Archive
START:CODE adds game development class
START:CODE invites middle- and high-school students to learn how to make computer games with the tools used by the pros.
The Game Maker lab, led by a local game developer, will introduce students to GameMaker Studio, the coding platform used by professional developers to create games for Android, iOS, PC, Mac and XBOX.
The lab will meet Monday evenings for six weeks, beginning January 12, 2015, at the START:CODE location in Toco Hill / Decatur.
(And by the way, if you’re curious about modern computer coding, START:CODE offers entry-level adult classes, too.)
Gwinnett Symphony Youth Orchestra seeks young musicians
The Gwinnett Symphony Youth Orchestra
will begin rehearsals next Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, at Creekland Middle School in Lawrenceville.
Wind, brass, string and percussion musicians who are 18 or under are invited to apply to join the orchestra.
The youth orchestra is led by conductor Dr. Gregory Pritchard, and plays alongside adult musicians in the symphony’s masterworks concerts.
See FIRST LEGO League in action
If you’ve ever wondered what FIRST LEGO League teams do, or whether the program might be a good fit for your child, take them with you to see the top Georgia FIRST LEGO League teams compete in super-regional tournaments this month. Dates and locations for the competitions are:
- Jan. 10: Clayton State University in Atlanta, Clark Creek Elementary in Acworth, and Columbus State University in Columbus
- Jan. 17: Creekland Middle School in Lawrenceville, Athens Academy in Athens
- Jan. 24: Starbase Robins in Warner Robins
The teams, made up of students ages 9 to 14, have spent the fall working together to build working robots from a LEGO robotics kit.
UGA now accepting 8th-11th graders for Duke TIP Scholar Weekends
The University of Georgia is now registering students for its Duke TIP Scholar Weekends being held on Feb. 28 to March 1 and April 18-19, 2015.
Scholar weekends are open to students in grades 8-11 who have either A) taken part in a talent search conducted by Duke TIP; or B) been identified as gifted by their school. This includes students taking accelerated, honors, Advanced Placement or IB classes.
Available topics for the weekends include oceanography, new media, robotics, international relations, and Shakespeare, just to name a few. The most popular classes will fill quickly.
Students stay on campus in the Georgia Center for Continuing Education during the weekend.
Limited financial aid may be available.
UGA-Duke TIP Academic Adventures spring programs now registering 5th and 6th graders
UGA-Duke TIP Academic Adventures for fifth and sixth grade students will be offered on the University of Georgia campus on Jan. 24, Feb. 14, and March 21, 2015. Registration for all three sessions is open now on a first come, first served basis.
To participate in this one-day program, your child must be enrolled in the Duke TIP 4th-6th Grade Talent Search.
Academic Adventures students choose a single topic to study, such as zoology, chemistry, fantasy literature, improv, social media, sharks, Bugbot design, and mini vet school. That’s just a sampling — there are dozens more courses covering topics your child is unlikely to encounter in school.
Popular courses will sell out. The cost for each one-day session is $145. Need-based scholarships may be available.
If you haven’t registered your child with Duke TIP, it’s an easy process, and it gives you access to programs like Academic Adventures as well as useful information about raising gifted children.
Get $200 off Space Camp through Monday at midnight
Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., is offering a $200 discount off programs for kids and families, now through Monday at midnight. 
The discount can be used for a week of Space Camp, Aviation Challenge, or Robotics summer camp, or for the weekend family camp versions of Space Camp or Aviation Challenge.
If it feels too early to commit to summer camp dates, don’t sweat it. Space Camp will let you register now, take the $200 discount, and select your program dates later.
This is the only sale Space Camp offers to the general public.
Family Engineering Night at Tellus this Friday
This Friday night, Nov. 14, is Family Engineering Night at Tellus Museum in Cartersville.
From 5 to 9 p.m., you can learn about robotic design and operation, with a little computer science, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering thrown in.
Then, you can use what you’ve learned to build your own robot in the LEGO Creative Build Competition. Spaces for the competition are limited, and you must pay a small fee to participate. Pre-registration is required for all competitors, by calling (770) 606-5700, ext. 431. All competitors will receive a LEGO build kit to take home.
For Star Wars fans, R2-D2 will be at the museum for photo ops.
Deadline TODAY to register for tomorrow’s digital astronomy workshop
Kids can learn to capture photographs from the Smithsonian’s robotic telescopes by taking part in the Digital Astronomy Workshop, TOMORROW, Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Tellus Museum in Cartersville.
The workshop will teach participants how to operate the telescopes, which are located in Arizona and Massachusetts, to capture images for download. As “homework,” these newly trained digital astronomers will be expected to process and share their best images with Tellus. Some of the images may be displayed at the museum.
Open to ages 8 and up. $15 for Tellus members, $30 for non-members. Call 770-606-5700, ext. 417 to register. The registration deadline is 5 p.m. today. As of 10:40 a.m., there were five spaces left.
LEGO robotics team seeking sixth-grade girls
A newly formed FIRST LEGO League Robotics team in Buckhead / Sandy Springs / Dunwoody is looking for three or four sixth-grade girls to join the team. Together, this team of girls will learn teamwork, programming, and problem solving.
Prior LEGO experience is appreciated, but not required. The team will meet once a week, on Saturdays or Sundays (depending on team members’ schedules), through November. If the team does well in its fall competition, the season could stretch into early 2015.
This particular team is sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, so team members must either be active in Girl Scouts or be willing to join Girl Scouts. (They need not join or participate in a troop, but must pay a membership fee.) Total cost for Girl Scout membership, team fees and team T-shirt will be around $90.
For more information about the team, e-mail Ann, the team leader, at District13Robotics-at-gmail-dot-com (e-mail deconstructed to prevent spam; you put it back together). She needs to turn in her roster soon, so if you think your daughter may be interested, contact her this week.
Debate teams for grades 4 and up
Ivy Bridge Academy is seeking students in grades 4-12 for its debate teams. The debate program is offered on the weekends at the established campus in Johns Creek and the newly opened school campus in Cumming.
As you’d expect, students learn how to conduct research, organize ideas, and speak confidently before an audience. The debate teams compete in two regional tournaments per semester, as well as in a national tournament in the spring.
Gifted Atlanta 