Family Focus
A Look Ahead
Akiva students envision
the future of transport.
A
kiva Hebrew Day School sev-
ernmental and other requirements needed
enth graders earned a Best
to produce the needs of an emerging and
Futuristic Transportation Award viable future city.
in competition that included more than
Akiva students were treated to kosher
700 students from 23 local middle schools. meals donated by Future City sponsor,
The annual Future City competition was
Jerusalem Pizza.
held Jan. 25 at Rock Financial Showplace,
Novi.
Memorable Time
Sponsors were the Engineering Society
"The best part of the program," said sev-
of Detroit, DTE Energy Foundation, Ford
enth-grader Cobi Nadel, "was that work on
Motor Company and Consumers Energy.
this project brought us together as a class."
Participants were
Akiva parent Steve
charged with the mission
Katz, who attended the
of developing a future
event, said a highlight
city through use of the
was seeing Akiva students
Sim City computer mod-
interact with peers from
ule and then translating
other schools, includ-
their creation into a
ing Hillel Day School of
working three-dimen-
Metropolitan Detroit. He
sional model made solely
marveled at the creativ-
out of recyclables.
ity and out-of-the- box
Akiva students spent
thinking reflected in the
the past several months
students' project.
working together as class
Akiva science teacher
to develop their future
Dana Markowitz and
city-SYNERGY. During
Student Cobi Nadel social studies teacher
science and social
Lesli Tishkowski coached
studies classes, they
the students, who were
discussed, debated and
mentored by retired engi-
refined a model that responded to chal-
neer Anne Wright.
lenges faced by cities addressing a STEM
"Taking part in the future city project
(Science, technology, engineering and
gave the kids the ability to be innovative,
math) holistic approach.
strategize and work together as a team to
As they experimented with their Sim
create an unbelievable product;' said Akiva
City model, students were exposed to
parent Julie Sherizen.
multiple disciplines including engineer-
Daughter Rana Sherizen said: "I even bet
ing, math, social studies, ecology and
that as a result of this project, one or more
environmental science.They also learned
of my friends will decide to become an
about the agricultural, transportation, gov- engineer"
"The best part of
the program was
that work on this
project brought
us together as a
class."
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Camp Fair
Choose from 2 locations.
F
or more than 20 years, Metro
Parent magazine's "Super
Summers for Kids: Camp Fairs"
have helped parents make educated
choices for their children for the sum
mer.
This year's fairs will be held in
Ann Arbor on Saturday, Feb. 6,
at Briarwood Mall (enter at the
mall entrance between Macy's and
42
February 4 • 2010
.114
JCPenny) and on Sunday, Feb. 7,
at West Bloomfield High School on
Orchard Lake Road. Hours for each
day are 11 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Families can
register for a free week at camp and
other prizes. There is no admission
charge.
Choosing the perfect program can
be difficult and intimidating; Camp Fair
offers one-stop shopping. Information
First row: Akiva seventh graders Ryan Martin, Isaac Wolfe, Ami Zuroff, Ezra
Mendelson, Jake Weil, Jacob Rashty, Zach Herschfus, Sander Eizen, Yardena
Schwarcz, Elen Pesakhova, Gabriella Katz, Tamar Greenbaum.
Second row: Talya Kresch, Mikhal Shamayev, liana Sherizan, Aviva Movsas.
Teachers: Dana Markowitz, Lesli Tishkowski.
Akiva Hebrew Day School's model Synergy
will be available about a multitude of
opportunities for every child.
The Jewish camps that will be
attending Camp Fair include Camp
Raanana, Wooden Acres Adventures
Programs, JCYS Camp Henry Horner,
Center Day Camps, Willoway Day
Camp, Camp Tanuga, Camp Walden,
Camp Maplehurst, Tamarack Camps
and Camp Tamakwa.
Camp Fair will showcase more than
60 U.S. and Canadian camps, includ-
ing day and overnight programs. Many
new camps will attend, including pro-
grams for children with special needs
and diverse options for the older teen
crowd. There will be many specialty
camps that encompass such themes
as computers, sports, college research
and theater.
Families will have a chance to meet
with camp representatives and ask
questions about camp programs. High
school and college students interested
in summer employment will have the
opportunity to attain information
about summer jobs.
For more information, contact
MetroParent.com or (248) 398-3400,
ext.128.
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