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Community Corner

Park Shore, Education Pioneers Donated $25,000 to the Half Hollow Hills Robotics Team

Park Shore Country Day Camp is pleased to announce that for the second year in a row, they will be funding the majority of the Half Hollow Hills Robotics Team, The Thundercolts. The Budah family donated $25,000 to help fund the operation of the club, as well as the the club’s ability to travel the country to participate in First Robotics Competitions. The check was presented at the Board of Education Meeting on September 23, 2013.

“The district is fortunate to have the Budah family amongst the very supportive families in it’s community. It is appreciated that for the second time in two years, the Budah family, on behalf of The Science Academy at Park Shore , has made a very generous donation of $25,000 to be used to fund the Half Hollow Hills Robotics Program. The Robotics program serves students interested in pursuing science and engineering in college and robotic competitions. The program allows students to learn about the sciences and express their own creativity while learning new skills. It is not possible for many public schools to afford the opportunity for students to get involved in robotic competitions and your donations insure the continuation of the Half Hollow Hills Robotics Program.” Kelly Fallon, Superintendent

Before Park Shore’s involvement, The Thundercolts had to spend much of their time and energy fundraising by collecting empty printer ink cartridges in order to have the funds to attend the Regional Competition. Park Shore Country Day Camp and School is thrilled to sponsor the team once again this year. Park Shore believes in giving back to the community whenever possible and is an advocate of furthering the educational endeavors of the students in our community. Bob and Chuck Budah have long standing roots in the Half Hollow Hills community.  Not only are they HHH graduates, Bob’s wife, their children and Dianne Vitucci the Education Director and Operations Director are all graduates as well.

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With that in mind, Park Shore launched the all new Science Academy at Park Shore this past summer. This program is a Science Enrichment Program run by Park Shore, focused on STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). According to Justin Greene, a Senior at High School West and member of The Thundercolts, “"FIRST Robotics will always be a part of me and I am forever grateful for the memories and experiences which will last a lifetime - always cherish magical opportunities".


Park Shore Country Day Camp launched The Science Academy in the summer of 2013 as an educational program designed for first through fifth graders, geared to stimulate their curiosity in science. Park Shore Country Day Camp has developed a curriculum centered around STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING and MATHEMATICS) and takes place in four fully equipped laboratories. This program is student-centered, inquiry-based, and hands-on applications of Science and Engineering understandings. Students are challenged through innovative and thought provoking laboratory inquiries to develop hypothesis, test and analyze data, and draw pertinent scientific conclusions. These activities are designed to develop a child’s critical thinking, creative design skills, and their confidence in tackling new understandings of their universe.  The program at the Science Academy is universal in scope and sequence, truly integrating the basic sciences with the latest in technology and engineering. Students will have a core focus in four main areas: Robotics, Engineering, Physical Science, and Life Science.

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Julian Aptowitz, Director of The Science Academy at Park Shore, is a High School Physics teacher at Half Hollow Hills High School West. Julian is also the advisor and founder of the First Robotics Team in Half Hollow Hills as well as the Science Olympiads Coach. Julian has been teaching Science for 20 years.  He has a Master’s in Education Technology from C.W. Post, an MA from SUNY Stonybrook and a BA from the University of Michigan.



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