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November 2012 / Issue: 20
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HSA-Houston High Students Participate in Private NASA Tour
On October 15th, HSA-Houston High School Robotics students were invited to NASA for a "Behind the Scenes" tour of the Johnson Space Center. It was a most amazing trip! It started with the history and beginnings of manned space flight.
Students were personally escorted through several of the facilities including the Robonaut Lab and Mission Control. Students were allowed to interact with Robonaut and one of the students actually tried to keep up with Robonaut lifting weights! In Mission Control students were allowed to sit at the control  consoles while our guide explained the roles of each console and the function of the people who man them.
Students were able to get a more vivid idea of the place STEM education holds in their future. They are excited about the future of the U.S. Space Program and the role they could play in its future development.
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Houston's Advancement Campus
Debate & Speech Team Success
On November 9th and 10th, Harmony School of Advancement (HS-Adv) in Houston will host the Debate Without Borders International Speech & Debate Tournament. Teams from across Texas and individuals from all over the world will join the HS-Adv Speech and Debate team for a forensic competition in both English and Spanish. This is a community focused, cooperative, and educational event whose main goal is to broaden the involvement, understanding, skills, and viewpoints of all involved.
Additionally, the National Forensic League has notified the HS-Adv Speech and Debate team of their qualification into its prestigious 100 Club only two years after the team's foundation in 2010. From the NFL Executive Director:
"I am proud to inform you that your speech and debate program at Harmony School of Advancement has earned significant recognition by the National Forensic League.
Because your chapter achieved 100 degrees or more last year, it has placed in the top 10% of NFL chapters nationwide and earned membership in the League's prestigious 100 Club. Such a milestone is important because it demonstrates outstanding commitment to teaching students essential life skills - including communication, research, listening, writing, and organization.
... I encourage you to build upon this momentum to ensure that even more students are empowered to become effective communicators, ethical individuals, critical thinkers, and leaders in a democratic society."
We are very proud of our hard working students, and look forward to another year of success at Harmony School of Advancement!
To learn more about the National Forensic League , click here. |
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Harmony Happenings!
Each month, we will spotlight some of the unique activities and events
taking place at our campuses
HSA-West Houston (HSA-WH) participates in the 2012 Katy Rice Harvest
Festival Parade
On Saturday, October 6th, HSA-WH students, parents and faculty participated in the 2012 Katy Rice Festival Parade. Our float paid tribute to the recent landing of the Mars Rover, "Curiosity," and honored the wonder and awe of space exploration. Students, staff (as well as some brave parents) dressed as astronauts, stars, planets...and we even had a few martians. We paraded through Katy to a soundtrack of space-themed music, passed out candy to the parade-watchers and proudly represented our school. Thank you to all of our parent volunteers, Kroger, Home Depot, HEB and the Katy Times for their generous donation of time and materials!
HSA-San Antonio Supports Military Families
State Senator Leticia Van de Putte joined forces with Harmony Science Academy San Antonio and a local organization called Family Services to collect much needed items for family members of wounded soldiers recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center (B.A.M.C.) for the Intrepid. Members of the HSA-San Antonio National Honor Society (NHS) created flyers and gathered at the office of Senator Van de Putte to organize the donated supplies for easy distribution. The Senator was so impressed with the students' sense of initiative and responsibility to the community that she awarded each student eight hours of community service to go towards their volunteer requirements as members of NHS.
Harmony's 'Original' Campus Walks for Literacy
Harmony Science Academy, the first Harmony campus, held its first ever walk-a-thon on October 13, benefitting efforts to increase literacy in the greater Houston area. The  event raised just over $1000.00 with more than 50 participants, and featured an "Energize Refreshment Zone" sponsored by HEB. The students and staff created three teams and the team with the most pledge donations won the grand prize of a movie-and-popcorn party. It was a great way for the school to connect with the community and provided an opportunity for families, students, and staff to unite behind a great cause. HSA looks forward to an even better event next year. GO Tigers!!!!!!!! |
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Faces of Harmony: Jennifer Cooper
 How and when did your Harmony experience start? What positions have you held so far?My Harmony experience started three years ago at Harmony Science Academy in Odessa. I was one of the original teachers during the first year of operation with HSA-Odessa in 2010. I taught Social Studies 4-8th grade for two years and this year, I teach social studies/ELA for 4-5th grades. I am also campus department chair for the two subject areas I teach, and a CRLP (College Readiness and Leadership Program) mentor.
