ASMSSpecial Projects Week 2017

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November 17, 2016 To: ASMS Students Cc: ASMS Faculty, Staff and Parents

From: Monica R. Motley, Ph.D.

Re: Special Projects Spring 2017

Reminder:

Special Projects start each day at 9:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. beginning

Monday, February 20, 2017, through Friday, February 24, 2017, unless otherwise

specified by your sponsor.

Off campus Special Project groups leave each day at 8:00 a.m. unless otherwise

specified by your sponsor.

The schedule for Special Projects that have a movie component is posted in the

Bedsole Building and on the student’s announcement board near student’s

mailboxes. Additional information can be obtained from the project sponsor.

Note: Special Projects are part of the ASMS Academic Program. The requirements for

Special Projects are as follows:

“Each student must participate in and successfully complete with the grade of “P” for pass

a Special Project during each year of residence at ASMS. Successful completion will earn

0.25 CU per year. Failure to pass the Special Project will result in a school-initiated

withdrawal. No unexcused absences are permitted during the Special Project. The same

rules of conduct regulating students’ behavior while residing at the school

apply to behavior while participating in Special Projects. All projects will

produce some tangible product or service.” Community Standard Handbook,

2016-2017, Page 17, “Special Projects.”

The booklet for Special Projects can also be found online at the ASMS website (asms.net).

If you have any questions, please call Ms. Godwin at (251) 441-2102.

Students will sign up for a Special Project the second week in January 2017 (Tuesday,

January 10, 2017 through Friday, January 13, 2017) following the Holiday break.

Students will be required to pay in full for projects $50 or less. Other projects

will require a deposit at the time of sign up. Please see the deposit amount listed by the

projects below.

We look forward to Special Projects 2017 being the best ever!!!

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Dress Code

Students are reminded to follow the Dress Code, page 32, of the Students Community Handbook:

Respect for Self and Others: Dress Appropriate dress also is a form of respect. Dress with self-respect and respect for others. Use of common sense and good judgment is expected. Everyday Dress: ASMS staff reserves the right to request students to return to their residence halls to change if attire is deemed inappropriate or potentially disruptive.

Please do not subject the entire community to the exposure of too much flesh (No mini-skirts, short-shorts, halter tops or bare midriffs.)

Please do not subject the entire community to dirty clothes or rude T-shirts. (T-shirts referencing alcohol, drugs or sex may not be worn at school.)

Pajamas, slippers and other bedroom wear should not be worn outside of the residence halls.

Tradition and custom view wearing hats inside as a sign of disrespect; headgear of any kind (hats, bandanas, do-rags, etc.) is not to be worn in classrooms, the cafeteria, the auditorium and similar places. Headgear is permitted outside, in residential halls, dorm rooms and student activity areas.

Body piercing is not permitted (Pierced ears and clear plastic spacers or small studs for nose-piercing are the exception with parental permission).

Dying hair unnatural colors or unnatural patterns is not permitted. Mohawk haircuts or other extreme styles are not permitted. Hair style and length must be appropriate and within reason.

Bracelets, belts, and other clothing and/or accessories with spikes, studs or heavy chains or multiple chains are not allowed. (Goth or the Gothic look is not considered appropriate for this setting.)

Please check with your sponsor (s) “FIRST” if you have questions about your project. Students can check with the front desk for questions about Special Projects each day between 8:00-9:00 a.m. or call x2100. Please contact Mrs. Godwin at x2102; or Mrs. Brunson x2133 for any additional questions that you might have concerning your project or guidelines for the week. Ms. Maggie Chestang, the school nurse will be in her office for any students that are sick.

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Contents American History through American Film .................................................................................................... 5

Instructors: Derek Barry & Angelica Howard ........................................................................................... 5

Computing Camp .......................................................................................................................................... 5

Instructors: Jeanne Croom & Grey Gaillard ............................................................................................. 5

California, Here We Come! ........................................................................................................................... 5

Lead Chaperone: Diane Gerard ................................................................................................................ 5

Culinary Adventures ...................................................................................................................................... 6

Instructors: Kevin Dolbeare, Orren Kickliter & Angela Mollise ................................................................ 6

Game Design Workshop ............................................................................................................................... 6

Instructor: Mitch Frye .............................................................................................................................. 6

Geneva, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna – 3 Countries Alpine Trip ...................................................................... 6

Lead chaperone: Muriel Hoequist ........................................................................................................... 6

Habitat for Humanity .................................................................................................................................... 7

Instructor: Coach Brouillet ....................................................................................................................... 7

Introduction to Meteorology ........................................................................................................................ 7

Instructor: Chase Krebs ............................................................................................................................ 7

Let’s Play Cricket… ........................................................................................................................................ 7

Instructor: Nasrullah Aziz ......................................................................................................................... 7

