HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-12-15, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011. PAGE 11. Technology enables chat with Canadian astronaut
Thanks to the wonders of
technology and the dedication and
enterprise of the staff at Hullett
Central Public School the pupils of
Grades 3, 4 and 5 had a most
memorable experience on Thursday,
Dec. 1. They participated in an
interview with astronaut Chris
Hadfield.
By satellite feed, Mrs. Pickell and
Mr. Campbell’s classes and a school
from Prince Edward Island took
turns questioning Chris. Chris
answered from the Yuri Gagarin
Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star
City, Russia. He is there training for
Expedition 34/35 slated for
December 2012 when he will spend
six months on the International
Space Station. It will be his third trip
into space.
I was thrilled to have been invited
to witness the interview. I expect the
questions asked that morning had
been asked of Chris many times but
I was impressed by the ease with
which he answered and the life
lessons he incorporated into his
answers.
The children learned that Chris
was born in southern Ontario and
decided at age nine to become an
astronaut. How did he reach his
goal? He chose subjects at school
and university which would further
his knowledge of science and space.He joined groups at school andoutside, like Air Cadets, that taughthim even more. Chris learned to fly
at age 15 and holds a number of
flight titles. As a teenager he learned
to scuba dive which has similarities
to weightlessness. He emphasized
that he was determined to go to
space and didn’t let outside
influences detract from that.
Hadfield has a number of hobbies
which keep his mind and body in
shape.
What does he like most about
being an astronaut? Another life
lesson was contained in this answer.
Chris remarked that his career
allows him to be in the company of
others with the same determination,
intelligence and questioning nature.
It continually builds his character
and sharpens his mind.
One young boy asked if anything
ever goes wrong in space. Chris said
things are always going wrong but
that is why astronauts are always in
training. Astronauts have to keep
their mind sharp so they don’t panic
when something goes wrong but can
calmly think through the problem
and fix it.
Chris told the students many
interesting facts about the space
flights through his answers. We
learned that exiting earth’s gravity is
a fun experience which takes only a
matter of seconds; weightlessness
takes getting used to; he circles the
world every 90 minutes; and he
sleeps best hanging in space thanks
to weightlessness.
Food is generally very bland and
liquids seem to be drunk from a type
of drinking box to which the
children could relate. Food in space
is related to how our Hullett pupils
had this opportunity to talk to Chris.
Tomatosphere is a research project
which involves, among other
organizations, the University of
Guelph and the Canadian Space
Agency. Food availability and life
support are factors which limit space
travel. Scientists are studying how
long periods of time in space affect
the growth of plants. Classrooms are
given two sets of seeds to plant and
grow. One set has been treated to
conditions similar to space. Mrs.
Pickell has participated in this study
for a number of years and that
brought her the opportunity to have
her class speak with Chris Hadfield.
To learn more about Chris
Hadfield and Tomatosphere you can
Google both. You could check out
the school twitter page as well for
more story and pictures.
The character attribute receiving
consideration at the school this
month is “compassion – showing
care and consideration”. In keeping
with that attribute Hullett collected
items for the Huron County
Christmas Bureau last week. As
pupils, staff and visitors entered the
school by the primary wing they
watched as the donations of items
grew on and under the tree.
Early in November, Mrs. Stanley,
who was teaching Grade 1, went on
maternity leave. For the remainder
of the school year Mrs. Tracy
Thompson will be in that classroom.
Tracy is no stranger to the halls of
Hullett. Last year she filled in when
Mrs. Barnett went on sick leave and
was for some years involved in the
annual Terry Fox activities. She and
her family live in the
Clinton/Holmesville area.
Around the world
Students at Hullett Central Public School had the experience of a lifetime last week when they
had a question-and-answer session with astronaut Chris Hadfield in Russia via Adobe
Connect. (Photo submitted)
By BRENDA
RADFORD
Call
523-4296
PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO
NEWS
FROM LONDESBORO
The third Sunday in Advent is
sometimes referred to as the Sunday
of rejoicing. At Londesborough
United Church, Terry Fletcher lit the
third candle, the candle of joy. His
message to the adults was titled
‘Time to Rejoice’.
