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Posted by michael bastoni.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Other on team #23, PNTA, from Plymouth North High School and Boston Edison Co.

Posted on 10/13/2000 4:53 AM MST


In Reply to: Plymouth North Team #23.. I know for one.. posted by colleen on 10/11/2000 3:02 PM MST:



You have a great memory Colleen, then again, I always thought you were perfect.

For Scott: The Passport to Technology theme came about as a result of the creative efforts of Ron and Paula Partridge, Christine Bonasera, and other Parent Volunteers as well as a fine assemblege of student editors ( Lead by Allison Burgess currently at Wheaton College and teaching Math and Physics to 5th graders in the Boston schools, And Lindsay Eberman at Northeastern U.)

The Video was ALL Ron, and If you ever get the pleasure of knowing Mr.P...then you will understand why it worked so well...he's a nut!...but a creative and loving nut and we were fortunate to have him 'on our side'.

I'm submitting this post this morning because of how important it is to recognize and understand the real value of the parent volunteers. Our success was predicated on their support.

No one on your team has a better reason to be there...no one. Not the corporate engineers (God bless them for their skills) not the teachers (They are professional educators and despite what the wonderful Mr. Kamen says...this IS about learning)...not even the kids, because they are mostly there because it's so $@#$@#$@#$@# exciting to be there...and for nearly all of the kids, it's a way better option than most everything else available (Since drive-in movies are closed anyway)

But the parents...the folks who every day get up and pay the mortgage, clean and repair the home, shuttle the kids, and take abuse at work....the parents come to the evening team meetings because they love the kids. It's the purest form of commitment. Love.

I've often mentioned that there should be a 'Parent's Award'....for no other reason than to recognize the contribution these folks make to the success of their teams....Ours would not have been anywhere nearly as successful without all our parents help. Fact.

This is about community, maybe even more than about science and technology. Believe it, enjoy it, it's a good thing.

I went to Scott's team page, and was pleased to see they focused on the parents.

If you would like more info about the Passport to Technology theme, I'm sure Ron or Paula would be willing to discuss it...I'll take the liberty of providing their e-mail. Ronald Partridge mine is attached.

Good luck.....and Love your parents....they are really cool too. (Or at least they were once....a long time ago)