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Chaney's future scientists propose unusual inventions
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
An oven that does all of the food preparation for you, glasses that help blind people see and a 911 button were some of the ideas for inventions thought up by incoming sixth- and seventh-graders to Chaney’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program.
The school’s summer bridge program runs through this week for incoming students in both the STEM and the Visual and Performing Arts program.
Pam Lubich, STEM coordinator, said the program allows students to meet their classmates and teachers and get familiar with the building.
In an exercise Wednesday, the future scientists brainstormed ideas for new inventions geared at helping people.
A 911 button, glasses that would help blind people see, a first-aid robot and a robot that cleans the house were more of the ideas generated.
Kiara Preston, 12, who will be a seventh-grader, suggested a robot that helps elderly people and an oven that prepares food for you. She’s enjoying the camp so far.
“We made cars,” she said. “We’ve taken things apart and put things together.”
The idea of attending a STEM school is appealing.
“I like science, and I heard this school was pretty nice,” she said.
Christopher Baker, 11, who also will be in seventh grade this fall, applied to the Chaney STEM program because he likes computers.
“I want to make computer games,” he said.
About 35 students are attending this week’s camp out of the 75 new STEM students — the highest number since the program started.
Between 30 and 40 of the roughly 100 new VPA students are attending camp.
“We just want to show them what it looks like for next year,” said Tracy Schuler-Vivo, VPA coordinator.
Dance instructor Kaitlyn Fabian led a group of six new students across the dance floor in a series of ballet moves.
Sixth-graders Angel Hugley and Katherine Guminiski, both 11, said the steps were challenging, but they got the hang of it.
“I like to dance a lot at my house,” Katherine said.