Irish Step Dancing – a Community Tradition in the All America City of Dublin, California
With the City of Dublin’s famed St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration just around the corner, OneDublin.org invited a Dublin High School junior to write about her passion for traditional Irish step dancing.
By Camille Chabot (junior – Dublin High School)
Camille Chabot (third from right)
Keeping with Dublin settlers’ Irish roots, Irish step dancing has made its way to our All America City of Dublin, California. Valerie Deam created the California branch of the McGrath School of Irish Dance shortly after moving to California in 1990 from Waterford, Ireland where her grandmother, Annie McGrath founded the school in 1950.
My sister and I have been attending Irish Dance classes for as long as I can remember – almost 12 years! It is a huge part of my life. Believe it or not, one of the reasons my mother starting looking to settle in Dublin in 1999 was for the proximity to the McGrath Irish dance studio. I am 3rd generation Irish and still have cousins in County Mayo – many of whom grew up step dancing and competing. Furthermore, my great grand uncle started a dance band called The Brose Walsh Band which still travels and plays jigs and reels throughout Ireland.
Before the doors opened for the Dublin High School Engineering and Design Academy Open House last Wednesday, a lucky group of Dublin High School and Fallon Midde School students had a chance to meet MythBusters stars Adam Savage and Kari Byron. The students spent weeks preparing for the event, creating science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) “Demonstration Stations” to entertain, inspire and educate the hundreds of community members waiting to enter the sold out event. In addition to the Demonstration Stations, Dublin High School students also designed and built a suspension bridge built out of duct tape as part of the National Engineers Week 2012 festivities (read more…).
OneDublin.org asked the students and their teachers what it was like to meet the MythBusters. Thanks to Marc Davis and ArcBound.com for the photographs and ArcBound.com for the video.
Eugene Chou – teacher – Dublin High School – “The students were both excited and nervous about meeting Adam and Kari. They had worked so hard and spent weeks preparing, so it was great to see all the preparation pay off with a successful event. For many of them, the MythBusters show inspires their interest in science and engineering, so to be able to share their knowledge and projects with them was like a dream come true.”
Lizz Child – student – Dublin High School – “I am so grateful that engineering and National Engineers Week provided me with this once in a lifetime opportunity. Who would have thought that an interest in a high school robotics club would lead to meeting amazing people such as Adam Savage and Kari Byron! I didn’t but I’m glad I took the initiative and gave it a try. I encourage all students to try something different and new because they will never be able to experience the rewarding opportunities otherwise. It was so amazing to be able to talk to and show our abilities to somebody who was an emcee at the 2011 VEX Robotics World Championships.” (Lizz was also interviewed by ABC 7 News)
Meet Rachel Reed – City of Dublin’s Young Citizen of the Year
Dublin High senior Rachel Reed
“Rachel Reed confidently and quietly sets high expectations for herself and proceeds to reach them. From academic achievement to performing arts, student leadership and community service, Rachel aspires to do her best. Through her positive attitude and diligent work ethic she achieves her goals.” Dublin High School principal Carol Shimizu.
On Friday February 24, Dublin High School senior Rachel Reed learned that she was the City of Dublin’s 2011 Young Citizen of the Year for her community service and volunteerism. As noted in the nomination letter that led to the award (see below), Rachel has been an active Girl Scout for 13 years and achieved the highest Girl Scout recognition, the Gold Award, by planning the first ever Dublin High Battle of the Bands event. The event was so successful that she recently organized the second annual Battle of the Bands, and doing so has inspired her to pursue a career in music management in college. Rachel also tutors students in math and volunteers at the Open Heart Kitchen among her many volunteer activities, while serving as President of the Irish Guard (Dublin High’s music program) and maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Rachel is a California Scholarship Federation life member for academic achievement.
Also recognized at the event were Edwin Osada for 2011 Citizen of the Year and OneDublin.org for 2011 Organization of the Year. The annual event was held at the Shannon Center, where nominated citizens and organizations, and their guests, enjoyed an evening of festivities. A full list of all award winners and the nomination letters is available here.
OneDublin.org recently met with Rachel to learn more about her volunteer activities that led to the Young Citizen of the Year recognition. In the interview, Rachel encourages middle school students entering high school to pursue their passions, and that it is possible to be involved in school activities and the community while achieving academic success.
Congratulations Rachel!
