-year adult mentor for the Ligerbots, was nominated as a finalist for the prestigious Woodie Flowers Award, in recognition of her long-time dedication to the team.

Go LigerBots!

Grades 6-12: Apply by Mar. 17 for Beantown Bash “Anti-Hackathon,” Apr. 1

Events

Beantown Bash is an “anti-hackathon” to be held at Tufts University (Joyce Cummings Center, 177 College Avenue, Medford) on April 1. Unlike other hackathons, it’s focused on creating, without presentations; the creations do not have to be tech-related; and results will be judged by peer participants. Suggested project tracks include:

  • Refry Rehash: Mixing and matching favorite things to make something new
  • New Connect: Finding new ways to meaningfully connect people
  • Small Data, Big Ideas: Exploring information on the community level

It’s free. While it’s focused on high school, middle-school students are welcome. Register by March 17 — individually or as a team of up to four.

Grades 8-12: Northeastern Splash!, In-Person, Mar. 18

Events

Each spring, NEPTUN (a Northeastern University student group) hosts Splash!, a free program for students in Grades 8-12 to take fun and informative mini-classes led by Northeastern undergraduate students. This year, Splash! will again be held in-person at Ryder Hall on the Northeastern campus, on March 18, 8:30AM-6:40PM. The $0 cost includes free pizza and a T-shirt. Registration is now open and is first-come/first-served and requires setting up a free student account. For more information, see the FAQs or contact nu.neptun@gmail.com. You can also access online recordings of Digital Splash! courses from 2020. Among the 26 in-person Splash! courses this year are these STEM offerings:

  • Need a Hand?
  • The Spaghetti Challenge
  • Electronics and Soldering Workshop
  • Egg Drop Challenge
  • Origami for fun and profit, part 2
  • Thinking Outside the Cardboard Box: Prototyping with Cardboard!
  • Medical Devices, Medicine, 3D Printed Organs: Let’s talk Bioengineering!
  • The Key to Unlocking Data: An Intro to Database Management
  • The Lore of Languages: How Coding Came to Be
  • The Entire Internet in an Hour!
  • AI Q&A with an introduction
  • The Fermi Paradox: Where is Everyone?
  • Miraculous 3-Pound Jell-O
  • Speculative Evolution
  • Funky Science: DIY Lava Lamps
  • Color me Intrigued: Playing with ROY G BIV
  • We all scream for ChemE Ice Cream
  • Real Life Sci-Fi: Gene Editing

Newton Schools Foundation seeks donations for Calculus Project

Great ideas

The Calculus Project works in all of Newton’s middle and high schools to have more Hispanic, African American, and low-income students successfully complete calculus in high school, as a path to success in college. The program provides intensive, small-group summer classes, enrichment activities, and year-round mentoring and tutoring.  The TCP summer program includes instruction in Computer Science, field trips to STEM-related companies, and college campus visits for rising 11th graders with a focus on STEM majors and careers.

The program currently includes over 200 students in Grades 8-12 — 95% of whom are in honors or accelerated math. The Newton Schools Foundation seeks donations to expand the program to address a growing waitlist.

While the NPS operating budget funds part of the program, tax-deductible donations via the NSF are needed for the summer program, tutoring, enrichment activities, and supplies. This year’s campaign is $3,000 short of its $10,000 goal. Donate here.