The sun is high, afternoons are warm, and maple sap is running. Project Period is underway. Students are working in thirty-six small groups....some here on campus; others away....sharing focussed pursuits. Each project reflects the passions of two teachers, and the diversity of programs is amazing, and will be represented in future pages. Today we look at an upliftiing project sponsored by two teachers who experienced Project Periods in the distant past as students: Josh Norris and Andrew Donaldson, both of the Class of 1992. They're building and launching rockets. James and Jay prep their missiles with parachutes in the firehouse:

Mornings are dedicated to building rockets, designing and affixing elaborate fins, and painting with sprays. Helen and Chi Chi know the routine...

Students work in teams competing for the most accurate landing (almost impossible to control.) They're confident and ready for the competition.

The placement and design of fins is big. When the engine completes its firing, it pops the nose cone off to expose a parachute that either opens or doesn't. Geordie checks out Pete's extraordinary missile that subsequently crashed badly nearby and popped both the nose and engine after hitting pavement.

Some launches were disasterous: others were perfect. Like Billy's :

________________________________________