Newsletter 83 - BIG Little Science Centre

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Newsletter 83
BIG Little Science Centre
March 2007
Haley Trueit, a kindergarten student in Susan Youds’ class at David Thompson Elementary School,
discovers the magic of magnets at the BIG Little Science Centre.
B.C.’s First Science School is a Go!
Trustees of School District 73 voted on March 5 2007 to make Bert Edwards Elementary School a Science
school of choice. The Science School will include the BIG Little Science Centre as part of its offerings.
Details of the arrangement will be determined very soon and we will keep you informed.
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This Newsletter is a
publication of the
BIG Little Science Centre Society
Box 882 Station Main
Kamloops BC V2C 5M8
New Location
Bert Edwards Elementary School,
711 Windsor Avenue, Kamloops,
BC V2B 2B7
Executive Director
Gord Stewart
Phone (250) 554 2572
or (250) 554 BLSC
E-Mail: gord@blscs.org
Website
www.biglittlesciencecentre.org
Newsletter Editor
Gordon R. Gore
Home: 962 Sycamore Drive
Kamloops, BC V2B 6S2
Phone: (250) 579 5722
Fax: (250) 579 2302
E-mail: grgore@telus.net
Over 31,000 visitors have
enjoyed the
BIG Little Science Centre!
One More Thank You from the BIG
Little Science Centre Society
In the last issue, we thanked various Kamloops media for
their wonderful support of the science centre. One of our
greatest and most loyal supporters was not specifically
mentioned, and should have been headlined. (I would fire
myself for this omission, but my salary is absolute minimum
wage, and money talks.)
CFJC TV 7 Newscentre has supported the BIG
Little Science Centre from its very beginning in 2000.
CFJC TV 7 Newscentre has helped tremendously in
making the BIG Little Science Centre ‘known’ in this
community. When the BIG Little Science Centre was in its
infancy, CFJC TV 7 Newscentre was there. When we need
help promoting an Open House, CFJC TV 7 Newscentre is
there. When the BIG Little Science Centre was vandalized
last November, CFJC TV 7 Newscentre was on the spot.
When the BIG Little Science Centre ran into financial
difficulties this year, CFJC TV 7 Newscentre was
immediately available, trying to help us out. CFJC TV 7
Newscentre has always been there for us, and we truly
appreciate your support. CFJC TV 7 Newscentre is truly a
community-minded medium. Thank you a thousand times.
Gordon Gore, Editor
Since the last Newsletter, generous donations were received from:
Juniper Ridge Elementary School Students
Juniper Ridge Elementary School PAC
Juniper Ridge Elementary School Staff
Ms. Arkesteyn’s Class and Parents at Aberdeen Elementary School
Harold Stefanyk and Debra Budder
Ms Rhinda Eden
Kamloops Computer Centre
Westsyde Secondary School PAC
Dallas Elementary School PAC
1st Heffley Beavers
Summit Elementary School Students
McGowan Park Elementary School PAC
David Thompson Elementary School Kindergarten Class
A. E. Perry Elementary School
George Hilliard Elementary School
Bruce Swanson, Barrister and Solicitor
ASST (Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of British Columbia)
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Science Fun for the Family
How Fast Can You React?
Challenge!
Your friend has a loonie sitting in the middle of
the open palm of his hand. He says you can
have the loonie if you can grab it out of his
hand before he can pull away his hand. Can
you do it?
Think Physics!
It is tempting to simply reach for the coin and
try to grab it with your fingers. A faster way is
to place your open hand above his, and quickly
drop your hand down on his hand. The coin
will tend to remain where it is (INERTIA!), so
it will momentarily be in mid-air, in your own
hand, and you can grab it!
Join the BIG Little Science Centre Society!
Fill out this form and mail it and your check for $20 ($30 for a Class Membership)
made out to BIG Little Science Centre Society to
BIG Little Science Centre Society,
Box 882 Stn Main,
Kamloops, BC, V2C 5M8
You will be placed on the membership list and receive our newsletter.