Joy is a little-used word in normal
conversation. Yet it was an important
concept for Bible writers. Joy is
found hundreds of times in the
Bible. It is defined as a state of
happiness, success or well-being.
In the scripture verses Luke 1:46-
49, we read that Mary has been to
see Elizabeth and now recognizes
the extraordinary situation for which
she has been chosen. And she felt
joy. One realizes then that Mary was
well chosen by God to be the mother
of His Son.
Terry remarked that when one
does a good deed the resulting
feeling is joy. One joy is said to
dispel 100 cares. Joy restores and
replenishes the soul. And Helen
Keller, who couldn’t see, stated that
the hands of joyful people are full of
sunbeams. Joy needs to shared. “Joy
to the World”, by Isaac Watts, is the
world’s top/favourite hymn.
Terry encouraged everyone this
Christmas to actively seek the joy in
life, in the world and to make the
world a better, more joyful place; to
put the needs of others ahead of their
own wants and needs.
During the children’s time Terry
posed the question, “What would
Christmas be without music?” It
would seem a bleak, depressing
place. They discussed the fact that
the first music of Christmas was
when the angels appeared to the
shepherds on the hillside. The first
Christmas carol was sung by the
shepherds as they returned to their
flocks after seeing the Holy Family
in Bethlehem. They sang with joy
because of the birth of Christ. Terry
told the children that music is an
expression of one’s feelings. That
joy that is Christmas is in the songs
all around us at this time of year.
The senior choir chose a joyful
anthem that Sunday, “Christmas Is a
Happy Time”.
Collection at the Christmas Eve
service will be given to the Mission
and Service fund. He reminded
congregants to bring their ‘socks’
that evening as well.
The third annual Londesborough
Christmas Concert will start at 7
p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16. You won’t
want to miss it. There will be the
usual singing, dancing, piano
playing, etc. usually associated with
these events. A special guest will
visit as well. Light refreshments will
follow.
This week’s Christmas quote
comes from George Matthew
Adams: “Let us remember that the
Christmas heart is a giving, a wide
open heart that thinks of others first.
The birth of the Baby Jesus stands as
the most significant event in all
history, because it has meant the
pouring into a sick world of the
healing medicine of love which has
transformed all manner of hearts for
almost two thousand years…
Underneath all the bulging bundles
is this beating Christmas heart.”
In 1937, the first postage stamp to
commemorate Christmas was issued
in Austria.
The lad is a diminutive
percussionist is the Christmas tune,
“Little Drummer Boy” and far off in
a haybin is the carol “Away in a
Manger”.
This week’s puzzlers are: Leave
and broadcast from an elevation; and
Jubilation to the entire terrestrial
globe.
Located at .... Lucknow Travel
603 Campbell St., Lucknow 519-528-2388 1-877-582-5669
HOURS:
9:30 - 5 Mon-Fri; 9 -12 Sat
25 %
off
during December
First Christmas stamp
issued 1937 in Australia
Two Locations To Serve You Better
222 Josephine St.,
Wingham
519-357-3466
120 Inkerman St. E.,
Listowel
519-291-4920
During the week of December 19-24
5% of its sales to the
local Food Bank.
Bring in a Food Bank
donation and receive
5%off
your purchase
Pandora’s Pantry will donate
Little-used joy an important biblical term
The Happy Gang Seniors had only
nine-and-a-half tables of euchre
players at their card party at the
Londesborough Hall on Friday, Dec.
9. Winning first place money that
evening were Gloria McEwing and
Geraldine Dale with 77 points.
There was a tie for second place,
both teams having tallied up 72
points, Murray and Marlene Forbes
and Kay Hesselwood and Bernice
Moore. Five lone hands were played
successfully by two couples as well,
John and Edna McLellan and Ruth
Shiell and Edith Glousher.
The seniors group will not be
holding a card party in January.
No Happy Gang
party in January