Students learn of a new tomorrow
By Loreen Berlin
Steam-a-Palooza took place last weekend at Magnolia High School in Anaheim and was well-attended by hundreds of students and their families from throughout the Anaheim Unified School District.
Bands from various schools welcomed guests as they entered the school quad, which included the Magnolia Band, Katella Jazz Band, Sycamore Jazz Band, Brookhurst Jazz Band, and the Cypress Jazz Band and Orchestra Club.
The Tesla Foundation, a 501(c)(3) group, which specializes in educational and workforce development of Industry 4.0 (Autonomous) jobs, was on hand, offering learning experiences with drones and airplanes.
“Drones are one way to accomplish many of these different types of jobs,” said Director of Education Program Development Brenna Duncan. “The beginning drone pilot program teaches students how to test and receive their part 107 Remote pilot’s license from the FAA that allows any pilot to be hired to fly commercially.”
Duncan said people can receive a license at the age of 16 and be fully employed before they graduate from college.
“We also teach students introductory modules in business/entrepreneurship, cyber security, policy and maintenance, as well as teaching flying skills on both flight simulators and on small/micro drones. The advanced flight class hones their flight skills, and sets up scenarios where drones can improve life, including search and rescue and delivery, and public safety,” said Duncan. “Students learn vital roles for flying missions, which includes communication skills to other pilots and observers.”
In the school kitchen, it was a step back in time as students poured small amounts of heavy cream into glass jars and began shaking the jar for approximately 15 minutes to produce, first, whipped cream, and then homemade butter and the byproduct, buttermilk.
Then, to taste the sweet butter, students also made pizza bites on which to melt and taste the fruits of their labors. With most students never having been on a farm and not realizing where milk products come from except the grocery store, this was an enlightening and delightful experience and brought many smiles.
In order to take in everything at Steam-a-Palooza, it would have taken more than just the day’s experience. Areas included: art displays in the open quad, with students either creating their own artwork or using images from the internet and other sources to make replicas of artwork in chalk on the concrete walkways.
There was a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Field Event, Fitness-Palooza in the weight room, a Science Solar Cup with an Electric Conductor Lab, Solar, Agricultural and Hot Air balloons.
The Makerspace area was about 3D printing and Art Therapy; a Tech Fair covered computers and communication; there was Social Science and English, a Math-Science Fair took in science and engineering projects, Hydrogen automobiles and making “Slime” to take home and robots and algebra.
There were TED Talks and a Film Festival, along with Brookhurst Talks on various subjects particularly suited to youth today and what is happening in their world, as well as immigration, which affects everyone.
A variety of entertainment took place on the Main Stage that included dance teams from Sycamore, Cypress, Magnolia, Katella and Lexington, along with Sycamore’s Chorus performing and Savanna provided music as well.
Kennedy High School’s student newspaper staff was on hand to display not only their printed product of “The Shamrock” school newspaper, but to show their online newspaper product.
Other students showed how they took images from the internet and then made clay products that could be used as flower vases.
A sign in front of Magnolia High School read “Attend today—change tomorrow.”
