Manhasset SEPTA’s Gifted and Talented division began the 2015 school year with over 100 people attending the Mad Science Fire & Ice show at the Manhasset Public Library in October during the Superintendent’s Conference Day.
The children in the audience participated in all demonstrations and were entertained by Xenon Zach, local scientist. He showed everyone how “Eggbert,” his pet egg, was too large to fit into a glass container but could get safely in and out in one piece using different properties of air pressure. Zach also demonstrated why some things float on air and some fall using straws and hair dryers. But when he brought out the leaf blower, the children couldn’t contain themselves! He then had four volunteers take a “mad science shower” with frozen gas in front of the audience.
Those brave children who waited out a fire drill caused by a faulty light towards the end of the program got a special treat. They got to touch and experience a foggy ice storm created by dry ice!
SEPTA Gifted and Talented also ran a new First Time French Class. The program was run by Jessica Thalheimer, who is working towards her Girl Scout gold award. The program met with an overwhelming demand from the community. The program not only quickly filled up but Thalheimer was able to add a second class session each week and there still was a waiting list.
Over the seven-week program, the children were taught numbers and colors in French, the French words for various animals, family members and different foods all while playing games, doing crafts and enjoying fun worksheets she created. The participants also celebrated Halloween and Thanksgiving as well as enjoyed French desserts during the program’s last session. Thalheimer rewarded the children with different prizes each week that she donated herself. She is hoping to continue a language program this spring by bringing in someone to teach another language since it was such a big hit with the kids and parents alike.
For adults, SEPTA’s Gifted and Talented offered an expert presentation with Tobi Phillips, president and founder of Village East Gifted, Inc., who came to Manhasset Public Library last November. Phillips shared with the group her method of teaching and even ran a sample class for attendees. “We would like to thank her for coming out to do the event even though she was injured and had to come in a wheelchair!” Manhasset SEPTA Gifted and Talented Division Director and SEPTA Vice President Joanne Thalheimer noted.
For more information about future events, visit the Manhasset SEPTA website at www.manhassetsepta.org.
A Rich Program Offering
