It’s Not Too Late to Register for the The World of Water!

It’s not too late for you to register for The World of Water: a local education and professional development event sponsored by Wilbraham & Monson Academy.  At this event, teachers and professors will have opportunities to explore how to connect water topics to Massachusetts curriculum standards.  Guest speakers will include a keynote from Fabien Cousteau, Brain Lapis of WWLP-22, and Carl Hodges, Founder and Chairman of the Seawater Foundation.

To register for the half-day conference, visit the WMA website.

 

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WGBY Feature: “Divided We Stand: A Street in Our School”

WGBY announces the launch of “Divided We Stand: A Street in Our School,” a special Connecting Point series that will present various sides of one of the area’s longtime community issues: the tunnel beneath I-91 that runs through the Germán Gerena Community School in Springfield’s North End.

Built in 1973, the school currently serves 700 children.  Because of the building’s close proximity to I-91, a tunnel was built on the lower level of the school so that students and members of the larger community, divided once the interstate was constructed, could safely walk from one side of their neighborhood to the other. Over time, “the tunnel,” as residents refer to it, became more than a passageway linking Plainfield and Main Streets. It became a pathway providing access to varied community services. A generation came to depend on the organizations that filled space within the tunnel itself.

Yet, due largely to extensive flooding and structural damage, time has changed this once vibrant space. Community spaces now stand empty.As residents and city leaders discuss their vision for the Gerena School and tunnel, WGBY explores its past and present. Viewers will learn just how much happens in this place they don’t see.

For the first time, WGBY will provide Spanish subtitles for the series of segments, airing periodically between March and May. The series’ first segment, available online, included a discussion about the school and the status of repairs to the tunnel with Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno and School Superintendent Daniel Warwick.

Future air dates are as follows: March 27, April 24, April 30 & May 20-22.

WGBY invites viewer feedback and especially encourages people who live near Gerena, largely members of the city’s Latino community, to contribute memories, stories or opinions throughout the series’ run.

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World of Water half day Teachers’ Conference – April 5

Join WGBY and Wilbraham & Munson Academy for a special half-day conference aimed at the professional development of teachers and professors in the area. Learn how to incorporate water and economics into your classroom.  A keynote lecture will be delivered by Fabien Cousteau, grandson of Jacques Cousteau.

When: Friday, April 5, 2013  •  8:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Where: Athletic Center  •  Wilbraham & Monson Academy

Cost: $20 Admission (includes lunch)

Participating teachers will receive 10 PDPs for participation with completion of short follow-up classroom work.    Teachers would also be welcome to bring their classes to the event for additional activities.  To register, visit the GEM conference website.

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Mr. Steve to Perform at the Springfield Museums

Fans of Mr. Steve, the PBS KIDS personality and musician, will be able to sing and dance along with him when he visits the area on Saturday, February 23. Mr. Steve, a guitarist, travels to western Massachusetts as part of WGBY’s sponsorship of The Springfield Museums’ exhibit called GUITAR: The Instrument that Rocked the World.

When asked about his two upcoming concerts, Steve Songs, as he’s also known among the younger set, said, “I’m so excited for our shows in Springfield. It’ll be like a greatest hits event: We’ll be playing songs from my PBS interstitials, some of our older most requested band tunes, plus a bunch of fun new songs from our brand new CD, Orangutan Van!”

As a partner in a youth fitness campaign called  “Recess Rocks,” Mr. Steve promotes healthy living habits through his music. WGBY welcomes families to learn some dance moves ahead of time and post their own “Recess Rocks” videos on Facebook before or after the concerts.

Mr. Steve will perform live at the Springfield Museums in concerts at 11:00AM and 1:00PM. A “meet and greet” will follow each concert. Family activities at the Museums are planned throughout the day. More information is available at the WGBY website.

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Save the Date: “The World of Water” Teacher Conference

Keynote Speaker Fabien Cousteau

Save the Date!  On Friday, April 5, 2013, Wilbraham & Monson Academy will sponsor “The World of Water”, a half-day professional development conference focused on the incorporation of water and economics learning into the classroom.

The highlight of the day will be a Keynote speech from Fabien Cousteau, son of Jean-Michel Cousteau and grandson of the late Jacques Cousteau, entitled “What’s Good for Water is Good for Business”.

Registration will open in the coming weeks, but please mark your calendars.  We hope you will join us for what looks to be an exciting day!