Russian Culture and Language in One Week ................................................................................................ 8

Instructor: Natalya Prokhorova ................................................................................................................ 8

Mission to Space ........................................................................................................................................... 8

Instructors: Victor Irby and Pamela Quintana ......................................................................................... 8

"Parasites, Pathogens, and Plagues; Oh my!" ............................................................................................... 8

Instructor: Natalie Ortell .......................................................................................................................... 8

Quantum Mechanics and Reality .................................................................................................................. 9

Instructor: Donald Wheeler ..................................................................................................................... 9

Science Fiction Coloring Book ....................................................................................................................... 9

Instructors: Sarah Brewer & Kimberly Daniels ......................................................................................... 9

The History & Culture of Mardi Gras in Mobile ............................................................................................ 9

Instructor: Alison Rellinger ....................................................................................................................... 9

The Wall Speaks: Express Yourself through Murals ................................................................................... 10

Instructors: Patricia O. Donalson & Elisa Rambo .................................................................................... 10

Wall Street .................................................................................................................................................. 10

Instructor: John Petty ............................................................................................................................. 10

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Week of Wellness ....................................................................................................................................... 10

Instructor: Coach Angel Jackson ............................................................................................................ 10

You are what you eat, breathe and do! ...................................................................................................... 11

Instructor: James Njengere .................................................................................................................... 11

19th Century Detective Fiction: Holmes & His Predecessors...................................................................... 11

Instructor: Daniel Commander .............................................................................................................. 11

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American History through American Film

Instructors: Derek Barry & Angelica Howard Minimum: 8 Cost: $20 Maximum: 16 Few contemporary institutions have had a greater effect on molding popular understandings of the world and history than film and television. Yet, most citizens lack the critical tools to contextualize, analyze, and critique the images and ideologies conveyed on the screen. This Special Project is designed to join elements of film studies with various schools of historical thought to provide students with the critical skills needed to analyze the images and ideologies they see on the screen and understand how those images affect our views of the past and present. During the project, we will examine many of the fundamental, social, political, and economic issues that have shaped the American History and the American Experience.

Computing Camp

Instructors: Jeanne Croom & Grey Gaillard Minimum: 15 Cost: $20 Maximum: 28

A unique opportunity to learn and/or improve computer science skills where students are guided and trained by college professors and systems design engineers. The classes provide a fun and challenging environment to learn coding, systems design, artificial intelligence, graphics, and robotics by making games, animations, and robots. Each student will be given a Raspberry Pi to use during the classes and take home at the end of the week. Students will be transported each day to and from the School of Computing at the University of South Alabama.

California, Here We Come!

Lead Chaperone: Diane Gerard Minimum: 12 Cost: $2180 (Trip is full and booked) Maximum: 18

Join your fellow ASMS students and head west to Los Angeles and San Francisco for a week. Students will experience plenty of history, culture, and great weather. The Itinerary includes: Getty Museum, Ronald Reagan library, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, scenic Hollywood sights, the Griffith Observatory and Rodeo Drive. We will drive up the coast to the beautiful “city by the bay" and see the Golden Gate bridge, Alcatraz, Stanford University, Silicon Valley and the famous giant redwoods. It’s definitely a trip to remember Trip Chaperones: Tim Grabill and Martha Mozer.

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Culinary Adventures

Instructors: Kevin Dolbeare, Orren Kickliter & Angela Mollise Minimum: 6 Cost: $150 ($75 deposit required) Maximum: 14 Students will discover the world of food science and the culinary arts with a series of hands-on experiences. We will explore a variety of methods and topics in the culinary arts on the West Campus: the science of the Maillard reaction, proteins, marinades, spices, temperature control, culinary terms, aesthetic and artistic elements, presentation, biochemistry, food safety, and history. We will also venture off campus to learn from some of the best chefs in the area. Students will leave this class with a better understanding of the culinary arts and practical hands on experience. Students will be expected to develop a visual or written project during the week.

Game Design Workshop Instructor: Mitch Frye Minimum: 6 Cost: $0 Maximum: 14 Students will study the design theory behind several board, card, party, and pen-and-paper games. After playing popular games from several genres, they will then divide into teams and create playable games of their own. On the final day of the course, students will present their games to their classmates, who will vote to decide which products are the best.