Dublin High School’s Mark Wainwright Wins 2012 NCS Honor Coach Award
Mark Wainwright
Mark Wainwright, the Dublin High School Lady Gaels Basketball Coach, recently added to Dublin High’s string of good news by winning the 2012 North Coast Section (NCS) Honor Coach. Mark Wainwright, an English teacher at Dublin High School, attained his B.A in English from the University of California, Berkeley. Subsequently, he completed both a Single Subject Credential and an Administrative Credential from California State University, Hayward (now CSU East Bay).
Mark didn’t waste any time getting started with his life, combining his passion for athletics and academic background into a full-time career. He admits that he was a decent high school athlete, but also recognized that athletics would only take him so far, so he pursued his professional life with the goal of adhering to both endeavors. Initially, Mark was hired at St. John Catholic School in San Lorenzo. What he could not know at the time was that this would be the launching point of 33 years of teaching and coaching athletics. Mark’s been married to Mary Jo since 1981 and his daughter, Samantha, is presently an English teacher at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward. In 1996, Mark joined the faculty at Dublin High School as an English teacher and athletic coach for various sports.
In recognition of Mark’s success and contributions, he was recently chosen to receive the 2012 North Coast Section (NCS) Honor Coach Award for Varsity Girls’ Basketball. NCS is part of the California Interscholastic Federation and represents the eastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area. This award is a prestigious honor selected from coaches representing 165 schools. Throughout his career, Mark has coached baseball, softball, boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball. The Lady Gaels captured the 2009 DFAL League Championship and finished this year with an 18-9 record.
OneDublin.org recently had the opportunity to sit down with Coach Wainwright to discuss both the recent NCS honor and his career as an educator. For those who have not met him, Mark is a stately figure, is very self-deprecating and is has a dry wit. While his fire burns brightly when it comes to athletics, he is also a very thoughtful and introspective individual. He speaks very plainly and treats his students as if they were his own. We are pleased to share this profile.
OneDublin.org: For a career that has spanned over +30 years, we are sure that you’ve encountered some amazing athletes. Please share.
Mark Wainwright: “One of my great experiences was coaching at Encinal High School in Alameda. It was a school filled with tough kids in a very ‘blue collar’ neighborhood. I had the good fortune to work with a great athlete named Jimmy Rollins. He was a multi-sport athlete and he was my point guard on the varsity basketball team. Jimmy chose baseball as his profession and he is now entering his 13th year in Major League Baseball. Mr. Rollins won a World Series Championship with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 and he was awarded the National League Most Valuable Player in 2007 as a Shortstop. Remarkable.”
OneDublin.org: Realistically, all of your experiences as a coach have not come without challenges. Please explain.
OneDublin.org Named City of Dublin’s 2011 Organization of the Year
OneDublin.org, along with volunteers and organizations from across the City of Dublin, was recognized Friday night for striving to better the lives of Dublin residents through service. OneDublin.org was honored to be recognized as the City of Dublin’s Organization of the Year for 2011. The recognition comes with a $500 monetary award which OneDublin.org donated to Dublin High School. Dublin High Interact and Child Care Links were also nominated for 2011 Organization of the Year. Dublin High School senior Rachel Reed was recognized as the 2011 Young Citizen of the Year and Edwin Osada was recognized as the 2011 Citizen of the Year. The annual event was held at the Shannon Center, where nominated citizens and organizations, and their guests, enjoyed an evening of festivities. A full list of all award winners and the nomination letters is available here.
Below is the nomination submitted by a Dublin parent that led to OneDublin.org being recognized as the City of Dublin’s 2011 Organization of the Year:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Donates $10,000 to Dublin High School’s Engineering Academy
The Dublin High School Engineering and Design Academy Open House Starring MythBusters started with a bang last Wednesday, but not the explosive kind. Before the entrance of MythBusters stars Adam Savage and Kari Byron, Jim Bono (Director of Public Affairs – Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) presented a donation of $10,000 to Dublin High School’s Engineering and Design Academy. The $10,000 donation builds on over $100,000 in donations and grants to Dublin High’s Engineering Academy since the program launched in 2010.
Jim Bono presented the check to Dublin Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hanke, School Board President Greg Tomlinson, Principal Carol Shimizu, Assistant Principal Bill Branca and Student Body President Tatum Wheeler. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory also contributed a Demonstration Station at the event with their ‘Fun With Science’ program featuring interactive science activities. Twenty local schools, colleges and organizations participated in the event. Dublin High engineering and Robotics Club students also built a duct tape suspension bridge as part of the National Engineers Week celebration.