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WGBY and Valley Gives

WGBY announces its participation in Valley Gives Day, the region’s first 24-hour “e-philanthropy” event. The one-day initiative launches at midnight on Tuesday, December 12. On that day WGBY will join 268 organizations throughout western Massachusetts for one spectacular day of giving.

Every dollar raised on 12/12/12 directly supports WGBY’s critically acclaimed programming and robust community engagement. Those who wish to give will simply log on to wgby.org, click the Valley Gives logo and make their gift via the Valley Gives page. Because gifts may be pre-scheduled on the site, a person may make their donation well before the actual 24-hour campaign kicks off.

WGBY hopes to raise $10,000 on Valley Gives Day. As part of the event, the station will include an on-air component from 8:00-11:00 PM on December 12. The evening will include two WGBY documentaries, The Great Flood of 1936 and Mountain Park Memories, selected segments from WGBY’s Connecting Point, Latino Youth Media Institute digital stories and live testimonials from partners and viewers.

Gifts may also help WGBY win a prize! Each participating nonprofit will be ranked by total dollars raised and total number of unique donors on 12/12/12. Valley Gives will make cash grants to the top three organizations in total number of unique donors and in total dollars raised. The prizes are $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000.

 

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Coming to WGBY in January: Downton Abbey Season 3

Coming to WGBY on January 6, 2013:  the Great War is over and a long-awaited engagement is on, but all is not tranquil at Downton Abbey as wrenching social changes, romantic intrigues, and personal crises grip the majestic English country estate for a third thrilling season.  Check out this teaser for the upcoming season:

For those looking for some holiday season plans, come dine, dance and enjoy an advance screening of Downton Abbey Season 3 at the Log Cabin on Saturday, January 5th.  Check out the event details here.

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Calling All Choirs for Season 3 of WGBY’s Together In Song

WGBY is pleased to announce a third season of Together In Song and share details on how you and your choral group might be able to be a part of the excitement and fun.

Musical Groups dedicated to the enjoyment of choral music, and who are based in Western New England (the WGBY service area of Western MA, Northern Connecticut, Southern Vermont and New Hampshire) are eligible for consideration.   Applicants should upload a 2-4 minute video clip of their ensemble to YouTube, MySpace, or Facebook.   Submissions on DVD will also be accepted.   The deadline for submission is November 21, 2012.   Choirs that participated in previous seasons may submit entries for Season III.

Choirs selected for participation in Together In Song will be brought into the WGBY Studios to have a performance taped to air on television.  For additional details, check out the Together In Song Call for Entries.  We’re looking forward to your submissions!!

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UMASS Amherst Offers Science Quest

SCIENCE QUEST at UMass Amherst
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 (9:30am-3:40pm)

Location:
Integrated Science Building (ISB)
University of Massachusetts
661 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003

UMASS welcomes high school-aged students to visit campus and participate in a range of exciting science-based activities, presentations, demonstrations, experiments, and research lab tours.  Please follow the link above for the list of offerings, registration link, and all the event information.

In addition to engaging in science activities, students will hear  from a UMass admissions representative about the UMass application process, and from a panel of UMass science undergraduates about what it is like to study at UMass.  Students will have ample opportunities to have all of their questions answered.

Teachers:  Feel free to plan a field trip and bring your students to Science Quest!

Science Quest also offers:
* FREE Registration
* FREE Parking
* FREE Lunch
* PDPs for teachers who bring their students

For questions, please contact Mike Westort at 413-577-0164

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Register for the WGBY Community Champions Race/Walk

On Sunday, October 21, at Westfield’s Stanley Park, WGBY will host its first-ever “WGBY Community Champions” race and walk. Just by entering the race you become a “champion” of WGBY’s quality local programming. By supporting WGBY’s 5K race, you support our station and become a “WGBY Community Champion.” Our station brings you As Schools Match Wits, Connecting Point, The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade, Together in Song, and our Ready to Learn educational initiatives. You entry fee will go to fund these programs and ensure that WGBY remains a viable community resource.

 Registration fees are only $25 for adults and $5 for those 18 and under. There will be a competitive race scored for all divisions (male and female in youth, adult, and senior divisions), as well as a “fun run/walk” for families.  Come and join us for a fun time and to show your support for WGBY.  Race starts at 11 am. Race Day sign-in opens at 9 am.  To register, visit WGBY’s website.

 

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