What do you love most about your job at HSA?
Everything!!!!!
In your opinion, what makes Harmony Public Schools/HSA-Odessa unique when compared with traditional public schools?
Harmony is unique in that it is true to its mission, goals and values. One of HSA-Odessa's greatest strengths is the fact that it is possible to know every student and parent. Harmony has established schools that offer a plethora of educational opportunities that lead to college success. Furthermore, being the largest charter school system in Texas, Harmony reaches every community, not just the students in a specific part of the state.
Read the whole interview here. |
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This Month in Science History...
 Every month, we feature a list of interesting historical events in science. Below are a few facts about the month of November:
November 1
In 1884, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was adopted universally at a meeting of the International Meridian Conference in Washington, DC, USA. From there the International Date Line was drawn up and 24 time zones created.
November 2
In 1947, Howard Hughes piloted his huge wooden airplane (called the Spruce Goose) on its only flight, which lasted about a minute over Long Beach Harbor in California. It was the first test of a U.S. plane with eight engines and a wingspan of 319 feet, 11 inches. Originally conceived by Henry J. Kaiser, a steelmaker and builder of Liberty ships, the Spruce Goose was designed and constructed by Hughes and his staff. The original proposal for the enormous, 400,000-pound wooden flying boat, with its spectacular wingspan, came from the U.S. government in 1942. The entire airframe and surface structures are composed of laminated wood (primarily birch, not spruce).
For a complete list of scientific events in November, click here.
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 Video of the Month
Here's Mr. Adem Kahraman from HSI Forth Worth doing a great experiment on Uniform Circular Motion!
Watch it here!
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Upcoming Events
12:00 - 4:00 p.m., November 18, 2012
Families Empowered Education & Health Expo - GRB Convention Center
Harmony Public Schools (HPS) will participate in this signature event that will bring together more than 8,000 greater Houston area families to learn about school choice from over 150 area schools. HPS will have a large booth featuring exciting science experiments and demos, as well as great information regarding the educational opportunities that exist at Harmony for students in grades K-12.
November 21 - 23, 2012
Thanksgiving Break
Central Office and campuses closed. 
6:00 p.m., November 29, 2012
HPS Board of Directors Meeting - HPS Central Office Building
Always open to public attendance
2:00 p.m., December 1, 2012
Fine Arts Showcase and Talent (F.A.S.T.) Competition - HPS Central Office, Multi-Purpose Room
Harmony's first Fine Arts Showcase and Talent (F.A.S.T.) Competition, established as an effort toward recognizing and promoting the wonderful diversity of our student body as well as their talent within the fine arts.
8:30 a.m., December 12, 2012
2nd Annual Public Servant Appreciation Breakfast - HPS Central Office, Multi-Purpose Room
Now in its second year and chaired by Dr. Marshall Schott, Vice President of the University of Houston, this event recognizes those who daily dedicate themselves to the good of the greater Houston community. This year's theme is "The Role of Education and Public Service in Civic Responsibility."
December 22, 2012 - January 7, 2013
Winter Break
Central Office and campuses closed.
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Brain Teaser of the Month!
Each month we ask a math or science-related brain teaser question in our newsletter. The first three responders with the correct answer will win a small prize.
This Month's Question:
The Birthday Riddle
The day before yesterday I was 25 and the next year I will be 28. This is true only one day in a year.
What date is my birthday?
Send your answers to [email protected]
Last Month's Answer: 140cm
Last Month's Winners: Lucinda Min, Subin Skariah, and Alexander Flores |
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