Exploring Education

School Honors Namesake With Space Expedition Science Fair

The grade 8 scholars presented their space projects at the 3rd Annual Christa McAuliffe Remembrance event.

Recently, eighth grade scholars at the Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School presented their space expedition projects to the community during the 3rd Annual Christa McAuliffe Remembrance Event, which honors the legacy of Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger 51-L Crew. McAuliffe and the Challenger Crew died tragically when the space shuttle exploded on Jan. 28, 1986. McAuliffe, who grew up in Framingham attended Marian High and Framingham State University before becoming NASA's first Teacher in Space. The Charter School, which recently celebrated its 10th, year, held its first  remembrance event in 2011, on the 25th anniversary of the McAuliffe's tragic  death. The grand prize winner of the 2011 space exploration event was then …

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Exploring Education

VIDEO: Learning About Space in Christa's Memory

Eighth grade students presented their detailed space project at the 2nd Annual Christa McAuliffe Remembrance Event at the charter school named for McAuliffe.

From volcanoes on Venus to rovers and signs of water on Mars, eighth grade students at the Christa McAuliffe Regional Public Charter School presented their space projects as part of the 2nd Annual Christa McAuliffe Remembrance Event. The school is named for McAuliffe, who grew up in Framingham, attended Marian High and Framingham State and later became a teacher. McAuliffe tragically died 26 years ago when the NASA space shuttle Challenger exploded.

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Exploring Education

NASA Scientist Engages Students at Christa McAuliffe Charter School

Keeping the memory alive for whom his school is named for, science teacher Dan Anderson invited to class Sam Ortega, from the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL., as part of the school's Second Annual Space Expedition project.

Wednesday morning, eighth grade students at the Christa McAuliffe Regional Public Charter School were given a science lesson by a NASA scientist. Science Teacher Dan Anderson brought in Sam Ortega, from the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL., as part of his team's 8th grade Second Annual Space Expedition project. Students will display their project in February. Ortega, who works out of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, near the rocket center, is the manager of the Centennial Challenges Program. The program is NASA's space project and challenge program for independent companies, colleges, and schools.

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Nobscot's History, Christa McAuliffe Connected to Library's Future [VIDEO]

Grace Corrigan, Christa McAuliffe's mother, recalled memories of her daughter, blizzard of '78 and the family's love of the library, which was later named for her daughter.

Framingham Library Foundation and the Heritage at Framingham hosted a lecture Tuesday night on Nobscot's history, Christa McAuliffe, whom the Saxonville library is named for, and how the two are linked to the library branch's future. Speakers included, Grace Corrigan, mother of Christa McAuliffe, Amy Finstein, an architectural historian from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Library Trustee Sam Klaidman,who was there to speak about the plan to build a new McAuliffe library. The Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Library, historically known as the Saxonville Library, has been a part of Framingham since 1963. Framingham was well-known for having six libraries in 1971. However, maintaining so many libraries was extremely expensive and …

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Free Lecture Explores Nobscot's Past, Future

Speakers include Grace Corrigan (Christa McAuliffe's mother), architectural historian Amy Finstein and library trustee Sam Klaidman.

Discover Nobscot's history and how the proposed new McAuliffe library branch will fit into the neigborhood's future at a free lecture presented by the library's trustees Tuesday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Heritage at Framingham. Speakers include Grace Corrigan, who will speak about raising her daughter astronaunt Christa McAuliffe in Nobscot/Saxonville, and what the library meant to her. Architectural historian Amy Finstein will detail the history and evolution of the Nobscot neighborhood and library buildings in the area. Library Trustee and chair of the building committee to build a new McAuliffe library branch Sam Klaidman, who will describe the proposed new library design and layout. The lecture will be held across the street from the …

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25 Years Later: Celebrating Christa McAuliffe and Remembering the Challenger Tragedy

8th Graders Inspired to Scientific Discovery

Students at the Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter School presented their space projects to judges last night, at an event remembering the late McAuliffe and the rest of the Challenger crew. Today is the 25th anniversary of the tragic explosion.

In April 2010, Japan launched the Akatsuki orbiter to Venus. Dr. Takeshi Imamura, a scientist and associate professor with the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science in Japan, was instrumental with the project and its launch. One recent morning in Framingham, students at the Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter School, via Skype,  interviewed the Japanese professor on the Akatsuki orbiter project for research for their science project, which was displayed last night at Framingham State University. A perfect example of education, space, and technology combining to inspire students to learn. Something Framingham-native Christa McAuliffe dreamed of when she became a participant in NASA's teacher in Space program. Last night, in an event …

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25 Years Later: Celebrating Christa McAuliffe and Remembering the Challenger Tragedy

McAuliffe's Spirit Lives On Via Middle School Missions to Mars

It's been 25 years since the Challenger tragedy but every day students visit the Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University, Christa's alma mater, to learn about science and space.

On a recent wintry morning, the sixth grade class from Ashland Middle School filed into The Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center on a mission ... a mission to Mars. Center Director, Mary Liscombe, explained the premise of the Mars mission, “The kids are astronauts who come to Mars in 2076 to relieve scientists who have been living and working on Mars for the past two years. The new astronauts use a Mars lander spaceship and it’s a six month flight to get there.” Each mission takes a total of two hours. The teamwork the kids learn during their morning at the Center prompts communication, problem solving and responsible decision making; all crucial for real life work and pursuits. The kids are first sent to the briefing room where they receive …

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