Pelham - Windham News | November 4, 2011 - 7 Trebuchet- continued from front page


the box and created trebs reflecting their understanding and interpretation of the knowledge they obtained in the classroom. In acknowledging the vast array of designs, WHS principal Tom Murphy noted that each individual student’s final product came down to an “authentic application of the theory they learned in class.” In addressing the fact that many parents came out to observe the castle bombing enactment, Murphy added “at the end of the day, when the students are excited about what they are doing, the parents are more involved.”


All the students had until the ‘launch’ date to have them completed


Second year physics student Dan Rubery (left) hooked up with Sean Joseph (middle) and Matt Browne for this


event. At the time of the photo, the consensus was that the “sling is pretty messed up” as one of the contestants jokingly added, “that’s a very scientific description”. Having a good time, the threesome did attend to matters. After a first shot misfire, the combatants made adjustments to the angle of the pin on the throwing arm, hoping to create an earlier


release of the balloon thereby gaining distance. According to Sean Joseph, the team wanted a challenge so they


constructed an “unconventional” entry. Tey created what they called a floating arm trebuchet that used wheels that acted as the axle.


From left to right are juniors: Joey Federico, math teacher Dave Gilbert, Danielle Fitzgerald and Madison Enos. Te three juniors consort with Mr. Gilbert and it


results in Federico taking the drill to their original design. According to Federico and Gilbert, the adjustments of “increasing the lever length of the counter weight would increase the distance (of their throw).” Te adjustments were deemed necessary as their first launch only produced an 8-meter “C.”


and ready for action. As Mr. Kaplo indicated “the contestants have worked for numerous weeks building trebuchets in garages all over town, applying understandings they have derived from WHS Physics classes.” Each team, which generally reflected the combined efforts of three students, had time earlier in the morning to launch ‘test balloons’ and make any necessary adjustments they felt were necessary before the actual scoring began. Once the event officially started, each team was allotted two throws. The throws were recorded using slow motion speed video, measurements were taken of the length of the throws and the data (including distance and trajectory) was analyzed by math students on the following day. The students set up their trebuchets and aligned them (side by side) in a circular fashion with a makeshift castle positioned in the center of the field, an equidistant thirty meters from the perimeter. The field was sectioned off such that


November 6th 5 p.m to 7 p.m


Family, Pets Safe, Cause of Fire Unknown


submitted by Windham Fire Department On Monday evening at approximately 5:27 p.m., the Windham


Fire and Police Departments responded to multiple reports of a reported building fire on Lisa Road located off Castle Hill Road First arriving firefighters encountered a fully involved detached


two bay garage fire. The one and one half story single family home adjacent to the fire was threatened due to the intense heat and fire and close proximity to the garage. Firefighters were able to deploy the first hand line between the fire and the garage which played a key role in saving the residence. The fire did cause minor damage to the exterior of the home but the garage and all of its contents were a total loss. Three vehicles located outside the garage were also damaged by the fire. Two of them a total loss. A working fire assignment was sounded bringing mutual aid assistance to the scene from the towns of Derry, Pelham, Hampstead and Londonderry. Salem and Hudson provided station coverage. No injuries to firefighters or civilians were reported. The resident, Steven Bolio, Jr., was home at the time the fire broke out. He and his family were able to leave the residence safely. Two cats in the home were also safe. The home remained habitable. Estimated fire damage is about $150,000. The fire does not appear to be suspicious. It is unclear how the fire began and it is currently under investigation by Windham Deputy Chief William Martineau.


Three in Custody After Burglary


submitted by Pelham Police Department At approximately 2:36 p.m. Thursday, October 20, Pelham


Police received a call regarding a suspicious motor vehicle in the area of Windham Road and Hobbs Road. The caller stated that they observed a green van with Massachusetts plates drop off an individual who subsequently ran into woods toward Butternut Drive. The individual was described as wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark clothing. The van then fled the area. Pelham officers began searching the area and located the van


on Ivers Grove Road and spoke with the two occupants. Another officer checking the area of Dale Street and Butternut Drive observed a male wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark clothing exiting a wooded area at the intersection of Dale Street and Butternut Drive. The officer subsequently spoke with that individual.


Shortly afterward, a resident on Butternut Drive called police to report her house had been burglarized. Officers searched the wooded area from behind the victim’s residence to where the male subject had exited the woods. Officers subsequently located the items stolen from the Butternut Drive residence. The lone male was identified as Amaury Escalona from Springfield, MA. Escalona was arrested and charged with burglary. The occupants of the van were identified as Megan O’Neil and Edward Welsh, both of Dracut. Both were subsequently arrested. Welsh was charged with criminal liability for the conduct of another, possession of marijuana and hindering apprehension. O’Neil was charged with hindering apprehension. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.


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the distance of the throw (closeness to the castle target) contributed to the grade the team received. For example, the castle was located approximately 30 meters from the outer circle where the balloons were fired. A launch which only traveled inside the 8 meter circle resulted in a grade of “C.” If however, the throw traveled 28-32 meters and hit the walls of the castle or landed within the castle walls, the students received an “A.” The ultimate


challenge and reward (A+) was to actually score a direct hit on Mr. Kaplo, who was positioned inside the castle (see photo). It was an enjoyable time for the students and parents alike. The students experienced the morphing of their conceptual understanding of physics, into the design and construction of medieval rocket launchers. And the parents, well they finally got their garage space back !


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