Rocket kids
By Dwight Otwell Editor

DWIGHT OTWELL/Sentinel Photo Blast off. Hiwassee Dam Middle School kids made and fired their own rockets. Instructors Daniel McNabb and Chris Hubbard supervise. (See story and pictures on page 10A.)

Who says it isn't rocket science?

Hiwassee Dam Middle School students Thursday braved a chilly wind and the question, "Will my rocket fly?"

All middle school students studied rocketry and created their own rockets. They were put to the test Thursday on a grassy knoll behind the EMS station.

The students are involved in an advisor/advisee program called "Flight School". The students go to Flight for 25 minutes each day. They compete in intramural games, meet with Dr. John Crosby for character education, read with younger students, do service learning and have interest/hobby days. The first hobby of the year was rocketry.

Students made rockets of recycled materials, such as bread bags for the parachute, plastic Easter egg for the nose cone, paper towel tubes, cereal boxes, drinking straws and rocket motors from a hobby store. They even painted their rockets.

DWIGHT OTWELL/Sentinel photo Painting his rocket is Kyle Wiggins. Hiwassee Dam Middle School students made rockets and launched them Thursday.

Makayla Minor said of constructing the rocket, "You get frustrated. It is hard to put together." Will it fly, she was asked. "Maybe," she said.

In the field preparing for launch, teacher Chris. Hubbard instructed students, "Do not catch the rocket."

The first rocket whizzed in a loop about 10-feet in the air and the enthusiastic students erupted into cheers. As each student's rocket was launched, there was clapping. Some rockets went 200 to 300 feet into the air.

Principal Tommy Graham began Flight School and instructors Greg Swain, Daniel McNabb, Brandy. Farmer and Hubbard are advisors for the four groups, which came up with their own names - Wehali, Wild Blue, All-Stars and Beach Bums.

Graham said he wants the students to have an adult to identify with in middle school. Sixth through eighth grade students are mixed up by grade levels in the classes and they will have the same advisor and be in the same group for their middle school years.

DWIGHT OTWELL/Sentinel photo Left are Fadi Jimenez and Haley Rollins. Fadi's rocket has already been launched.

"We chose rocketry as their first hobby. They will choose their next hobby," Graham said.

Some of the goals of Flight School are to provide an environment that will foster bonding within an advisory group so that students will feel accepted and valued by teachers and peers: promote critical thinking skills through discussion and problem solving activities so that students learn to make responsible choices; and build self-esteem in students.

DWIGHT OTWELL/Sentinel photo Below, left is custodian Boone Roberts, known on launch day as rocket scientist von Braun, and Principal Tommy Graham.