ALTC Bowling Event…

The staff and student at ALTC recently went bowling at Spare Time Recreation in Lewiston for a relaxing afternoon. While bowling everyone enjoyed Pizza, Fries and soda made for us by the awesome staff at the bowling center! Thanks Spare Time!!

 

Thanksgiving 2010 with ALTC

On Tuesday November 23, 2010, the staff put together the Annual Thanksgiving Smorgasbord, know as the ALTC Thanksgiving meal.

Each year we make our way over to the Lewiston/Auburn Boys and Girls club for the use of their Kitchen facilities for the preparation of the food. This years feast included; Caesar Salad, Mr. Fulps's famous clam chowdah!, Turkey, Ham, Potatoes (15lbs which Ms. Cassidy peeled for us!! Thanks Harli!), squash, green bean casserole, glazed carrots, rolls, cranberry sauce, and apple and pumpkin pies for dessert.

This year in addition to the staff and students enjoying this wonderful feast, we invited friends of the school from the community that we have worked with in the past or are currently working with.

We were even able to get pictures of the Turkey cutting the Turkey cutting the Turkey!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

And the day began with goofy candids!

The Mayflower II (exact replica)


On November 22, ALTC visited the Plimoth Plantation & Mayflower II for a historical & cultural journey into the lives of the Colonists and the Wampanog People of the Plimoth area during the 1600's. We started our day by taking a tour of the Mayflower II, which was an exact replica of the original Mayflower. It was recreated in the town of Brixham, in Devon, England by skilled shipwrights at Upham Shipyard between the years of 1955-57, before finally setting sail for the New Englands! We were able to tour the entire boat stopping along certain areas so volunteers could explain different parts of the boat along the way, which included running into rein-actors who give us a view of life aboard the vessel during it's 17th century passages.

After leaving the Mayflower we made our way over to the Plantation for the next part of our Journey..

Mr. Ivey & Mr.Wentzel (both under the weather during the trip) modeling an artistic interpretation of the Mayflower.

At the plantation we were presented with a brief video overview of the history of the colonists and the Wampanoag and their relationships during the 1600's. After the video we ventured in the Wampanoag village where we were greeted by the people of the Wampanoag and invited to learn about their history, culture, and interactions with the colonists.

After our stop in the Wampanoag village, we took the path through the woods and arrived at the town of the Plimouth colonists of the 1600's, where we had a first hand look at the lifestyle of the time period. All the people we meet where dressed as, talked as, and acted as colonists from the time period. The houses, barns, farmlands, and traditions, such as the cooking where being performed in front of us, as it was done back in the 17th century.

Even with the weather dreary and overcast, and and handful of us feeling slightly under then weather. The trip was proven to be beneficial and very enjoyable by us all. We all learned a lot about our history and came away with a different view on the way things where. We even have proof of leaving with smiles!

New England Aquarium Trip

On Friday October 22, the students and staff took a trip to the New England Aquarium for a day loaded with awesome learning experiences! The students got to interact with the penguins in the open area observation area, and watch the trainers and aquarium staff work with them as well!

In the middle of the aquarium surrounded by an spiraling walk way the students were able to walk around and explore the reef tank that was filled with hundreds of different species of fish, turtles, eels, and the countless array of other sea life!

Surrounding the outer walls of the Aquarium were smaller observation tanks, and touch tanks where you were able to touch star fish, urchins, horseshoe crabs, and many other creatures.

The Students and Staff of ALTC had a great day and came away with lots of information! Next trip...PLYMOUTH PLANTATION on 11/22/10!

Open House 2010

We would like to thank all of our guests that made this years Open House the best one yet! We enjoyed getting to talk to all the visitors and look forward to our future conversations!

Welcome Jody!!

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Ms. Jody Brinser to the staff here at ALTC as our new Social Worker! Welcome aboard Jody!

Visit to the Penobscot Narrows Observatory

On Friday, October 8th ALTC took a trip to Bucksport to visit the Penobscot Narrows Observatory.

A one minute ride on the fastest elevator in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont will take you to the top of the tallest public bridge-observatory in the world. The others are in China, Slovakia and Thailand. Just opened in May 2007, the observatory is already proving to be a popular attraction. The beauty of the Penobscot River and surrounding countryside is immediately apparent as the elevator door slides open to a dizzying view from 420 feet up. Ascend two more levels up to find 360 degrees views, complete with identification panels showing you how to locate nearby mountains, lakes and towns.

http://www.maine.gov/observatory

The students were able to enjoy a beautiful look at the changing of the seasons, a topographical look at the waterways and even a birds eye view of our own bus!

Student Spotlight!

Our student Jason displayed his knowledge of physics to us by balancing a can on it's fulcrum, something that he learned by watching Criss Angle's Mindfreak on the A&E channel...

No just kidding....IT'S MAGIC!

Making Chili.

Recently, the students made chili during science class. Chili for science class? Yep, Mr. Wentzel and Mr. Ivey used this opportunity to teach the students about capsaicin, which by definition is:

Capsaicin is the active component of chili peppers, which are plants belonging to the genus Capsicum. It is an irritant for mammals, including humans, and produces a sensation of burning in any tissue with which it comes into contact. Capsaicin and several related compounds are called capsaicinoids and are produced as a secondary metabolite by chili peppers, probably as deterrents against certain herbivores and fungi.^[1]Pure capsaicin is a hydrophobic, colorless, odorless, crystalline to waxy compound.

The students were given a pile of ingredients: Hamburg, white kidney beans, red kidney beans, black beans, McCormick chili seasoning, onions, tomatoes (pureed, diced, and paste form) , and Jalapeño, Serrano, and Red Chili Peppers. They were allowed to choose out of these ingredients what they wanted to use in their chili to determine the outcome of the flavor, heat, and consistency of their chili. The students learned where each of the optional peppers were located on the heat scale for hot peppers as well.

The two groups chili came out quite well, and were enjoyed by all the students and the staff at ALTC for lunch! Oh yeah!! Mr. Ivey also decided to challenge a student to eating a chunk of the Serrano pepper, which is a 10 on the 1-10 heat index of hot peppers, and I got a picture!!

Blog Updates

I would like to thank Zac Wentzel, one of our amazing staff members here at ALTC for taking over the blog and really re-formatting into the age of technology! It looks amazing and offers so much to our students and parents, as well as all of the districts that we serve! Thanks Zac for all of your hard work!!!!!