Project Puts 12 Students Into ‘Orbit’

After five weeks of preparation and training, three science students from La Mesa Junior High School in Santa Clarita buttoned up their spacesuits and adjusted their helmets before stepping into their hand-constructed space shuttle. The trio “blasted off” on the first of a series of simulated space flights that took a total of 12 young astronauts into orbit.

The shuttle’s cockpit, equipped with working switches, gauges, computers, headsets and a TV monitor, allowed the students to communicate with “Mission Control” during their space flights.

The astronauts were selected on the basis of winning essays and other criteria, and they performed moonwalks and shuttle-repair maneuvers among other scientific experiments.

The simulator was constructed by La Mesa parents, while the Mission Control center--a converted science class--was designed by the students who served as flight directors, medical technicians and other support personnel.

“This was a great opportunity for the students to explore something they may want to pursue in the future,” said eighth-grade science teacher Liz Virnelson. “They came in with huge smiles after a full day in the simulator.”

PROGRAM NOTES

Book Worms: Darby Avenue Elementary School students joined book lovers around the nation recently in observing Hand-in-Hand for Reading Week. The Northridge students sat enthralled as their grandparents, police officers and Los Angeles Unified School District board member Valerie Fields, among others, read aloud from their favorite books during the weeklong celebration.

TOP Students: Concerned about the plight of relatives and others who were caught in the path of Hurricane Mitch in Central America recently, Katie Portillo, 12, and Elvy Pacheco, 13, recently spearheaded a local relief effort that collected dozens of boxes of used clothing and canned and dried food to send to the storm victims. The seventh-graders from Madison Middle School in North Hollywood were among 40 participants in the Teen Outreach Program, or TOP, project, sponsored by the Volunteer Center Assistance League of Southern California.

Career Day: Twenty-four seniors from Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies and Birmingham, Reseda and Zane Grey high schools spent the day with dentists, school principals, bankers and others involved in the Encino Chamber of Commerce’s annual Day With Business program. Following a morning of hands-on projects, the students and their mentors ate lunch together at a local restaurant.

EVENTS

Hole in One: Golf enthusiasts will get the chance to swing a few clubs and raise money for a joint Burbank Boulevard Elementary School-The Country School arts project Monday at the third annual Charlton Heston Golf and Tennis Classic at Braemar Country Club in Tarzana. Sponsored by Marcotte Printing and other businesses, the proceeds of the fund-raiser will go toward the creation of the Valley Community School for the Arts, an after-school and weekend arts program to be held at the two North Hollywood campuses.

Kids’ Art: The Valley Cultural Center invites fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students to submit poster entries to its annual Concerts in the Park Art Contest. The color entries must be received by Dec. 18. The winning entry will be reproduced on the cover of the 1999 season concert program. For information, call (818) 704-1358.

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