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14- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 26, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" 'They're seeking young scientists Program in Durham schools has science majors sharing their knowledge with students By Heather McCrae Port Perry Star How do DNA patterns vary from one person to another? What's the dif- ference between a dami- nant and recessive gene? Why are some people tall, and others short? If you're unsure of the answers, maybe you should have sat in on Jeanine Poole's Grade 8 science class recently at Cartwright Central Public School. That's where Sandy Churchill, a presenter with Scientists in School, gave a talk on genetics: Gene - How Do You Pass It On? Mrs. €hurchill is one "elementary of more than 40 women in Durham Region and the Toronto area who visit schools through Scientists in School, an innovative, hands-on science program begun in 1989 by the local branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women. Originally the program started with 40 class- rooms, but has grown greatly. This school year it's expected that 2,300 classrooms from school boards in the GTA -- including Durham District, Durham Catholic District, Toronto District and Toronto Directory of Coming Events Weekly Casino Rama Bus Trip weekly runs for $5 per person and pick up at Scugog Memorial Public Library. Lunch tickets offered by Casino Rama. Call now and reserve your seat 905-986-0315. Williamson Special Care Transit. Wheelchair accessible. Blackstock Wi Aerobics Gentle - Mondays - 1 p.m. - Blackstock United Church; Tuesdays - Low Impact - 7:30 p.m. - Blackstock United Church; Thursdays = - Low Impact - 7:30 p.m. Nestleton Hall. Call 986-4280. Gentle Aerobics Gentle Aerobics for older adults, Mondays and/or Thursdays - 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Masonic Hall, Port Perry. Mary 905-655- 5917. Weight Watchers Blackstock on Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. For more information call Janice at 986- 5126. Tuesday, Jan. 26 Learning Disabilities - General Wellness & Nutrition, 7:30 p.m. at Reid's Organic Cafe, 180 Queen St. Thursday, Jan. 28 Lake Scugog Historical Society open meeting - 7:30 p.m. - Presbyterian Church Hall. Guest speaker Albert Putsey on Caesarea. - Friday, Jan. 29 Scugog Women's Networking Breakfast, 8:15 a.m. Call 986- 5628 or 434-8399. Saturday, Jan. 30 Secord & Goodwood Forests - 10 a.m. - Snowshoe about 10 km. in 4 hrs. Meet: Goodwood Community Centre, north side of Hwy. 47 at Durham Road 21. R. Shier 905- 640-1332. Saturday, Jan. 30 Port Perry Agricultural Society Annual Meeting Dinner and Social Time, Lions Club Hall, Hwy. 7A, Manchester. Social hour: 6:45 p.m.; Dinner: 7:16 p.m. Meeting fol- lowing. $15/person. Tickets call: 985-3819. Tuesday, Feb. 2 Introduction to Homeopathy, 7:30 p.m. - Reid's Organic Cafe, 180 Queen St. Coming Events sponsored by... 1575 HWY. 7A PORT PERRY 985-5277 Catholic District --will participate in the science program. Cindy Adams, who co- ordinates the Scientists in School program with Suzanne Read, feels an interest in science is best cultivated in the elemen- tary years. "That's when natural curiosity begins," Ms. Adams said. "We want children to learn exciting things, and our presen- ters have a lot of experi- ence to share with them." There are only two male presenters in the program. "The vast majority of our presenters are females so we can encourage more girls to choose careers in scien- tific fields," said Ms Adams. Every presenter under contract with Scientists in 'School has a degree in Science. It's up to them to choose a topic, and pre- sent it to students. Scientists in School has also set up its own web site which itemizes a list of 60 topics to be present- ed in the classroom. Mrs. Churchill, who graduated in 1980 from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science, signed up with Scientists in School last September. As well as the topic on genetics, she also gives a presentation to primary grades about the various Sandy Churchill is one of 40 women ander contract with Science in School, an innovative program aimed at getting elementary students interested in sci- ence at an early age. She's seen here with Cartwright Central P. S. Grade 8 students Vicky Kemp and Meagan Patry. : kinds of coats animals have, and how they pre- pare for winter. Last week she presented Don't Get Caught In The Cold at Lord Elgin Public School in Ajax. Another unit Mrs. Churchill presents is One Planet, Handle With Care, OTT TES (oa [E165 Drive To Uxbridge For Our Service AYg le eToYoYe MO I-F-11 Diane Richardson Mobile: 905-404-5254 14 yrs. Sales Experience CHEVROLET OLDSMOBILE CADILLAC GEO 852-3331 1+800+263-2000 BUICK PONTIAC GMC TRUCK Willy 852-3357 1+800+757-2004 Brian Norrish Mobile:905-985-8997 Mobile: 905-433-7351 22 yrs. Sales Experience 20 YEARS Ux ee a unit for senior students on recycling. Next year she aims to introduce a unit on astronomy. In this school year Mrs. Churchill has booked more than 30 presenta- tions throughout Durham Region. "I enjoy it. It gives you a better perspective of what teachers go through every day to make school interesting for their kids," said Mrs. Churchill. "I have a huge amount of preparation and research for each two-and-a-half hour talk I give, but these teachers have ta prepare for it every day." Another person excited about the program is Cloyce Weaver, education officer of curriculum at the Durham District board. "I'm all for the pro- gram," Mr. Weaver says. "The new curriculum that has recently been introduced is so science oriented. Many of our teachers do not have degrees in science. They're more apt to have degrees in English, other languages or history. "The presenters have also been helpful giving demonstrations at pro- fessional development workshops, to show teach- ers how to teach lessons of the new content as out- lined in the curriculum." The kids love the pro- gram too, he said. "We always get a lot of feedback from teachers. They say their students are full of enthusiasm and excitement after one of these presentations. We hope science has made an impact with them at an early age." Scientists in School is only presented in elemen- tary schools. The local branch of the CFUW is one of several partners that provides funding and materials for the pro- gram. While Toyota Canada is the key corpo- rate partner, others include Merck Frosst, Bell Canada, Hewlett Packard, CIBC, Canada Trust's Friends of the Environment Foundation, Ajax and Pickering Optimist Clubs and the Whitby and Ajax Kinette Clubs. Big Brothers and Big . Sisters of North Durham present Bowl For Millions '99. The week kicks off with a restaurant Wing Competition on Friday, Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. at the Port Perr Legion. Tickets are $10 per per- son and are available at Baldwin Sales, and the Big Brothers event coming up Big Brothers, Sisters Office. The Celebrity Bowl For Millions will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6 at Uxbridge Bowl, Uxbridge and Centennial Lanes, Port Perry. Pledge forms are avaMable at the bowling centres and Big Brothers and Big Sister's office.