Dublin High’s Engineering Academy is built on Project Lead the Way’s curriculum designed for middle and high school students. Fallon Middle School launched the precursor Gateway to Engineering program for the 2011-12 school year.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Presents Donation to Dublin High (Credit: Marc Davis)
MythBusters Adam Savage and Kari Byron Speak at Dublin High School’s Engineering and Design Academy Open House (VIDEO)
MythBusters stars Adam Savage and Kari Byron participated in a moderated panel session earlier this week as part of Dublin High School‘s National Engineering Week 2012 celebration. 1,000 people attended the sold out event that also featured twenty science, technology, engineering and math Demonstration Stations prepared by colleges and organizations from across the Bay Area as well as local middle and high school student displays. Dublin High School students also built a MythBusters-inspired duct tape suspension bridge on campus.
The MythBusters panel session featured Adam Savage and Kari Byron answering questions submitted by Dublin High School, Fallon Middle School and Wells Middle School students. Adam and Kari also visited privately with the student Demonstration Stations prior to the start of the event. The Open House was widely covered by local media.
Below is HD video of the entire panel session:
Dublin High Students Working on the Bridge
An enthusiastic team of Dublin High School Engineering Academy and Robotics Club students rallied over the long weekend, led by Dublin High teacher Eugene Chou, to build a suspension bridge using only duct tape. The voluntary project, part of Dublin High School’s National Engineers Week 2012 celebration, was made possible thanks to a generous donation of Duck Brand duct tape from the ShurTech Brands company. Dublin High students returning to class Tuesday morning are in for a surprise as they find the distinct silver of Duck Tape transformed into a suspension bridge spanning two towering trees in the center of campus.
Designing and building the duct tape suspension bridge brought Engineering Academy classroom theory to life as the Dublin High students had to agree on design criteria and constraints (such as making the bridge entirely out of duct tape, building a bridge capable of holding hundreds of pounds, and making the bridge safe – just a few feet off the ground), brainstorm on bridge design options, use a decision matrix to rank possible design attributes, and design a bridge that could be built over a long weekend. The bridge was strengthened by the double-braided design of the cables (a time-consuming option that paid off in the end).
Creating the bridge wasn’t just fun, but also reinforced the value of planning, making design choices, and dealing creatively with the inevitable real-world challenges faced during construction. The students were inspired in part by MythBusters duct tape episodes (MythBusters stars Adam Savage and Kari Byron are headlining the sold out Engineering Academy Open House event at Dublin High School on February 22).
See the bridge in action, and how the students built the bridge, in this short video:
Dublin High School’s participation in National Engineers Week 2012 kicked off with a poster campaign highlighting the contribution of engineers. Dublin High School Media Arts students collaborated with Engineering and Design Academy students to create a series of posters themed “An Engineer Made That”. Schools and organizations across the country will participate in National Engineers Week from February 19-25 focused on “7 billion people. 7 billion dreams. 7 billion chances for engineers to turn dreams into reality”.
On Wednesday, February 22, Dublin High School’s National Engineers Week celebration continues with an Engineering and Design Academy Open House Starring MythBusters (read more…). The sold out event features MythBusters stars Adam Savage and Kari Byron along with twenty Demonstration Stations featuring local schools, colleges and organizations (read more…). Doors open at 6:30pm Wed. Feb. 22 at Dublin High’s Sports Complex for the MythBusters event.
Below are some of the “An Engineer Made That” posters created by Dublin High students:
Hali Osbourne - Dublin High School - "An Engineer Did That" Poster
More Dublin High School National Engineers Week posters:
Dublin High School’s sold out Engineering Academy Open House starring MythBusters (announced on Jan. 24) just got bigger. Twenty groups including local schools, colleges and Engineering Academy sponsor organizations, will be joining MythBusters stars Adam Savage and Kari Byron at the event. Each group will host an interactive “Demonstration Station” covering science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) topics. Over 100 volunteers (students, parents, engineers and scientists) are supporting the 20 Demonstration Stations. The event will open with a moderated panel session featuring MythBusters stars Adam Savage and Kari Byron, who will answer questions submitted by local students.
The event will be held on Wednesday February 22. Doors open at 6:30pm and arriving early is recommended. Due to the popularity of the event, only those with a ticket or pre-registered volunteers with badges will be admitted. 1,000 free tickets were distributed in under 36 hours to members of the community via local schools last month.
As of February 13, the 20 Dublin High Engineering Academy Open House Demonstration Stations include:
OneDublin.org 