Winter 2020 Courses
January 2020 – March 2020

We've decided to "pause" The Stars Challenge for the 2020-21 school year because of the coronavirus. We're leaving the old course descriptions here so you know what to expect when we return. Thanks for your understanding.

The courses we’re offering in Winter 2020 are listed below and described in more detail further down the page.  Click here for our brochure (pdf) and here for the on-line application.  

• 6th Grade:  Is It Science Or Magic by Ms. Aimée Babbin at High Technology High School (HTHS) in Lincroft.  
• 6th and 7th Grade:  Patterns in Nature by Mr. Michael T. Roche and Ms. Sarah Gross at High Technology High School (HTHS) in Lincroft.  
• 7th and 8th Grade:  Explore, Imagine and Build by Mr. John Valente at High Technology High School (HTHS) in Lincroft.  It looks like this course is full.
• 7th and 8th Grade:  Coding and Robotics by Mr. Christopher Hanas at High Technology High School (HTHS) in Lincroft. 
• 7th and 8th Grades:  Explore the Universe! by Mr. Marc Coe at Cedar Drive Middle School in Colts Neck.

Key Dates

• December 20, 2019:  Application deadline Extended.
• January 2, 2020:  Notification of acceptance by email.
• January 7, 2020:  $500 tuition due.  Please mail your check to:
  • ​The Stars Challenge
  • PO Box 402
  • Colts Neck, NJ 07722
• January 7 & 8, 2020:  Classes start.

Winter 2020:  Short Course Descriptions   

• 6th Grade – Is It Science Or Magic?
  • ​Have you ever wondered why Jello jiggles?  Why oil floats on water?  Why cabbage juice turns some liquids green and some red?  Why ice cream won’t freeze until it’s below zero degrees?  Why bubbles are spherical not cubic?  Why Alka Seltzer fizzes?  These phenomena aren’t magic – they are all explained by chemistry!  Through observing, questioning, and experimenting, students will investigate the field of chemistry.  They will study the gas laws, acid and bases, as well as the properties of solids, solutions, and polymers.  Join us for this exciting course and learn how chemistry makes magic.  More...
     
  • Check out the pictures from the previous course in 2017 and 2019.
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  • Ms. Aimée Babbin teaches chemistry and physics at High Technology High School. She is also actively involved in the research program and serves as an advisor for both freshman and sophomore research projects. Ms. Babbin has a BS in Chemistry and a MAT in Science Education.  More...
     
  • The class will normally meet on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 at High Technology High School in Lincroft, NJ.  EXCEPT the first evening will be on Wednesday, January 9 at High Technology High School from 6-8pm.
     
  • The tuition is $500; some needs-based scholarships are available.  Application.
     
• 6th and 7th Grade – Patterns in Nature
  • Patterns in Nature will once again be led by Mr. Roche and Mrs. Gross. They will be assisted by an exceptional group of guest scientists and educators who will present their favorite lessons giving students a glimpse into various specialized areas of science. We'll cover wave patterns in physics, the unique properties of water in chemistry, the molecular structure of DNA in biotechnology, some population dynamics related to adaptations and maybe even the chaos evident in nature. Come explore why natural patterns can be such beautiful science, math, and art.  More…
     
  • Check out the pictures from the previous courses in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
     
  • Mr. Roche is a research advisor and biology teacher at High Technology High School.  He was recently honored with a Siemens Founders Award and fellowship that allowed him to work with a materials science research team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  Ms. Gross is an English teacher at High Technology High School and was Teacher of the Year in 2013.  She just received her Masters in Teaching Biology. She is actively involved in Reach A Reader, the Cybils Awards and Curious Young Writers.  More…
     
  • The class will normally meet on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 at High Technology High School in Lincroft, NJ.  EXCEPT the first evening will be on Wednesday, January 9 at High Technology High School from 6-8pm.
     
  • The tuition is $500; some needs-based scholarships are available.  Application.
     
• 7th and 8th Grades – Explore, Imagine and Build
  • While watching your favorite television show, a news alert flashes a warning about possible tornadoes or electrical storms sweeping across your town.  How will you protect yourself, your family and your house?   Why are roller coasters so much fun?  Why can’t you walk on a planet ten times the mass of the Earth?  Why would space travelers be crushed if a spaceship accelerated to almost the speed of light (even though you see this all the time at the movies)?  How does a karate expert break boards with their hands? You’ll find out by taking this course.  Each week you’ll investigate and discover the rules that govern one or two physical principles.  Then you’ll explore the ideas yourself, create a device that illustrates the ideas, and build it.  You will use these devices to compete in the class competitions and take them home and amaze your friends with your new brainpower.  The prizes are donuts! More…
     
  • Check out the pictures from previous courses in 2015, 2016 and 2018.
     
  • Mr. John Valente is a teacher at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST).  He teaches physics, with an emphasis on physical oceanography, and AP physics.  He is also the Vice-President of the New Jersey American Association of Physics Teachers and conducts frequent workshops for physics teachers with the goal of improving physics teaching.  More…
     
  • The class will normally meet on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 at High Technology High School in Lincroft, NJ.  EXCEPT the first evening will be on Wednesday, January 9 at High Technology High School from 6-8pm.
     
  • The tuition is $500; some needs-based scholarships are available.  Application.
     
• 7th and 8th Graders – Coding and Robotics. 
  • This course will be a hands-on adventure into the world of coding and how those concepts relate to robotics. You will be exposed to fundamental coding methods using both MIT Scratch and Python. We will then make use of those skills to control an Arduino prototyping board, various VEX robotics sensors, and a VEX robot. Finally, you will be able to use the skills learned to develop your own Scratch, Python, Arduino or VEX project.

This course is open to both boys and girls; no experience required.  It is nearly identical to Mr. Hanas’ summer Coding and Robotics Camp.  More…

• Check out the pictures from his earlier courses in 2019.
   
• Mr. Hanas is the Engineering and Computer Science teacher at HTHS.  His students won the VEX National TSA Robot Skills Competition in Atlanta last June.   More…
   
• The class will normally meet on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 at High Technology High School in Lincroft, NJ.  EXCEPT the first evening will be on Wednesday, January 9 at High Technology High School from 6-8pm.
   
• The tuition is $500; some needs-based scholarships are available.  Application.

• 7th and 8th Grades – Explore the Universe!
  • “I learned that you can never dream, think, or imagine too big when it comes to the universe.  With all that is unknown in our vast, vast universe, at least one of my crazy ideas is bound to be real.”  This quote by one of our students captures the essence of this astronomy course. You’ll ask the questions that have puzzled you as you look into the vastness of the night sky. As you discover answers, you’ll find that more questions will arise.  In this hands-on course, students will explore astronomy and physics, including the nature of light and ballistics.  Lasers and mirrors will be used to probe the properties of light.  We will use telescopes to observe the planets, stars and constellations.  We'll use slingshots to simulate meteor impacts (always a messy activity) and use Bunsen burners to simulate space craft re-entry through the earth's atmosphere.  More…
     
  • Check out the pictures from earlier courses in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
     
  • Mr. Coe is an experienced educator with many years of math and science instruction experience.  He was recognized by the New Jersey State Systemic Initiative Program for innovative use of technology in the classroom.  He has presented workshops at Rutgers University.  Mr. Coe believes that successful science instruction involves critical thinking and problem solving using real world situations.  More…
     
  • This course will be offered on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 PM at Cedar Drive Middle School in Colts Neck, NJ starting January 8. 
     
  • The tuition is $500; some needs-based scholarships are available.  Application.

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