The Oak Park Education Foundation hosted "Sponge
Ball Bonanza," an exciting competition showcasing the talents of Julian
and Brooks middle school students. The 6th, 7th and 8th graders, both
boys and girls, were guided by volunteer engineers, high school mentors
and teachers. Working in teams, they designed, built and programmed
robots that scored points by moving sponge balls into targets of
varying degrees of difficulty.
The Brooks gym was filled to capacity with friends and family
cheering on the 80 student designers. Junior varsity teams built robots
that operated by remote control, while varsity students programmed
their bots to operate autonomously, using sensors. Julian emerged
victorious, but all agreed that they had gained valuable experience not
only in making robots, but also in connecting with adult engineers and
learning how they work, and solving problems while working in teams.
Click here to see a slideshow of photos courtesy of Alec Bloyd-Peshkin.
Students in the After-School Art Club at Julian made portfolios, purses and bags
using weaving and basketry out of materials from nature. The Club took
place on Tuesdays and Thursdays in January, and was taught by visiting
artist Karen Gubitz with art teacher Chris Worley. Click here for a slideshow of pictures (taken by Chris Worley).
Join us for the annual William C. Staszak Award dinner on Saturday, April 24, 2010, 6 pm at the Oak Park Country Club. This year we're honoring Jan Pate, CEO of the West Cook YMCA and Oak Park Village Trustee, for her dedication to the children of Oak Park. Mike Cramer, award-winning independent filmmaker, will emcee the event.
The evening includes socializing with old and new friends, and both live and silent auctions of wonderful items from sports tickets to vacation homes, jewelry to wine, tools to sailing trips. The dinner has sold out in recent years, so call or email now to buy tickets, place an ad, sponsor the event or donate an auction item: (708) 524-3026 or pquilling@op97.org.
Looking for an unusual, exciting and educational summer experience? Sign up now for OPEF's BASE Camp! We're offering Geared Up (engineering with Legos), Vex Robotics and Architecture Adventure Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 11:30 am, with 2 sessions between June 7 - July 2. Click here to download the BASE Camp flyer with registration form.
Artist Sallie Wolf led a painting, drawing and collage project that tied into studies of rocks and minerals for Mrs. Creticos's Longfellow 2nd graders. Click here to see photos of students exploring geometry and science through still life painting. Photos courtesy of Oak Park photographer Peter Wagner.
The Shedd Aquarium's April Keller visits with Mrs. Diviacchi's and Ms. Fotopoulos's Mann 4th graders as part of OPEF's Global Village program. April brought some of the Shedd's animals to school and talked about what it's like to be a marine biologist. The students' study of ecosystems will culminate with a field trip to the Shedd Aquarium in May. Click here to see the photos by Mann parent Emily Opalski.
Click here to see photos of the "Our Nation: The Fifty States" art quilt created by Mrs. Parkinson's Beye 2nd graders with local artist Pamela Penney. The class dyed fabric and yarn, designed individual quilt squares, then finished with some creative stitchery.
The quilt will be on display at the Oak Park Area Arts Council's gallery at Village Hall from March 1 through April 30, with an artists reception on Tuesday, March 2, 4:30-5:30 pm at Oak Park's Village Hall, room 101. Slide show photographs are by Oak Park photographer David Kindler.
An evening of exciting competition will get underway when robots take center stage in the 5th annual Brooks vs. Julian Vex Robotics competition. The event takes place on Wednesday February 24th at 7 pm in the Brooks Middle School gymnasium, 325 S. Kenilworth Avenue in Oak Park. You are cordially invited!
OPEF's after-school Vex Robotics teams are open to all District 97 middle school students. Young inventors control the design, performance and functionality of their robots, including the ability to program them to perform tasks by remote control or autonomously. This year, we've attracted a diverse group of 80 students who will compete in a challenge called the "Sponge Ball Bonanza." Students construct robots that collect sponge balls that must be lifted and delivered to a variety of difficult scoring targets. One is a tricky limbo bar that the robots must pass. Another target is completely hidden from view, requiring the use of sensors and programming to score.
Please come -- and bring the kids!
We are proud to recognize the following businesses as partners of the Oak Park Education Foundation. As part of our new "1 of 97" partnership program, these dedicated business owners provide financial support for our enrichment programs for all District 97 students. Please show your appreciation by patronizing these businesses and thanking them for their support!
Patrons
Beyond Properties Realty Group: 642 S. Lombard, Oak Park
Botanica: 115 N. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park
Compass Eye Care: 603 Madison Street, Oak Park
Oak Park Jewelers: 101 S. Marion Street, Oak Park
Sponsors
AA Rental Center: 30 N. 9th Avenue, Melrose Park
Anthony Peter Salon: 169 N. Marion Street, Oak Park
Better Homes and Gardens Gloor Realty Company:114 N. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park
Fly Bird: 719 Lake Street, Oak Park
Marion Street Cheese Market: 100 S. Marion Street, Oak Park
Morava Glass Studios: 11 Madison Street, Oak Park
Shoe Soko: 111 N. Marion Street, Oak Park
Takara: 123 N. Marion Street, Oak Park
Wednesday Journal: 141 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park
Ms. Hoehne's class experiences the Oak Park Education Foundation's newest program, Geared Up. Geared Up brings engineering, physical science, math and technology challenges to elementary school students using Lego motorized Mechanisms. Click here to see photos of this project from Oak Park photographer David Kindler.