What a great couple of days we have just spent at the most inspirational school! We were treated to smartly dressed, well-mannered students, (“Can I hold the door open for you Miss?”), great food and one class after another viewing the car and rocket technology asking great questions and showing real interest.
Much thanks must go to their own ‘Rocket Man’, science teacher Rod Stevenson, at whose initial invitation we had decided to attend. Rod’s enthusiasm, energy and commitment to his vocation really inspired us all to step up a gear and do some real teaching! Jon London was in his element, teaching and communicating with the students, and playing with rockets at the same time. Class after class came to see the car, which was on display in a nice toasty-warm building all day on Thursday. The day went by in a blur of activity and energy. I really do think we inspired up to thirty young people (male and female) to think more than seriously about engineering as their future career path.
Several students stood out for their brightness, intelligence and inquiring minds. We do, however, have to single out one very special girl for the finest effort and commitment on the day. The title of ‘Team Laffin-Gas Star of the School’ goes to Nadine Gage.
Nadine was just fascinated with the idea of rockets.
“Can it go to the moon?” she asked. I’d been telling the students all day that there was no such thing as a silly question and, considering Nadine’s age; this was a very good question indeed. We explained that the car was only designed to go a couple of miles at the most and asked her how far away she thought the moon was.
“About five thousand miles” was her answer. I told her that it was much further away than that and asked if she could go and find out exactly how far away the moon really is.
An hour or so later, Nadine was back with the answer. Not only in miles but also in kilometers and pointing out that this distance was, in fact an average. We were impressed. I decided to give her another challenge, namely to find out how far away the Sun is, and how long it takes for the light to get to Earth. I told her she might find out something about the speed of light in the process.
While I was busy with another class, Nadine returned, collared David and told him the correct distances in miles and kilometers and followed that up with the exact speed of light in both units!!
Nadine: You are a STAR!!
In the evening we took part in a Community event with plenty of food and a superb fireworks display in celebration of the creation of this utterly outstanding Academy. After the fireworks it was our turn. With the Head Girl on the button to light the pyrotechnic, Sixth-former Sam and ‘Rocket’ Rod Stevenson on the lanyards, Jon gave the count-down over the PA.
Under my direction, the sequence was cued, with each person doing their bit bang on time and the bio-diesel rocket burst into life with a display of smooth power that we have come to expect. Done!! A live-test firing of a truly serious rocket-motor in a SCHOOL!!
We hadn’t fired our maximum rocket, by any means, but it was still big, loud and proud!! What an honour to be the finale for such a great event!
As our adventure continues, we shall be carrying Ormiston Victory Academy’s logo on our car, and we are sure that this has been the birth of an exciting long-term educational and technological co-operation between the Academy and ourselves.
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