Posted: 21 May 2010 12:15 PM PDT

For anyone who grew up in the countryside, shooting stars were gifts from Mother Earth sent to us so that we could wish for love and kisses.

As young teens, whenever we knew there would be a meteorite shower, we would be allowed stay up into the wee hours and eat gobs of gelati and count the shooting stars. Yes, the gelati was made in Grandma's kitchen.

Each star we saw would be the number of kisses we would receive, or the number of boys who would fall in love with us.

As adults we know that shooting stars are simply the result of a meteorite shower. And no -- wishes do not come true from star wishing.

A couple's book of star wishes: But our couple's book of wishes arose from this tradition. I remember once during a particularly difficult place in our lives, we sat in a marriage counselor's waiting room. I saw a children's book about stars and began talking about those days of shooting star wishes.

Then the idea of a wishing game occured to me. Yes, there was resistence at first. But, during the 10 minute wait, we suddenly had come to a place where we remembered some of the joy we had lost. It was tenuous, but I reasoned, "We have nothing to lose right now."

What started out as a perfectly silly game of "Star Wishes" helped change our attitude from one of doom to possibilities.The rule was this -- all positive wishes -- nothing such as, "I wish you would stop coming home late at night."

"I wish to see us loving again," said she.

"I wish to see us smile again," said he

"I wish to visit Paris again," said she.

"I wish to laugh as much as we did in the Bistro where you tripped a waiter," said he.

And of course, I had to answer "I did not trip the waiter." We carried the conversation and laughter with us into the therapist's office and then suddenly stiffened as we sat in the chairs.

The therapist said, "You two don't laugh enough anymore. What was so funny?"

Star wishes and celebrations: From that afternoon on we periodically found time for "star wishes" which eventually became a "New Year's Eve Wishing Book" ritual for us for many years.

It is difficult to play this "Wishing" game when you are really angry. But in love and marriage it helps to have excuses for celebrations. In the world of large Italian families there is always a celebration -- a reason to eat, laugh, give and receive hugs and kisses.

As our lives become more complicated, we need to create our own moments to celebrate, moments to wish, to laugh. Tonight is a good one. Go to work late if you must in the morning. But tonight, gather gobs of gelati, watch the shooting stars, then make wishes and love.

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Foundation grant sends students to the moon - Highlands Ranch Herald

Posted: 14 May 2010 09:13 PM PDT

The Elizabeth Education Foundation provided financial support to budding young astronauts and scientists from Running Creek and Singing Hills Elementary schools who visited the Challenger Learning Center of Colorado earlier this year.

Fourth- and fifth-grade students from the Gifted and Talented Education program prepared for five weeks, led by their teacher Diane Marston, to be able to retrieve a malfunctioning probe on the moon, repair it and relaunch using the Challenger simulation equipment.

Students were required to have mastered grade-level standards of understanding longitude and latitude, basic coordinate grids, and the phases of the moon. Beyond those standards, these students learned how to interpret a four quad grid with negative and positive numbers on both the X and Y axis; and understand the theories of origins and geology of the moon including the differences between the highlands and lowlands and the rocks found there.

Clear communication was also a required skill for the project. Through inquiry-based learning and critical thinking students were able to trouble shoot the best ways to communicate with a robot.

Prior to the trip, students were assigned specific jobs and skills they would need to know for a successful mission. Navigators learned apogee and perigee, medical officers learned about the nuerovestibular system and how the inner ear reacts to space, isolation officers learned to read levels of chemicals and radio activity, remote officers analyzed rock samples, life support officers tracked humidity in the space craft to prevent the buildup of static electricity which in turn could shut down the electrical supply.

During the mission students were engaged in solving various problems that were built into the simulation such as a decrease in humidity and a micro meteor shower. Marston and two parent volunteers noticed how intent and focused the students were during the simulation, acting like it was so real.

"This carries over into school in general, Marston said. "Students came back to school with a better understanding of the interdependence involved in team work. It was very challenging and they felt good about accomplishing something really difficult."

The Elizabeth Education Foundation awarded Elizabeth C-1 School District teachers with grants totaling nearly $13,000 at the school board meeting Dec. 10, 2009. Teachers from Running Creek Elementary, Singing Hills Elementary, Elizabeth Middle School, Elizabeth High School and Legacy Charter School were beneficiaries of the foundation's mission to enhance the educational process and opportunities for all students, teachers, employees, parents and community members in the Elizabeth C-1 School District.

Teachers are asked to submit applications each fall to the foundation for equipment and services intended to enhance student learning that promotes 21st Century skills and abilities such as critical thinking and reasoning, information literacy, collaboration, self-direction and invention.

The Elizabeth Education Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c) (3), also sponsors the annual STARS Banquet that honors Students Taking Accountability and Responsibility Seriously. In addition, the EEF sponsors a scholarship program in conjunction with the Douglas County Educational Foundation and Jones International University whereby teachers in the Elizabeth C-1 School District can earn post-graduate degrees.

Donations and fundraising activities determine the depth and breadth of the Foundation's ability to accomplish its mission. If you are interested in volunteering and/or donating to the foundation or would like information, pvisit www.elizabethef.org.

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Stargazer: Seeing Halley's Comet rekindled flame for ... - Waco Tribune-Herald

Posted: 15 May 2010 03:18 AM PDT

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Twice each year, we pass through Halley's path, producing the Eta Aquarid meteor shower in May and the Orionid shower in October. But when Halley came by in May 1910, the encounter was closer than usual, and Earth actually passed through the end of ...

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Friday, May 21, 2010

“Italian Kisses: meteor shower wishes in love and ... - Examiner” plus 2 more

“Italian Kisses: meteor shower wishes in love and ... - Examiner” plus 2 more

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