Geneva, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna – 3 Countries Alpine Trip

Lead chaperone: Muriel Hoequist Minimum: 18 Cost: $3200-$3860 (Trip is full and booked) Maximum: 22 The purpose of this travel trip is to give students a lived experience of the Alps in three different countries. We will be starting in Switzerland, taking a boat tour on Lake Geneva and seeing the city of Geneva and the surrounding Alpine area. We will visit the famous Mont Blanc and then drive through the Alps to Germany to climb up to the castle of Neuschwanstein, near Munich. We will take a day to visit some museums and the famous soccer stadium in Munich as well. Then we will drive from the German pre-alps to the Austrian Alps and the city of Salzburg. We will visit the birthplace of Mozart, do a Baroque dance workshop and a sightseeing flashlight tour by night, visit the famous St. Stephen’s cathedral and see other sights in Salzburg before we will be driving through the Austrian Alps to Vienna. In Vienna, we will explore its world famous highlights of architecture and see a Lippizaner horse show, visit a coffee house and enjoy some relaxation at the Prater. Every night, we plan to attend a musical concert in each new place, be that an organ concert in a large cathedral, a choral concert in a church or chamber music in a smaller historical venue. Trip chaperones: Peggy Partridge and Ken Robinson

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Habitat for Humanity

Instructor: Coach Brouillet Minimum: 6 Cost: $0 (Each student pays for their own lunch/snacks daily) Maximum: 13 Each student participates in building new houses or repairing existing homes for people in need. Students must be at least 16 years old to participate and 18 years of age to use any power tools. Those under 18 must have parents sign the waiver of liability forms. The specific daily job responsibilities are assigned by the on-site Habitat for Humanity job supervisors. The students not only gain knowledge and experience of working on houses, but also are contributing a sense of dignity, pride, and hope to others. There is a need for decent housing, so we are joining the ‘fight against poverty housing and homelessness’. The bus will leave daily at 8:00 am and return by 4:00 pm each day. Monday we will be working on Dauphin Island.

Introduction to Meteorology

Instructor: Chase Krebs Minimum: N/A Cost: $25 Maximum: 14

This course will provide an introduction to weather and the forces that drive it. Some of the topics we will explore include: the atmosphere, pressure, precipitation, solar radiation, air mass movements, fronts, and severe weather. We will (1) learn to identify such parameters as temperature, wind, humidity, and cloud type and analyze their connections to local and regional weather, and (2) develop a basic understanding of the underlying concepts and physical principles of atmospheric science. The week will culminate in a visit to the Coastal Weather Research Center at the University of South Alabama, where students will meet and interact with trained meteorologists and climatology experts. The cost includes an Atmospheric Analysis Kit with course materials and snacks for the week.

Let’s Play Cricket…

Instructor: Nasrullah Aziz Minimum: N/A Cost: $25 Maximum: 14

Cricket is a bat and ball game played between the two teams on a cricket field. This game was first recorded in England in the 16th century. It spread globally with the expansion of the British Empire, leading to the first international matches in the mid-19th century. It is getting popular in the USA as well and is now also played at the university level. The students in this project will learn the basic rules of this game and later will apply them in playing a small tournament. The winning team will get a surprise gift.

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Russian Culture and Language in One Week

Instructor: Natalya Prokhorova Minimum: 7 Cost: $0 Maximum: 18 Russian culture has a long and rich cultural history, steeped in literature, ballet, painting and classical music. In this class students become familiar with Russian customs and traditions, history, language, arts, literature and architecture, food, folklore and holidays. Outcome: PowerPoint presentation on topics of their choice.

Mission to Space

Instructors: Victor Irby and Pamela Quintana Minimum: 13 Cost: $25 Maximum: 17 Students will spend some time researching and learning about our local celestial neighbors and the important role that space missions played in our knowledge of those celestial objects. Previous and current space missions will be discussed. A field trip will be planned to visit a nearby space museum. In addition, a field trip will be planned to visit Mobile Regional Airport Terminal Radar Approach and Control (TRACON) Center. Ultimately, students should be able to design and present their own mission to space by the end of the week.

"Parasites, Pathogens, and Plagues; Oh my!" Instructor: Natalie Ortell Minimum: 5 Cost: $10 Maximum: 13

The purpose of the project is to introduce the students to the world of microbes via parasites, pathogens and plagues. We'll discuss the spectrum of the good, the bad and the ugly and bring it into context via historical plagues for both humans and animals. Students will visit the Gulf Coast Research Lab in Ocean Springs, MS to speak with a world renowned Parisitologist Dr. Overstreet about his work and visit his museum of parasites. Participants will also have a chance to read excerpts of famous novels covering (quite accurately) the world-wide impact of the three P's including Outbreak, Parasite Rex, Hot Zone and Andromeda.

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Quantum Mechanics and Reality

Instructor: Donald Wheeler Minimum: 5 Cost: $0 Maximum: 20

What is reality? Does it depend on a physical observer, or does it go along by itself? Does it depend on an infinite number of parallel worlds? Does it depend on an infinite field of information tying everything together? Is reality even real, or is it a simulation of somethings past? How does quantum weirdness make biology happen? How will it lead to Artificial Intelligence and what type of future will that mean? What is physical law and what is time?

