CCHS Responds: The Boston Marathon Explosions

On April 15, 2013, at 2:50 pm, there appeared to be some smoke coming out of a garbage can near the finish line at the Boston Marathon, an annual event. Thirteen seconds later the first bomb, near the finish line, went off. Minutes later, another bomb a few blocks away exploded. These bombs killed three people, one of which was a child, and injured over 150 people. “It was horrific,” cried a doctor that was rushed to the scene. Boston is still in a state of shock and chaos.

I believe that God used bad for good, because if it was any other event it would have taken longer for police, and ambulance to come. Since it was a marathon, doctors and police were already there. All we can do now is pray for healing of those who were affected by this tragedy. As for the future to possibly avoid events like this, “If you see something say something”.

- Angela Balboa

Introduction to Engineering: Rube Goldberg Projects (with videos!)

Rube Goldberg Experiment 1

The Intro to Engineering class has done a few engineering projects over the course of this class, and over the past few weeks has been working on another project. This project required them to create a complicated machine that would perform a simple task that is done by people every single day, otherwise known as a Rube Goldberg machine. Now this can vary to opening a soda can, placing your keys in a key dish, or even turning on an appliance. Mr. Ahrenholz, the engineering teacher, has had students work on these machines for quite some time and they are nearing the ending stages and ready to perform the simple task.

Karl Ludwig, a sophomore, tells about his experience in the class, “I think it was the ideal project for the engineering class; they’re machines that challenge you to think creatively and colorfully while posing a design challenge as well. It is really a good way to work with the software while still being able to make something tangible as well according to your designs.”

Each group had a different idea for what they had designed for the machine to do. It ranged from a computer being turned on, to activating the light switch, to triggering a mouse trap. Each team has worked hard to achieve their goals in completing and successfully having the machine carry out the intended functions. Please click on the links to watch these experiments at work!

Rube Goldberg Video Experiment 2

- Andrew Thomas

Issue 8 Check it out!

Click the link to read our Issue 8!

Trevor Bartz: CCHS Internship with MSP

Here at Calvin Christian High School, students have to opportunity to perform an internship at a place of their choice, exploring the working world, networking, and developing real-life skills. Trevor Bartz, a Junior, is currently doing an internship at a well-known engineering company known as MSP. For his internship, he is shadowing workers at the company, including the people that engineer the product, the people that research the product, and the people that actually build the product. He says that the reason he chose this internship was because he wants to go into the field of engineering, and MSP is a place where he can get an introduction to it. He commented that he has learned that “engineering is a long process and requires a lot of work and communication with peers.” He also says that he is “currently enjoying it very much because it is interesting and it will be useful in my life.” Trevor will be at this internship until the end of the school year, though there is potential for Trevor to continue this internship throughout the summer.

- Ian Kreuger