Pollard Elementary School Launch
Plaistow, NH - May 2005

Pollard students ham it up for the camera

For the third time in three years I have been invited to participate in the student launch of FlisKits model rocket kits built by their 4th grade class.  It is a wonderful privilege and an absolute joy to help these children realize a dream by taking something that they built and help them get it into the air, where a rocket should be.

Also, I had a hard time this year selecting an image for this page header.  As you can see, I simply decided to post them both.

A most wonderful sight.  Upturned faces of young students, marveling at their handiwork.

This year we had 150 students!  In groups of 25 we headed out to the field where I had Launch Command Central all set up and ready to go.   As with all of my classes, I instructed the students on how to prep their motor, install it into the model and ready their recovery device.  I would then take them in groups of three out to the pads, explaining their function amid many exclamations of "Oh! So that's what that little straw is for!".  Then back to the table where I explain how the controller works and I hand them a small hand held device that contains a launch switch connected to the main controller.

Assuring the students that the louder the countdown the higher the rocket, we begin a full day of model rocket extravagance, much to the delight of the children, teachers and even the many parents who came for the festivities.

100 students, 100 Triskelion kits, 100 launches and 99 recovered rockets! (Don't worry, I'll make good on the one that got away :) )  We had some snarled parachutes, a few broken fins (some even before flight that had to be repaired) and even a few ejected motor mounts for lack of adequate glue.  All a part of the learning process.

What I love the most, and I see it with every class, is the level of imagination in painting the models.  100 rockets and no two looked alike.   There was no need to put names on these models.  There was never any question who owned the pink stripped one or the black and yellow polkadotted one.  I warms my heart to see the children put so much into these models and it thrills me to be able to help them put them into motion on the field!

If you see a photo of your child that you would like a full size version of (these on the site are very low resolution), please make your request to FlisKits through your child's teacher at Pollard Elementary School.  I can not honor any direct requests (I am terribly sorry) and will only send such images to your child's teacher for distribution.

Click on the thumbnails at the left for full size images here, and enjoy the photo album!

jim