Science Fiction Coloring Book

Instructors: Sarah Brewer & Kimberly Daniels Minimum: 6 Cost: $20 Maximum: 18

Students will publish their own science fiction graphic coloring book. After consulting examples of different styles of adult coloring books and graphic novels, students will adapt a classic or popular science fiction story to create their own several page graphic novel representation utilizing a variety of illustration techniques including photography, collage, computer graphics, and smart phone apps. Finished student layouts will be compiled to create a professional digital document for potential publication.

The History & Culture of Mardi Gras in Mobile

Instructor: Alison Rellinger Minimum: 5 Cost: $5 plus spending money for food at parade Maximum: 24 When people around the country think of Mardi Gras, images of New Orleans debauchery often come to mind but those who call the Gulf Coast home know that Mardi Gras is actually a family friendly festival season celebrated by people of all ages. Since special projects week falls right in the heart of the Mardi Gras season, we’ll take a look at the culture and history of Mardi Gras in Mobile. Did you know Mardi Gras actually started in Mobile (not New Orleans!)? Why do we have two kings and queens of Mardi Gras? How do you get to be in a parade? We’ll visit the Mobile Mardi Gras Museum, meet with members of local Mardi Gras groups (called Krewes), visit a float barn, talk with Mardi Gras historians, attend a parade, bake our own King Cake and learn about being crowned Mardi Gras royalty from our very own hall advisor Shardena Jones!

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The Wall Speaks: Express Yourself through Murals Instructors: Patricia O. Donalson & Elisa Rambo Minimum: 10 Cost: $70 ($35 deposit required) Maximum: 14 Students will study the art of mural painting and its importance as a form of economic, social and political artistic expression within communities. They will also become more visually aware of murals in the local community and how this mode of self-expression may shape collective identity. Exposure to renowned muralists through slides presentations and brief lectures by instructors, and a trip to the Walter Anderson Museum in Mississippi will aid in students’ understanding of this very unique form of “public” art. Students will then work collaboratively to create an original mural which expresses a common theme, yet remains a product of their unique point of view.

Wall Street Instructor: John Petty Minimum: 8 Cost: $20 Maximum: 24 The student will become familiar with the common investment options available on Week Street. They’ll learn how government, basic economic forces and business cycles interact. They’ll gain an understanding of how stock markets work and how the concepts of risk/reward control the price of stocks. There will be a couple of field trips planned. Students will visit the Tanger Outlet Center in Foley and eat lunch at a local restaurant at the end of the week.

Week of Wellness

Instructor: Coach Angel Jackson Minimum: 6 Cost: $50 and money for lunch each day Maximum: 12

Webster Dictionary defines wellness as, the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal. Wellness is not only the lack of illness, but the goal is to also lead a positive well rounded life. This special project will explore the areas and the dimensions of wellness. These areas of wellness can result in a positive well-rounded life. Students will be exposed to the Seven Dimensions of Wellness which include; Intellectual and Spiritual Wellness, Environmental and Physical Wellness, Physical, Occupational, and Emotional Wellness, Occupational and Physical Wellness, and Social Wellness. Daily field trips are planned for this special project.

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You are what you eat, breathe and do!

Instructor: James Njengere Minimum: 12 Cost: $75 ($50 deposit required) Maximum: 14 Investigation on what is in some of our foods, and the air we breathe in. As the only high school in Alabama that specializes in pursuit of scientific knowledge, we need to apply that knowledge in our everyday lives. Many times we carry out titration in our labs to establish specific concentration of given items held therein but we rarely ask ourselves this question; How much of it is in the daily meals served at homes, restaurants as well as food and convenient stores? What is in the preserved foods we buy from the shelves of food stores? How much sugar is there in a coke can? The same questions can be posed in regard to the air that enter in our bodies through our noses; how much of the toxic gases are there in the air we breathe in? How are their concentrations affected by changes over the course of the day? These and many other questions are what we shall be trying to answer during our special project week. Students will learn and understand that we are what we eat, breathe and do. The course will also give students more opportunities to learn methods of analysis used in all science subjects in modern laboratories. The one-week program will help create a desire to answer these questions.

19th Century Detective Fiction: Holmes & His Predecessors

Instructor: Daniel Commander Minimum: 5 Cost: $10 Maximum: 11 Sherlock Holmes is a figure who has not left our cultural imagination since he entered it. Just when interest in him seems to fade, a new version of his stories is born. This project will focus on Holmes and the writers and characters who preceded him and helped lead to his creation. In the course, we will read some Sherlock Holmes stories as well as stories by authors like Edgar Allan Poe’s Dupin stories in order to develop a typology of detective fiction. In addition to this, we will look at how Holmes and other detectives have been represented in film and on TV over the years. Finally, we will get the chance to be our own detective as we act out and attempt to solve a murder mystery. The fee for this course covers reading and viewing material.