Math and science powers unite!

WEBUTUCK — Students, parents, teachers and local businesses and organizations gathered in the hallways and classrooms of  the Eugene Brooks Intermediate School last Thursday, March 25, for the school’s annual Family Math and Science Night. It was also an opportunity to have fun, exercise one’s brain and maybe, just maybe, have a gecko pee on you (which seemed to be as funny to the students as it was dismaying to the parents).

The event has been hosted for years by the Webutuck PTA in conjunction with the school. Trini Stevens, the main organizer for the past four years, worked on an event committee alongside  Kristen Lazarus and Herb Johnson to bring the night together.

Throughout the classrooms and along the hallways of the intermediate school, a multitude of events, information booths and presentations were harmoniously coinciding for a few hours Thursday evening.

Missed this year’s Math and Science Night? Here are just a few of the things that happened:

•Maplebrook School students attended to booths at which children could make their own Silly Putty or play with Lego Technics.

•Sharon Hospital had a gelatin brain station, where the object was to properly identify which areas of the brain were used for different functions.

•The North East Community Center had an exhibit on electricity that measured the electrical charge for a potato, lemon or just about anything.

•Students raced custom-made wind-powered paper vehicles, learning how to most efficiently utilize a blowing fan to make their vehicle faster.

Special presentations were given by the Sharon Audubon, Millbrook School’s Trevor Zoo and the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office on its forensic and K-9 units. The grand finale of the night was put on by the Connecticut Children’s Museum of Hartford, which showed children the ins and outs of flying with a “Wright Stuff� presentation.

Admission to the event was free, but bringing some of the attractions to Webutuck did cost money, and Stevens said that the Lakeville Masonic Lodge helped sponsor the event this year. Additionally, John Eboli provided the advertising posters set up outside the school as parents and students made their way in. The Webutuck junior class also held a fundraising dinner in the cafeteria.

“Most importantly, it’s a night of fun and exploring math and science,� Stevens explained. “And science and math are vital parts of a child’s education. They take it and use it throughout the rest of their lives.