_____ I wish to become a NEW MEMBER of the BIG Little Science Centre Society.
_____ I wish to RENEW MY MEMBERSHIP in the BIG Little Science Centre Society.
_____ I wish to have a $30.00 Class Membership in the BIG Little Science Centre Society.
_____ I wish to make a further contribution of $_________to the BIG Little Science Centre.
(A tax receipt for this contribution will be issued by the BIG Little Science Centre Society.)
Name
_______________________________________ Phone________________________
Address __________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________Postal Code __ __ __ __ __ __
E-mail Address <
I prefer to receive my Newsletter
>
Date____________________
by Regular Mail _________ by E-Mail _________
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Juniper Ridge Elementary Celebrates the BIG Little Science Centre
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They called it a “Balloon Pop-Off and Mad Scientist Day”.
It was really a celebration of the BIG Little Science Centre. Students,
staff and parents invited Executive Director Gord Stewart and President
Gordon Gore for a ‘visit’ to Juniper Ridge Elementary School. What
we encountered there was a gymnasium full of enthusiastic kids and staff,
many of them dressed in ‘scientist’ costumes, with hundreds of colourful
helium balloons. Students had raised $600 in support of the BIG Little
Science Centre, and the Juniper Ridge PAC donated another $500 to
the Centre. The staff at Juniper Ridge Elementary School had previously
donated $500. We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the Juniper
Ridge community.
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Photos
(1) Mrs. Tammy Whitmore, President of Juniper Ridge PAC, presents a check for $500 to Gordon Gore,
President of the BIG Little Science Centre Society.
(2) Students Dylan Todd and Ian Chrystal, both in Grade 7, present a check for $600 to Executive Director
Gord Stewart.
(3) Grade 1 teacher Mrs. Nola Renfrew was well dressed for the special occasion.
(4) Principal Art Blackwell was in costume, When Gordon Gore taught him physics at Kam High, Gordon had
hair this colour and thickness (but no curls). That was nearly 40 years ago!
(5) Future surgeon Evan Perara, Grade 2, was dressed for ‘mad scientist’ day.
(6) Perhaps Blake Ledger, Grade 6, will be the next Albert Einstein?
(7) Emily Vilac and (8) Gina Talarico had colourful hair.
(9) Gracie Miller really loves bugs.
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Action at the BIG Little Science Centre
Cody McGunigle is a kindergarten student in Susan Youds’ class at David Thompson Elementary School.
Cody was fascinated with the hourglass that floats upward in one of the displays at the BIG Little Science
Centre. Cody just had to show his discovery to visitor Angela Hamilton, who was obviously equally amazed.
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Major Supporters
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Salmon Enhancement Program
Kamloops Kiwanis Club
Barb Mui, Ph.D.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Gaming and Enforcement Branch
Watson Engineering Ltd.
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News on Our Funding Issue
As of March 6, 2007, the BIG Little Science Centre has raised sufficient funds to operate until the end of August 2007.
We are hopeful that more assistance might come from other sources. Hon. Kevin Krueger is attempting to obtain
financial assistance to keep the Centre operating until the end of 2007. Other interested parties from the Vancouver area
are going to visit the BIG Little Science Centre and explore ways to build stable funding for us.
Two special grants received recently must be mentioned. Kamloops Computer Centre gave a very generous
donation to the BIG Little Science Centre Society. In addition, ASST (Applied Science Technologists & Technicians
of British Columbia) presented Gord Stewart with a check for $2,500 to assist with our fund raising. These are very
significant contributions. A number of other very generous donors are listed on Page 2 of this Newsletter.
Left: Gord Stewart presenting at the ASST gathering. Right: John Leech presents a check to Gord Stewart.
The BIG Little Science Centre will be kept at Bert Edwards Elementary, which is to become the first Science
school of choice in British Columbia. This should mean there would be some added financial support provided by School
District 73. Details of a contract between the BIG Little Science Centre Society and School District 73 will be worked
out in the near future.